Now Persil has Erlichia!

Oh, Jenny! I Googled in German to see if I could come up with some incidence of erlichiosis in Germany, Austria, or Switzerland, since they're close enough to Bosnia to perhaps give you an idea. All I came up with is that some dogs or cats being brought to Germany from Spain, Italy, and Herzegovina for adoption here are tested for it. It doesn't really seem to be a "tropical" disease, though, because it's prevalent in the Southern U.S., and there are cases in Pennsylvania, which is far from tropical.

Thanks. I asked the vet again about this and he said that in fact what he had meant was that he has never seen a case here, but that there have been some cases in cats brought here from the Mediterranean and Africa. The ticks responsible don't live here as they can't survive the winters. So I wonder if she was bitten by a cat who somehow had picked it up - if she has it at all. It could have happened before I found her. I do feel that she is not quite right - she is still very small for her age, and rather thin, though she eats a lot. But I thought I was being paranoid and hypochondriac.

Jenny,

I don't know what is involved in the test but I am wondering about having a re-test and then getting a copy of the results written down. Her small size could certainly be attributed to her earlier health problems, and it may be that she will always be a small cat because so much of her energy was diverted from her growth when she was younger. You mentioned that you are going to the EU soon. Is there a chance that you could have her tested there? From what I read tetracycline was the first course for treatment as well, and then there was another drug listed (I don't recall the name) that was also used. Perhaps one of the vet techs on the list can ask at their clinics if they are familiar with diagnosis and treatment for the condition. Under the circumstances if there is any way to get a second opinion or a second test to confirm the results, it seems it would be a useful exercise. I am curious - why did he end up testing for Erlichiosis to begin with? Is it a standard protocol for the heartworm test?

Kathryn

hehehe, doing more reading.

Here is a link - it won't copy - of really good technical information about the tests used to identify ehrlichosis in cats and dogs (same variant, same symptoms, same treatment) and both the treatment and dosage of the various antibiotics - doxycycline, tetracycline and two other ones - it seems a 24 to 28 day series is most effective with very quick results apparent between 24 to 48 hours after starting treatment. Even if she is just supposed to have the condition you could still start her on the antibiotic.

Maybe you can print out this article and take it in to the faculty vets so they can peruse it. The information is very very useful. I am not familiar enough with Persil to see if she has the symptoms listed, but some of them are pretty definite and you haven't mentioned them, so I don't know if cats can be asymptomatic or not. I may be misreading this information but in the addenda it appears that the serological test on cats is not necessarily reliable and generally they use both a positive serological test plus physical evidence of the condition to indicate a likeliehood of infection.

http://64.233.179.104/search?q=cache...ment+cat&hl=en



Kathryn

Oh, sweet little Persil! I just hope she doesn't have to endure this treatment, Jenny, and know it just breaks your heart to think of her having to deal with such painful injections. All you want it is for your baby to be well! Please do let us know as soon as you know anything. Please feel better, Persil!

KAthryn, thank you. I also have been doing up some reading! To answer your questions - yes, I asked about the heartworm test and it is a SNAP test that also covers other conditions. I am going to live in France soon, but I really don't know when yet - it might even be up to a year before I go so I do want to get this sorted first. Also, the documents for EU entry include a vet exam that says the animal is as healthy as can be expected, so I don't want any lingering conditions on her 'pet passport'. Quite apart from the fact that I want her to be healthy!

I think we have it sorted. This morning Dr Haris told me he has a friend going to Vienna next week to the vet faculty at the university there, where they have an EU accredited lab. He has spoken to someone there who is willing to do the rabies antibody tests (essential for the EU passport) and to use drops of the same blood samples to do SNAP tests on all three girls. Haris will take the blood samples the day before his friend travels. This is perfect - an objective test and I will get the results of both the SNAPs and the rabies tests within two days. It also saves me the hassle of having to send blood samples by DHL to SLovenia for the rabies results, which is what I thought I was going to have to do, as there is no accredited lab here.

So I think we can safely wait a week or so before starting any treatment - I don't even like giving antibiotics without a good reason, we all know about built up immunity. I will keep you all posted, and thanks to all who sent good wishes. And no, I will not be going back to the private vet!

Jenny i really like the sound of this Dr Haris!

Yes, I think he is a really good guy, and I discovered this morning too that he is involved in a scheme to trap and neuter stray dogs in Sarajevo. That is why his friend is going to Vienna. They do all the necessary procedures and paperwork and then send the dogs to Vienna as pre-arranged pets. Apparently there is a big demand for 'Bosnian orphan' dogs, and all owners are checked out thoroughly. Dogs that cannot be socialized are PTS, which is sad but better than being on the streets.

The only thing is that working at the Govt Faculty there is a terrible shortage of equipment etc, which is why they don't have SNAP tests or a lab, and run out of microchips. And the premises, though clean, are very run down. They can't charge the same kind of fees as the private vet. But I think they are really doing all they can.

Oh Jenny, it really is never ending for poor Persil. She is in my thoughts.

Jenny, I was just wondering how Persil was - I am not sure if i have missed an update lately

wondering how Persil is here too!

The update is that my friend is back from Vienna with the test pack and Persil will have her blood taken here by Haris next Tuesday, then the blood will go to Vienna for full analysis. The vet there said he didn't trust the accuracy of the SNAP tests. Att he same time Ellie and Dushka will have their rabies blood tests taken, to confirm their immunity and validate hteir passports. Persil will have to wait for that as the Austrian vet said that she must be checked out and if necessary treated for ehrlichiosis before any other blood analysis. So it is progressing, but slowly. On another front, Haris has lent me an enormous cat carrier with which I am trying to trap the feral in the garden for TNR. I have been working with it for several days, and Sisco will now go right into it to be fed, so I could shut the door if I wanted. The only problem is that for the last few days he has only come round at night for food, and I need to trap him in the morning! I cannot keep him all night in it, it would be unfair to him and drive the neighbours (whom I am trying to keep in ignorance of this) crazy.

I will update on both fronts as soon as possible.

This is good to hear. Keeping Persil in my thoughts! Good luck trapping the feral!

Thanks for the update Jenny. I was just wondering how little Persil was doing

My gosh...this reads like an exotic novel. My heart to out to you both. You are a loving, smart mommy, who is taking great care of your charges. My thoughts & prayers are with you.

Home from the rabies and blood tests, in total shock. Ellie escaped from the carrier and got mauled by three dogs. Thank God there was a vet on hand to examine her immediately. She does not seem injured though I think she may have lost a couple of claws and some fur. She was covered in blood, but it belonged to one of the dogs, a terrier, not her, so I think she was fighting hard for her life. When we pulled the dogs off her (three of them had her on the ground) she just lay there and I thought she was dead. Her mouth was open and then I could see she was breathing. I have brought her home now and put her in my bedroom in the dark, with a saucer of warm milk and a litter tray. I don't know what else to do. The vet, Haris, said just to leave her alone and quiet for 24 hours and to ring him if I thought there were any problems. She is walking a little stiffly, but he said there are no bones broken though she is probably bruised. And that was after she had been so good during the blood donation - hardly a peep. Dushka was good too, but Persil fought and screamed and it was a battle to get enough blood to take to Vienna. I thought all that was bad enough, then poor Ellie got out and ran. It was my fault - I didn't check the bottom clips of the carrier carefully. We were doing it at my friend's garage as she is the one going to Vienna. I just feel awful.

This is terrible...poor baby. My thoughts & prayers are with all of you.

Ellie is lying on my bed, though she has managed to get tot he litter tray 4 times tonight. She has slightly loose stools - could htis be shock? She doesn't want to eat or drink anything and when I touch her gently on the sides or tummy she squeaks. I hope it is just bruising. I will call Dr Haris in the morning and let him know how she is. Her fur is all matted on the sides but apart from some clumps missing there are no wounds.

Persil does have a slight case of ehrlichiosis, parasites that live in the blood, and she went for an injection of doxycillin this morning. She was very good, despite it being a nasty injection that burns because of the alcohol base. She needs another one in 14 days and that should be that. I am so glad that we had the other blood tests taken.