Sulfasalazine in cats

RE: Sulfasalazine in cats

Andrew Kent — Sun, 30 Aug 2020 08:17:39 GMT

Interesting - is Helicobacter a 'real' problem in big cats? As we often consider it incidental in many of our patients. Was that diagnosed based on biopsy? Is this old for a cheetah?

I always worry with Helicobacter that the treatment we use will also often have non-specific benefits for other upper GI diseases so not very specific. Would therefore still have other inflammatory or neoplastic gut diseases on the list.

I guess I agree with the comments that a degree of further investigation, likely to include abdominal imaging +/- biopsy, would be prudent if possible. Otherwise I guess further treatment for an inflammatory enteropathy (ie steroid) might be another trial.

Happy to help further if I can,

Andy

RE: Sulfasalazine in cats

Emily Rainbow — Fri, 28 Aug 2020 22:06:33 GMT

Also scope for oesophagitis/stricture from persistent vomiting.

RE: Sulfasalazine in cats

Emily Rainbow — Fri, 28 Aug 2020 22:05:11 GMT

I wonder if it’s worth starting from scratch with her again?

Faecal sample. Bloods - haem, biochemistry, lytes, b12/folate/tli, pli. Granted I imagine not standardised in big cats.

imaging especially ultrasound. Was this gastroenteritis that has become lymphoma?

panacur trial?

What gastroprotectants have you used? Only evidence in domestic cats is for omeprazole BID really. I really rate cerenia tablets too.

RE: Sulfasalazine in cats

Joyce Whitehead — Fri, 28 Aug 2020 19:38:32 GMT

Disclaimer, I have no idea about big cats! Would sucralfate help? Just as a coating agent? We use it in some chronic pancreatitis cats and it definitely seems to help them. Summit make paste for small animals but also horses which might be more suitable concentration for a big cat.

RE: Sulfasalazine in cats

Marie Kubiak — Fri, 28 Aug 2020 12:47:11 GMT

Thanks all.

It's a 14yr old cheetah with Helicobacter gastritis of several years duration. She has temporary improvement on the published protocols of metronidazole/amoxy-clav as pulse courses and is maintained on daily bismuth salicylate permanently. She is losing condition gradually and has intermittent poor appetite, poor digestion of food and regurgitation of meat 1-2 times weekly. Diet changes possible are limited and poorly tolerated and she is on predominantly beef on the bone with some horse. Poor appetite and suspicious nature intermittently limit reliable medication.

Marie

RE: Sulfasalazine in cats

Andrew Kent — Sun, 23 Aug 2020 10:21:08 GMT

I no longer use sulfasalazine in anything really but would certainly avoid if the signs were not predominantly large intestinal.

happy to try to help further if I can.

Andy

RE: Sulfasalazine in cats

Kate Richardson — Sat, 22 Aug 2020 08:47:19 GMT

No experience of using it- can you tell us more about the case- age/duration of signs/treatment so far?

RE: Sulfasalazine in cats

Rob Loxley — Sat, 22 Aug 2020 07:34:51 GMT

Have used it on a couple of occasions, though breaking up the 500mg tablets is a faff (and the yellow seems to stain!)

RE: Sulfasalazine in cats

Richard Carter — Fri, 21 Aug 2020 16:56:39 GMT

seem to remember something about cats not being able to process very well so I've never tried it. Type of NSAID isn't it?

RE: Sulfasalazine in cats

Beats — Fri, 21 Aug 2020 11:34:10 GMT

In a domestic cat that is vomiting persistently, I would see if it responds to steroids (and ideally a diet trial). I also worm it. Sometimes it gets vitamin B12 too.

I have no idea if that experience of one lone general practitioner can translate at all to big felids!

Never personally used sulphasalazine in a cat, but I'm not a historical big user in dogs either. I think the idea is more for large intestinal diarrhoeas perhaps?