Need advice about Ronidazole PLEASE!!

My 4 month old kittens are bengals and one named Asia came to me with both coccidia and Tritrichomonas foetus,  TTF.  I first had to worm Asia for Coccidia with Albon because she presented with coccidia initially and this was confirmed through a fecal test. – I then wormed her for Giardia with panacur because she continued to have diarrhea after the Albon was administered (there was no confirmed Giardia).  The diarrhea continued until today so I continued investigating other causes.   I read all of the literature from Jody Gookin regarding TTF and then I ordered the pouch method – they are inexpensive.  I swabbed the inside of the colon of each cat with a q tip, and milked the q tip into the separate pouches.  Then the pouches go in a dark place at 98 degrees for 24 hours.   And then they are removed from the heat and put in another dark place at room temperature for 24 hours.  The only parasite that grows in the pouches is TTF.  I examined the parasites and their unique swimming motion under a microscope at 75 power.  I then took the pouches to my veterinarian this morning and he also confirmed the presence of TTF (I had to have him read the literature and watch a video on the TTF movement).   Giardia's movement looks like falling leaves, and TTF have a different way of swimming.   Apparently the only drug effective on TTF is a 14 day course of Ronidizole.  And the drug has some serious possible side effects. 

What I noticed is that the cats both have lost some appetite and have taken to sleeping quite a bit.   Today was day 5 of the 14 day ronidizole course.  The compounding pharmacy had to precisely measure out the amounts or Ronidizole in capsules.  The pharmacy tried to get me to take the liquid Ronidizole- but Dr. Gookin is very specific about getting the stuff in capsules.  Also Ronidizole is a carcinogen so they suggest you wear gloves, and double bag the fecal matter from the litter boxes.  Stools are firming up nicely now.  Make sure you read Jody Gookin's information 

http://www.cvm.ncsu.edu/docs/personnel/gookin_jody.html

http://www.cvm.ncsu.edu/docs/documents/ownersguide_tfoetus_revised_122009_final.pdf

I have a 5 1/2 month old Maine Coon that I purchased from a high dollar cattery that has been sick since the day I got her. She recently tested positive for Tritrichomonas foetus. She will be starting her Ronidizole treatment. They prescribed her 95mg once a day for 14 days. Most everything I have read says it's better to stay at a low dose around 30mg. I'm a little concerned at the mg. Can any of you tell me what dose of mg. your cats took ? My cat currently weighs right at 8lbs.

PCR testing is more accurate and the parasite does not need to be living. They test for specific RNA of the organism. see:

http://www.cvm.tamu.edu/gilab/assays/tritrichomonas.shtml

I have been struggling with trying to get a diagnosis and treatment for my cat for 3 months. I suspected T Foetus but could not convince the vet. I also tried to convince her to use ronidazole last month but she refused.Finally she has relented since we have been treating for 3 months, in about 4 days I will have the drug. My question is is there any way to administer this drug in capsule form? The vet assistant said try coating it with oil. I don't want to stop efficacy by doing that.

I rehomed two 6 month old Maine coons three years ago, one turned out to have feline flu and the male, who was suffering the worst diarrhoea I've ever seen, after £200 worth of faecal tests proved positive for tritrich. The vet put him on a trial of ronidazole, which cost another £200, as well as some sachets of something to replace the good bacteria. It was hard going trying to get the ronidazole down him, no way would he eat tablets, I ended up mixing the ronidazole powder in small portions of tuna. The result - from the very first dose his diarrhoea stopped. It was a miracle drug for us. We feed him royal canin sensitive dry food and three years on he's still as good as gold.

Dear sparkx.

I have just been reading you comment about your 2 maine coons. I have just brought a snowshoe kitten and has tested for Tritrich so has now been put on Ronidazole. I was a bit shocked to see you paid 200 pound for the medication. My vet only charged me 15 pound. 

 I have just brought a snowshoe kitten and has tested for Tritrich so has now been put on Ronidazole. My kitty has been on her meds' for 3 days now and her stools are looking a little better. She has however become very skittish and gets very worried about strange sounds. My daughter was cuddling her and she heard a sound. She flew in the air and scratched my daughter as she tried to get away. She then run upstairs if fear. I have never seen her act this way. Would this be the medication. I would like to know if I need to stop giving her this medication.

I just completed ronidazole treatment on a 14 week old Persian kitten, with no neurological or any other side effects. I discovered info about tritrichomonas foetus after 2 months of vet visits food changes,albon,metronidazole and many tests,she had the symptoms the only thing that helped the diarrhea was metronidazole soon as she was off the metronidazole the diarrhea came back. so then we tested for TTF and she was positive.  I began ronidazole at 45mg once daily for 14 days, I immediately saw a decrease in frequency and consistency of diarrhea ,  i was so hopeful ,then after 3-4 days after completing ronidazole treatment  the diarrhea is back,not as smelly,but watery ,mucusy tinged with blood . just like I saw before treatment. so back to the vet we go for a retest to see if the tritrichomonas foetus is gone. If anyone has had an experience on treating tritrichomonas foetus I need all the advice I can get,i've read all the available info, but haven't found many first hand experiences with treatment . 

Hallo there

I know this is an old topic

But I want to ask some thing

What is the dosis you give to  cat :   mg ronidazole/ kg cat

Can you get it in america at the vet?

and when so what is the price for it

Please can some body help me  and gif me infromation???

Kind regards Ank

Sorry want to tell more

i live in Holland and treatment for tritri is not know at all vets

How do you test??? an inpouchs test???

price in USA?

and I sa 34 mg a day Ronidazole for 14 day???

Did not read all  retr. but maibe some one is willing to inform me

in one mail. or post  whit all useble info .

Thanks a lot Ankank

I'm giving my 4.6lb cat 65mg once a day for 14 days,the rx cost me $39.98 in the U.S. I was told the dosage is 30mg/kg.

There is a good chance your cat has a yeast infection caused by the drug. This is very common with treatment.
So now you have to treat for yeast overgrowth and give her pectin and a good probiotic. Forti flora helps some.

My 10 month old male cat has had diarrhea since I adopted him at 3 months. He was just diagnosed with tri-trich and the vet prescribed Albon. He refused to treat my other cat (sister from same litter) since she is asymtomatic. He said if the Albon doesn't work in 10 days, we can try metrodinazole. We are now 6 days in with no improvement.

It doesn't seem like my vet is educated about this, and seeing as how he was not open to my request to treat both, I don't have high hopes that he will be in favor of trying rodinazole.

What would you guys suggest I do?

I have got 2 of my cats are on Ronidazole and have been for the last week. One kitten and one older cat. Both are doing well with no side effects. Both are much happier cats. My vet also has her cat on Ronidazole and recommends it. There is a risk of course. My older cat had diarrhea for more then 2 years and it never got any better. She was a very unhappy grumpy cat. She is now a much happier cat. I myself would take the risk. You can always insist on the drug or get advise from another vets. I had to change vets before I saw any progress. Some vets are just out to make money. Hope this helps and keep us posted.   

Your 14 week old kitten has been on several antibiotics at 7 to 10 days doses likely each time also needs to be able to replenish normal,gut flora. Famotidine and probiotics can help heal and restore gut flora. I think you can rule out parasites and start to look at other causes after this last round of drugs.
You could let gut rest and maybe try raw food, or a really good grain free.

Keep giving meds, it could be the act of administering the worst tasting substance ever, or just being pulled in general. She is scared of it happening again.you will have to,get her trust back, but don't stop now.

Have you had your kitten tested for Corona virus? if not, I would suggest asking your vet for a corona titre test, if the result is anything but negative the issues you are having are most likely caused by this virus. Your vet should be able to give you oxytetracycline to settle it down but it may have to be a prolonged course. Your vet should be able to give you the relevant information re corona virus if it turns out to be this.

One of my two kittens just got diagnosed with cryptosporidium and giardia, we had treated the giardia and the suspicion is that it did not respond due to dual infection. We will be using one week or azithromysin two times a day for one week, then switching to Metronidazole two times a day for another week, taking two weeks off and then another week of Metronidazole two times a day for one week.. The other kitten (sister littermate) has tritich.  We did the PCR panel after being unsuccessful with panacure prior.  I am terrified to give the Ronizadole after reading about it.......have to start this evening, it is the one dose for 14 days......small capsule......the vet and pharmacist both told me all of the warnings are in the literature but that they have not experienced problems with them in these dosages......anybody know any more about this......I truly am just terrified.....my girls are only seven months old, came from a rescue......I am hopeful that this course of treatment for the two of them will now end this cycle and make them parasite free and since they are indoors only and drink bottled water, I know it will not reocccur....

The Ronidazole is the only remedy for Tri trich,

Diamond Back Pharmacy compounded it in liquid form, chicken flavor, and although it took quite a few weeks to knock it out,

have no fear, it works and works well. Our cats were affected by this from the livestock contamination of Purina wet food in 2015,

and we have not had any issues at all since clearing this up.

Just be sure to do the PCR panel again several days or a week after completing the cycle of

meds to be sure it's been eradicated.

Poor cats and poor you, it's a really nasty one that tri-trich.

Thanks so much for your response, I have pill form for the Ronidazole and the pill was easy to get into Kit.  I am having a hard time with Kaboodle and the compounded azithromycin so I am going to add a bit of baby food in the syringe as even tho it was compounded apparently it is still somewhat bitter.....I did just remember that with my old cat, I mixed lots of things in baby food and then just shoved it in if she didn't take it totally willingly.  My girls really love baby food so maybe this will make it less stressful for Kaboodle (and me!)

Sherry, just be careful, wear gloves when administering the Ronidazole in pill form, it is a highly toxic medication and should not be touched with your skin.

Next time, have your vet fill the prescription with Diamond Back, they will ship it directly to you, and it's alot safer to dose with a syringe.

What a headache Tri trich is, but this too will pass and you will start the new year off on the road to much less stress and stinky diarrhea !

:-)