MJ,
I'm not sure why nobody has suggested trying to find out what is
causing the anemia, and I guarantee you clavamox and baytril will not
take care of the heamobartonella as well as the doxy if they will at
all. The tetracycline group of drugs is what is need to treat hemo.
Here are some documents to back this up:
To treat Haemobartonella Felis, antibiotics such as tetracycline,
oxytetracycline, or doxycycline are given for three weeks. Although it
may seem contradictory, in cats with a rapid course of disease, large
doses of prednisolone (a steroid) may sometimes be given to suppress
the destruction of the red blood cells by the body. In some animals,
it is necessary to give one or multiple transfusions. A glucose rich
intravenous fluid may be life saving in very weak and debilitated
pets. Some cats cannot tolerate tetracycline and will develop fever,
vomiting, or diarrhea. If this occurs, the veterinarian may lower the
dosage or choose another antibiotic. Only the veterinarian should make
changes in treatment.
http://www.geocities.com/pvis1960/hemobartonella.html
Specific treatment for feline infectious anemia includes tetracycline
antibiotics and prednisone. Patients may require supportive care,
including blood transfusion. Although treatment does not eliminate the
infection completely, cats that survive are thought to have a good
long-term outlook.
http://www.missionmedvet.com/encyclopedia/haemobartonellosis.htm
*What are the symptoms of haemobartonellosis?*
Symptoms vary depending on the number of red blood cells infected,
the stage of the parasitic infection, the health status of the cat &
the rapidity & of infection, but can include;
*
Anaemia
*
Loss of appetite
*
Weakness
*
Pale mucous membranes (ie: pale gums)
*
Weight loss
*
Jaundice
*
Fever
*
Enlarged lymph nodes
*
Enlarged spleen
Untreated, FIA can cause death.
*How is haemobartonellosis treated?*
Antibiotics oxytetracycline or doxycycline.
Treatment with a glucocorticoid such as prednisolone may also be
prescribed to diminish the immune-mediated component of the disease
process.
Severely anaemic cats may require blood transfusions.
http://www.cat-world.com.au/FelineInfectiousAnaemia.htm
It can be treated with tetracycline class antibiotics with good
success but even treated cats should be considered to be carriers of
the disease and may experience recurrences later. Supportive care is
often necessary for several days in cats with this condition and
during the acute infection if may be necessary to use corticosteroids
despite the immune suppression associated with these medications. It
is very important to control fleas and other blood sucking organisms
in a multiple cat household in which one member is found to have
hemobartonellosis. It is a good idea to occasionally do followup
bloodwork to make sure anemia is not recurring.
Mike Richards, DVM
http://www.vetinfo.com/catpara.html#Hemobartonellosis
I have NEVER heard of or read of treating heamobartonella with clavamox
or baytril.
Bailey was on doxy, prednisolone and epogen for his anemia. He had a
bone marrow aspirate to find out why he was anemic. He did not have
hemo but we treated for it just in case. He got the doxy for about 6 weeks.
--
Belinda
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