Clostridium

[moxiegrl]

Hi guys! It's been awhile since I've stopped by, but still thought of you when my Katie-bug got sick. She had bloody diarrhea, lethargic, wouldn't eat...poor baby. She went to the vet this morning, and has Clostridium. They gave her an antibiotic called Metronidazole, and Pro-pectalin in a tube. So I've been looking online, and it seems like this can be caught again easily, also I have another dog now, Roxy. The vet didn't mention that Roxy could get it, but it seems like even humans can pick this up! Makes me wonder, my DD who is now 6 had a fever out of nowhere this weekend, and was fine the next day....

So I know you doggy geniuses here can give me the scoop on Clostridium. I've gotta go pick up the munchkin from school, then work, but I'll check back here tonight.

 

[Renee750il]

It's been too long since we've seen you around, but I'd bet one of our vet techs can help you out.

 

[moxiegrl]

I know Renee...it seems like my computer time keeps getting shorter and shorter, and my days longer and longer.

We adopted a Beagle mix almost a year ago, and she was a mess. Had a couple different bacteria things going on, Clostridium was one, and some other kind. She had Kennel Cough, fleas....was just a total wreck. Now she's a big ol' galoot who gets in more trouble then she's worth ;-) But we still love her...most days. ;-)

How have you been?

 

[Renee750il]

It's been crazy . . . Have you been here since I rescued Tallulah?

Out of work, family is certifiable, things are . . . stressful.

But I've got a novel almost finished. And it's good.

 

[Kilter]

Did you know what kind exactly? That group includes some nasty bacteria! C. difficile is one, I remember having a resident in the nursing home who had it and he had his own laundry, we had to double glove.... it wasn't a nice germ.

Hope everyone's ok and yup, the humans can pick it up too so be careful.

 

[Saeleofu]

Logan had Clostridium perfringens and he was treated with 6 months of Tylan (tylosin). Twice a day for 2 months, once a day for 2 months, then every other day for 2 months. I still keep a bottle of the injectable on hand - I don't use it as in injectable, I give it orally if I need to use it, it's just easier and cheaper to keep the injectable on hand instead of the powder.

I dog-sat for several dogs, and two of the collies also had C. perfringens and were treated the same way. When I took Logan over there to dog-sit my vet told me to give him a dose of Tylan every 2-3 days to make sure he didn't catch it again. Apparently it can be "cured" but lay dormant and pop up again, and some dogs have it for life and need to have Tylan evey 2-3 days for life to control it. Logan is fortunately not one of those dogs, he has no problems with it anymore.

Vitamin B can also help, but it's not a guarantee. I give my dogs sublingual vitamin B every couple days just in case.

Logan was on metronidazole originally, but it did not work for him AT ALL. The pectalin stuff did okay while he was on it, but as soon as I stopped he was back to having diarrhea. The Tylan is the only thing that REALLY helped, that and getting him on a grain-free diet.

Gavroche did have a couple bouts of diarrhea while Logan was being treated, and it may or may not have been due to the C. perfringens. My vet told me to give him Tylan for a few days when it happened, since it's what I had on hand and it works the same as metronidazole. Gavroche never had severe or chronic issues though.

 

[Beanie]

Payton we believe also had clostridium, in fact it was Sael who told me to look into it because he was sick for so long and I couldn't get him straightened out. My regular vet kept sticking him on a week or two of the flagyl, and it would work as long as he was on it, then almost immediately after he was off the flagyl (like the last time we did a round it was literally the very next evening after his last dose) the diarrhea would start again. I asked him about running a test for clostridium and he didn't care to do so and just said "we treat clostridium with flagyl anyway." But that WASN'T WORKING!

Sooooo I got in touch with my chiropractor (also a DVM) and explained what was going on, and she said "sounds like clostridium to me." We never ran the fecal, just proceeded to treat it as though it were clostridium. She had me order tylan powder and gave me injectable B-12 to give him as well. His treatment was shorter than Logan's, he was on the tylan twice daily for two weeks, once daily for two weeks, then every other day for a month - once we finished the every other day it was almost three months though. He was also on two herbal formulas for almost six months. The B-12 I injected once a week for a month, every other week for a month, then switched to monthly for about six months as well.

Almost immediately after going on the Tylan powder the diarrhea stopped and he had been symptom free every since.

Nobody else got sick - we had Auggie and Georgie in the house at the time and neither ever had any diarrhea. Only Pay.

 

[moxiegrl]

He didn't say what kind of clostridium it was, just put her on the Flagyl twice a day, pro-pectalin, special diet for gastrointestinal issues for a week or so. She seems to be doing much better, much more active, her appetite is back. Her vet made it sound like it wasn't a really big deal, but when I got home and started reading, it sounded a little more serious then he made it out to be. When Roxy had a strain of this as a pup, she seemed to get better very quickly, and once again the vet didn't mention my other dog could pick it up.

Renee- I don't think I've had the pleasure of seeing your Tallulah. When did you adopt her? Sorry to hear you're out of work. I just went back PT, after my DD gets out of school. I'm lucky it's at a gym, and my DD can come with me. Sometimes things just suck, but they usually get better.

And for the really important question.... What's your novel about? ;-)

 

[Renee750il]

I wound up with an APBT, lol. Tallulah's a little blue brindle. I think she's beautiful. She's got the classic APBT temperament, sweet, playful, clever, wants to please, and she thinks a brawl is just BEST FUN EVER

I keep a door between her and Kharma at all times. Kharma thinks she needs to be put in her place and it gets ugly -- fast.

Left you a message on your profile

 

[moxiegrl]

She's gorgeous!! APBT's are one of my favorite dogs. Most dogs have that resilient spirit, no matter how many times they get kicked down, they get back up, forgive, and still want to give and receive love. But APBT's seem to have it in spades. I might have to come steal her. ;-) She can come brawl with Roxy, apparently it IS great fun.

 

[Renee750il]

Thanks

Katie feeling better?

 

[moxiegrl]

She definitely seems to be feeling better. She's eating, normal bathroom activities, and perky. She's on the antibiotic for a few more days, so hopefully that knocks it out.