Kitten with FeCov + C. perfringens diarrhea

Re: Kitten with FeCov + C. perfringens diarrhea

Rob Davis — Thu, 22 Mar 2012 16:56:48 GMT

[quote user="Kate Richardson"]so if your poor kitten has this as well! then it may require more specific treatment with ...and the name of the drug escapes me for now! [/quote]

Ronidazole!

Re: Kitten with FeCov + C. perfringens diarrhea

Kate Richardson — Thu, 22 Mar 2012 14:32:55 GMT

[quote user="shanners"]I am assuming the bowel is inflammed from the coronavirus and the noroclav killed off the C. perfringens, as the diarrhea was much worse prior to the noroclav. [/quote]

So prove/back up your assumption by retesting the faeces to see if the clostridia has gone I would agree it likely has, but the only way you will know for sure is to retest. I would expect clostridia diarrhoea to be as bad if not worse then coronavirus diarrhoea. But both clostridia and coronavirus should be short term problems, but any gut damage is likely to be as result of both organisms.

I assume the T foetus test was also PCR? I would consider retesting for T foetus if the clostridia has gone, as T foetus diarrhoea is often clinically responsive to antibiotics, so if your poor kitten has this as well! then it may require more specific treatment with ...and the name of the drug escapes me for now! (old age!) or it will resolve on its own but may take several months.

So in the mean time, is the kitten well otherwise? If the diarrhoea is causing the kitten problems, and antibiotics control it, then use it whilst you are waiting on results, plus start a hypo-allergenic diet in the mean time, as any inflamed gut is prone to developing long term sensitivities, so a hypoallergenic diet may reduce future problems.

Re: Kitten with FeCov + C. perfringens diarrhea

shanley barber — Thu, 22 Mar 2012 12:03:25 GMT

We sent faeces to Idexx for PCR so Giardia and TT.F negative.

The kitten is now 5 mths old, aquired at 15 weeks, diarr started soon after. I treated with noroclav fro 2 weeks, and the faeces was mostly solid (some solid, some a bit soft) when the noroclav finished. I am assuming the bowel is inflammed from the coronavirus and the noroclav killed off the C. perfringens, as the diarrhea was much worse prior to the noroclav.

I also read that adding non-soluble fibre to the diet would change the ph in the bowel to discourange clostridial overgrowth, which we have done.

My plan was to accept that the diarrhea will continue until the coronavirus runs its course, but if the diarrhea worsens then use noroclav again. Does this sound plausible?

Thanks,

Shanley

Re: Kitten with FeCov + C. perfringens diarrhea

Kate Richardson — Wed, 21 Mar 2012 13:45:59 GMT

I would suggest firstly retesting the faeces to see if the clostridia is resolved or not and checking for other causes. A young inflamed intestinal tract is going to be more susceptible to 'opportunists' such as Giardia as suggested by Bob. Also consider testing for T.foetus if this is a large bowel diarrhoea. How old is the kitten? How long did you give the amoxyclav for? I wouldn't worry about a longer course of amoxyclav if it were indicated, but I wouldn't want to be using it unless I had a reason to.

Re: Kitten with FeCov + C. perfringens diarrhea

Bob Russell — Wed, 21 Mar 2012 13:18:18 GMT

Check for giardia as well. We are getting a lot of positive in house tests here and very good response to fenbendazole! You have two diarrhoea causing organisms you might as well add a third!!