Bartonellosis (Cat-scratch Disease)

BY: Christian

May 26,2012

cat-scratch Disease (CSD), also known as Rochalimaea henselae or Bartonella henselae, is an infection in humans that most often occurs after prolonged contact with a young cat. When diagnosed in cats this disease is called feline bartonellosis. It is caused by a bacteria called Bartonella henselae.

All ages, breeds, and sexes of cat are susceptible; however, kittens under one year of age, kittens or cats infested with fleas, and feral cats or former strays are more likely to have the bacteria in their bloodstream. Fleas are believed to play a major role in cat-to-cat and possibly cat-to-human transmission. Cats can be infected with the organism for months, or even years, and never show any clinical signs.

Children and immuno- compromised people may suffer severe disease when infected by these bacteria.

All ages, breeds, and sexes of cat are susceptible; however, kittens under one year of age, kittens or cats infested with fleas, and feral cats or former strays are more likely to have the bacteria in their bloodstream. Fleas are believed to play a major role in cat-to-cat and possibly cat-to-human transmission. Cats can be infected with the organism for months, or even years, and never show any clinical signs.

Children and immuno- compromised people may suffer severe disease when infected by these bacteria.

cats are considered the major reservoir for these bacteria, although fleas and some other mammals have also been shown to play a role in the disease transmission.

What to Watch For in Cats

Bartonella is not known to cause serious disease in most cats. Most cats will have no clinical signs of illness. Some cats may exhibit:

• Lethargy
• Fever
• Lack of appetite (anorexia)
• Reproductive difficulty
• Lymphnode enlargement
• Vomiting
• Red eyes (uveitis)
• What to Watch for in HumansSigns of human disease include raised skin lesions that are red to purple in color. Anywhere from a few to over 100 may be found on the face, trunk, arms and legs. If cat scratch disease spreads internally, it can cause fever, weight loss and vomiting. Upon examination, the liver and spleen may be enlarged. Humans with immunodeficiency problems are at higher risk for disease. DiagnosisIn people, definitive diagnosis generally requires a biopsy for microscopic examination and culture.

  Other tests to diagnose the organism in cats might include:

• Blood culture
• Serology
• Polymerase chain reaction (PCR)
• Complete blood count (CBC)
• Serum biochemical profile
• Urinalysis
• Feline leukemia virus testing (FeLV)
• Feline Immunodeficiency Virus Testing (FIV)
  
• TreatmentCats with no clinical signs of disease do not require treatment. Cats that have clinical signs of disease may be treated with antibiotics and supportive care as needed. There is not a lot of information about treating this disease in cats and much of the information about treatment is extrapolated from studies in human medicine.In people, cat scratch disease responds to several different oral antibiotics, such as erythromycin, clarithromycin, and doxycycline. Antibiotics are usually given for 2 to 3 months unless there is bloodstream or internal organ involvement. In advanced HIV (AIDS) disease, long-term management with lower doses is usually necessary to prevent relapse.Home Care and Prevention

  There is no home care for bartonellosis. Preventive care is based on maintaining good hygiene. Wash your hands after handling pets and wash scratches or bites thoroughly. Never let a cat lick an open wound, and maintain meticulous flea control. Preventative flea and tick control is recommended. For more information read , flea and tick control programs

  Blood cultures and serology should be performed on pets belonging to immuno-compromised people.

• Please visit us at  www.siamese-cattailscattery.com

Test Your Emergency IQ

By: Christian Yost

March 28, 2009

It’s a cat owner’s nightmare: Something’s wrong with your cat and your regular veterinarian is not available. You’re left to make a judgment when your cat needs emergency care. Handling critical situations can mean the difference between life and death. Here are some common scenarios.

Circle all those you think require emergency attention, then check your answers.

1. Should you worry? Your cat:

a. just vomited undigested food
b. vomited for the fourth time today and seems lethargic
c. threw up a hairball
d. threw up and you see signs of blood

Correct answers: b and d.
“Owners should try to distinguish vomiting from regurgitation,”  Regurgitation is a natural response to eating too fast.” Vomiting, especially when accompanied by other signs, may be more serious. “If vomiting occurs more than once per day,”or has signs of blood in it, it should be investigated.”

2. Your cat appears to be choking. You should seek emergency help when:

a. it sounds like a hairball is on the way up
b. her mouth is wide open but she’s making no sound
c. she’s pawing at her mouth and taking big swallows
d. she collapses

Correct answers: b and d.
If your cat can’t make noise, she probably can’t breathe, and will die without immediate veterinary care. Fortunately, life-threatening choking is uncommon, Most of the time,” cats are able to expel a foreign body or mucus on their own.”

3. Which ones would cause problems if your cat ingests them?

a. acetominophen (Tylenol)
b. ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin)
c. acetylsalicylic acid (Aspirin)
d. birth control pills

Correct answer: All.
“If an owner sees a cat ingest Tylenol, it is an emergency, Ibuprofen and other non-steroidal anti-inflammatories are also toxic. Birth-control pills are the least dangerous, but ask your veterinarian�s advice if your cat ingests many.

4. You should take your cat to your veterinarian or emergency clinic if she is bleeding from:

a. a cut pad
b. a broken toenail
c. the rectum
d. the nose

Correct answers: a, c and d. But even a bleeding toenail should be examined if it doesn’t stop within five minutes. “A 12-pound cat can safely lose up to two ounces of blood.

5. Your cat jumped off the refrigerator. Which of these scenarios requires a visit to the veterinarian?

a. she won’t bear weight on one of her legs
b. she’s walking with a slight limp
c. she shook one foot violently, glared at you and walked away with a normal stride
d. one leg is now at a funny angle

Correct answers: a and d.
A limb that doesn’t bear weight needs to be examined. “There are myriad reasons for limping,”from a compound fracture or torn ligament to a broken nail or torn footpad.”

6. Which of the following is the most serious?

a. your cat has gone three days without a bowel movement
b. your cat keeps straining in the litter box with no results
c. your cat has three bowel movements a day

Correct answer: b.
“Cats straining to eliminate may be either trying to empty their bowels or their bladders. Constipation is uncomfortable, but a cat unable to urinate can die within 24 hours. An immediate veterinary examination is critical to determine the cause of the straining.

Post the emergency telephone numbers for your regular veterinarian and your local after-hours emergency veterinary hospital. You never know when an emergency may occur.

Veterinarians and their answering services know how to identify emergency situations. By asking a few questions, they will be able to help you take the right course of action. “A simple phone call,” can often determine whether something is a true emergency or not.”

Please visit us at  www.siamese-cattailscattery.com

Why growing cats should stick to their diets

By: Christian Yost

March 28, 2009

Most of us are happy to share morsels from our plates with our pets. When it comes to kitten health, however, it’s best to limit their consumption of people food. Veterinarians at the Cornell Feline Health Center in Ithaca, N.Y. say table scraps should make up less than 10% of your kitten’s total daily food intake. Avoid giving her fatty foods and anything with bones, which are a choking hazard.

Keep in mind that if you give your kitten human food she could begin to prefer it to her own food, which has all of the nutrients he needs in all the right proportions. Another potential downside is that you may also be teaching her to beg, a habit that’s difficult to break.

More important, foods that are good for you aren’t necessarily good for kitten health. In particular, never give your kitten the following, which can be dangerous:

• Alcoholic beverages
• Almonds
• Apple seeds
• Apricots
• Avocado
• Cherries
• Chocolate
• Coffee (all forms)
• Fatty foods
• Garlic
• Grapes
• Macadamia nuts
• Moldy foods
• Mushrooms
• Mustard seeds
• Onions, onion powder, onion salt
• Peach pits
• Potato leaves, stems and eyes
• Raisins
• Rhubarb
• Salt
• Tomato leaves and stems
• Walnuts
• Yeast dough
• Products sweetened with xylitol

For information on additional substances that are potentially hazardous, refer to the ASPCA’s Animal Poison Control.

Please visit us at www.siamese-cattailscattery.com

Dangerous Viruses That Can Affect Your Cat

By: Christian Yost

March 26, 2009

The viruses that cause feline leukemia and feline AIDS are similar in that they cause immune suppression. Both viruses hold down an infected cat’s natural immunity to disease. Your cat’s mouth, nose, lungs, skin and intestines are normally covered with bacteria and viruses. However, the normal immune system keeps these bacteria in check and prevents disease. In feline AIDS or feline leukemia, that natural immunity is reduced to the level that allows any bacteria or virus to multiply and cause disease.

Feline Leukemia Virus (FeLV)

Overview

One of the most dangerous infectious diseases in cats today is caused by the feline leukemia virus (FeLV). FeLV is a retrovirus that is specific to cats only and is the most common cause of serious illness and death in domestic cats. It suppresses the immune system, impairing your cat’s ability to fight infections. It may also cause anemia, leukemia and some forms of cancer.

FeLV cannot be transmitted to humans (including children) or other species such as dogs.

FeLV is spread by contact through the saliva, tears and urine by way of bite wounds, shared dishes or litter pans, or close contact (grooming). Kittens can be born with FeLV or acquire the virus through their mother’s milk.

What To Look For

There are no specific symptoms that will tell you that your cat has FeLV. Your pet may develop a fever, poor appetite, lethargy, or suffer from recurring infections. He will most likely lose weight and suffer from a skin condition. Symptoms may include:

Pale gums

Weakness

Lethargy

Diarrhea

Weight loss

Anorexia

Breathing difficulties

Increased thirst and neurologic abnormalities

Diagnosis and Treatment

FeLV is easily diagnosed by a simple blood test, and you should test all new cats for this virus. Once your cat tests negative, a vaccine is available to help reduce the risk of infection with the virus. Although it is not 100 percent effective, the vaccine does offer immunity to most cats and has minimal side effects.

You should vaccinate all cats 10 weeks or older who are likely to be at increased risk of becoming infected. This includes cats that spend any time outdoors, in multiple-cat households, or at catteries and cat shows. If your cat is strictly indoors, you may want to discuss the need for FeLV vaccine with your veterinarian. FeLV and rabies vaccinations have been implicated in the very rare injection-site sarcoma syndrome.

Feline AIDS (FIV)

Overview

Feline immunodeficiency virus, or FIV, is a widespread viral infection that attacks the immune system of cats. It is caused by the same family of viruses that trigger AIDS in humans and has much the same devastating impact on infected cats. It is often referred to as “feline AIDS.” The virus ravages a cat’s immune system, stopping it from effectively combating other diseases and infections. Infected cats eventually fall prey to a wide variety of secondary illnesses that overwhelmingly prove fatal. FIV is not transmissible to people or dogs.

The disease is transmitted from cat to cat by blood and saliva. Cats can transmit FIV to other cats only through biting, not through urine or casual contact, so outdoor and male cats that fight with other cats are at greatest risk. FIV has also been found in mother’s milk and can be transmitted from mother to kitten. The virus itself is easily disinfected and dies within minutes upon exposure to dry surfaces.

What To Look For

Signs that your cat is infected are primarily related to the effects of diseases contracted when the body defenses fail. Ultimately, widespread organ failure occurs, and the cat dies.

Severe infection affecting the gums

Abscesses from fight wounds that don’t heal

Respiratory infections

Weight loss

Poor appetite

Unkempt coat

Diarrhea

Diagnosis and Treatment

A blood test can identify infection. This test is usually performed when your cat is tested for FeLV. A positive test means the cat has been exposed to the virus and will likely be infected for the remainder of his life.

Unfortunately, no vaccine against FIV is available at this time and there is no cure for the disease, but cats can live for up to 10 years – much of it in seemingly good health – before succumbing. However, the virus will still be in the cat and may become active at a later date. Therefore, the long term prognosis is not good.

The best protection from FIV is prevention. Keep your cat indoors and have him or her neutered, because neutered cats tend to fight less. Most importantly, have all new cats or kittens tested for the virus before introducing them to your cats at home.

Please visit us at www.siamese-cattailscattery.com