scott@vtx-cpd.com

Replying to Neus E. 05/04/2024 - 14:24

This is soooooooooooooo interesting!

Thank you so much for sharing.

Scott 🙂

Replying to Sarah Clements 05/04/2024 - 17:36

This is really interesting Sarah!

I a, glad you are leading the fight in this area!

I could not find anything specific regarding digital palpation and examination, but it will definitely feel different in some cases. I will keep looking.

Scott 🙂

Replying to Mónica P. 06/04/2024 - 08:00

No problem Monica.

Thank you for sharing this. I think you make a really interesting point regarding the size of your practice. Often it is just physically impossible to have cats away from dogs.

I know a nurse that sprays small cotton wool balls in the morning with pheromone spray and then gives them to clients to pop in the cat carriers.

Thanks again.

Scott

Replying to Sarah Clements 03/04/2024 - 19:21

Sarah,

Great to hear from you. I am glad you are enjoying the course. Great questions.

1. I would absolutely focus on the giardia in these cases. I can’t think of a case where the isospora has been significant. Isospora oocysts are found on direct examination of a fecal smear or by flotation. The infection often is self-limiting, but sulfadimethoxine or trimethoprim-sulfa can be used when clinical signs warrant treatment. Coccidiostats, such as toltrazuril and diclazuril, when available, are preferred. The prognosis for recovery is good. You make a really good comment regarding the concurrent enteropathy with these cases, that also has to be supported (diet, probiotics).

Scott 🙂

Replying to Aaron H. 04/04/2024 - 06:29

This is really interesting Aaron.

Are you more likely to use a histamine type 2 receptor blocker like famotidine, or are you happy using omeprazole (PPI) as they are going to be more effective for ulcer treatment?

Thanks again!

Scott 🙂

Replying to Talia C. 02/04/2024 - 11:56

Hello Talia.

Thank you for sharing such an interesting case. I have shared a few thoughts:

I am glad we share the Vivomixx love! I have just moved to Canada and am having to change what I am using again. It seems availability and cost does depend on where you are in the world. That is a really interesting point that you raise regarding Fortiflora. I feel like I have looked in to the chicken flavour before and whether it is OK when undergoing a hydrolysed diet trial. I must try and find out the answer to that!

1. Regarding the dog with chronic enteropathy. I agree with your approach. The question of diet is really tricky in this case. It is always a balancing act. If the dermatologist is really keen to change the diet, then I would go with that. If the dog is relapsing and ultrasound changes are persistent then surgical or endoscopic biopsies would be indicated. You could consider increasing the prednisolone dose? I would give this dog Vivomixx. I think this dog would be an excellent candidate for a faecal transplant!

2. Regarding the salmonella cases. Are you testing for the salmonella in the faeces? If these cats are sick then I would definitely treat them. I would be more reluctant to repeatedly culture faeces for salmonella after treatment. The salmonella can persist and I would not be treating to achieve negative culture in faeces. I would be treating to achieve clinical improvement. If salmonella is isolated from faeces and the patient is not systemically unwell, I would not treat, despite it being a zoonosis.

3. I agree that giardia can be really tricky. Again, I would be treating to achieve clinical resolution of clinical signs/diarrhoea and not always re-testing. In cases that have persistent clinical signs and positive results with faecal analysis (not antigen positive) then I would focus on owner hygiene. I would be getting owners to clean perineum after passage of faeces etc. I would be considering other interventions for enteropathy too. I would try hydrolysed diet and Vivomixx.

I hope that helps.

Scott 🙂