Did this post come through okay? I tryied to E-mail it
to the group on Sunday. Just checking.
--- Lora <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote:
You guys are not going to believe this!
On top of Feline Herpes, Lymphocytic plasmacytic
stomatitis (LPS) a.k.a. Lymphocytic Plasmacytic
Gingivitis Pharangitis Syndrome (LPGS) or Feline
Gingivitis and "possible" mega colon, Dartagnan (my
youngest) has been diagnosed with E Coli!
Let me start at the beginning...
For the past two (2) or three (3) weeks Dartagnan has
been experiencing acute "bathroom" problems. I did not
know if it was a "bladder" issue or a "bowl" issue. I
wanted to wait and see if the problem would correct
itself.
Remember, I have already been through the whole
Struvite/Calcium Oxalate crystal blockage; therefore,
knew what to be on the lookout for.
However, the problem was... there was NO problem!
Dartagnan was peeing just fine; much too often, but
peeing nevertheless! This was better than being
completely blocked.
Then I noticed that his bowl movements were irregular.
He would go two (2) or three (3) days without a single
bowl movement. Of course he would be constipated due
to compaction and would stress and strain in the
litter box. Hence, my confusion with the
Struvite/Calcium Oxalate crystal blockages. A classic
symptom sign.
However, after the "constipated" bowl movement he
would exhibit symptoms of diarrhea. Then I would watch
him race to the potty every five (5) minutes. It got
to the point were poor Dartagnan was not even pooping
anymore. He was just passing mucus that was slightly
tinged with light blood.
This is when I decided to go to the veterinarian and
get a X-ray of his small/large intestine, colon and
rectum.
The veterinarian did two (2). One looking down onto
the body, so that you were looking at Dartagnan's
neck, spine and tail. The other one was of his side.
It was this particular image that the veterinarian
suggested "possible" beginning stages of Mega Colon.
Dartagnan had some slight compaction in his colon, but
nothing major. According to the veterinarian, the
X-rays looking normal. "If Dartagnan does indeed have
Mega Colon, we have caught it severely early," he
says.
But this does NOT explain his irregular bathroom
habits. "You are already treating him with what I
would recommend," he said.
I was/am giving Dartagnan 100% PURE canned pumpkin in
his wet cat food. One (1) teaspoon daily.
When he has an extremely bad day, he gets one (1)
teaspoon of mineral oil daily until symptoms
subsided.
"There is really noting more that we can do," he
concluded.
I went home feeling slightly relieved. I was already
doing what the veterinarian would have recommended
anyway. I had to be on the right track. This should
clear up on its own.
But it didn't!
The following week I got so fed up with the
inconclusiveness of Dartagnan's condition, that I
finally took matters into my own hands.
With our next big paycheck, I took Dartagnan to my
second veterinarian who draws up all of my requested
values i.e. blood, urine, stool, etc. and sends them
off an official state diagnostic laboratory.
I had an "Complete Feline Health Panel" ran.
This particular panel consists of seven (7)
separate/different tests.
1.) Superchem
2.) Complete Blood Count (CBC)
3.) T4
4.) Feline Leukemia (FeLV) (Elisa)
5.) Feline Immunodeficiency Virus (FIV) (Elisa)
6.) Feline Corona virus (FCV)
7.) Toxoplasmosis (TOXO)
His Total Protein was high. 9.6
His Globulin was high 6.4
His WBC was high 16.4
His Neutrophils was high 11972
His Eosinophils was high 1476
Then I had an IFA ran for a FeLV confirmation. This
was negative.
Then I had a urinalysis and a bacterial urine culture
ran.
I have the culture, but am currently waiting on the
urinalysis.
The E Coli came back positive on the culture.
This is what alarmed me. I DID NOT have a stool
sample/culture done, but a URINE culture. E Coli
should show up in a stool culture, but NOT a urine
culture! There should never be E Coli in the bladder
nor the urine.
I am waiting until I get the urinalysis back before I
decide on what my next move is.
In the meantime, I have been searching the web for any
information pertaining to E Coli (human or feline) in
order to determine what exactly I am up against.
What I have found is NOT good!
Everyone (human and animal) has Escherichia Coli
a.k.a. E Coli. It is a bacterial organism/parasite
that is naturally located in the bowls/large
intestines of humans, felines, canines, etc.
However, if it is NOT a "friendly" E Coli strain then
it can cause serious complications and create a whole
slew of problems.
Escherichia coli stereotype 0157:H7 is NOT a
"friendly" E Coli! In fact, it is a toxin that most
commonly causes Hemolytic Uremic Syndrome (HUS.) This
is a completely different disease! I have gone from
Mega Colon to E Coli to HUS! Sigh.
There is no known treatment for E Coli or HUS. The
research that I have found suggests that you let the E
Coli "run it course" and use "supportive therapy" for
HUS if/when it develops.
Most cases for HUS occur after an infection in the
digestive system caused by the Escherichia Coli
bacterium. The first stages of HUS frequently present
with gastrointestinal symptoms such as abdominal pain,
vomiting and bloody diarrhea. This stage lasts from
one (1) to fifteen (15) days. Recovery from this acute
colitic phase is the rule. However, more sever
problems in the bowel and colon may develop in some
cases.
The bacteria originally lodged in the digestive system
make toxins that enter the bloodstream and these
toxins destroy red blood cells. Small, unexplained
bruises or small clot-sized hemorrhages visible in the
mucosal lining of the mouth may occur because the
toxins also destroy the platelets, cells that normally
contribute to the clotting system.
Human/animals who have HUS develop hemolytic anemia
(which is a low red blood cell count),
thrombocytopenia (which is a low platelet count) and
renal failure (which is kidney damage.) Humans/animals
with this problem must go to a hospital for medical
care.
There is no special treatment, except drinking a lot
of water and watching for complications. Do NOT take
medicine to stop the diarrhea. This medicine would
keep the intestines from successfully getting rid of
the E Coli germ. Anti-diarrheal medication may delay
the elimination of the organism from the digestive
tract and therefore, may NOT be recommended.
If serious dehydration occurs, seek immediate medical
attention for IV fluids. With serious
dehydration/diarrhea the body looses essential fluids
such as water and electrolytes.
SYMPTOMS
-diarrhea
(acute or sever, watery, both bloody & non-bloody,
-stomach cramping
-gas
-nausea/vomiting
-loss of appetite
-abdominal pain
-fever
-lethargic (tired)
DIAGNOSIS
Normal stool culture does NOT reveal E Coli 0157:H7.
The laboratory order must specifically request this
analysis.
So, on top of waiting for Dartagnan's urinalysis, I
suppose need to have a "special" stool culture
performed.
Stool sample/specimen, stool culture, stool float,
stool smear; they are all the same to me. Although, I
imagine to a diagnostic laboratory, they are all very
different tests.
I just do not know WHAT to do! I have spent all this
money, had all these tests ran, values drawn and I
still do not know a damn thing!
Here I was thinking that Mega Colon was terrible, but
this E Coli thing!? It can convert to Hemolytic Uremic
Syndrome, which could cause hemolytic anemia,
thrombocytopenia and renal failure!
I have already lost my beloved Peeper to FeLV related
anemia and my mother's cat passed away from renal
failure! I though the majority of these disease came
from viruses i.e. FeLV, FIV, FIP, etc. NOT bacteria!
I am just going out of my mind! Children die of E
Coli! Therefore, it seems reasonable that animals
would too.
Not only is it deadly, but insanely contagious! Forget
about me, my kids share self-watering fountains/bowls,
litter boxes and groom each other! If Dartagnan has
this then he can/will infect my other kitties?!
Thanks for listening to me vent. I jut needed someone
to talk to. I sincerely appreciate you all for being
here.
I will post updates as they become available.
Please keep us in your thoughts.
Lora
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