Campylobacter and Erythromycin...any experience?

I foster for a rescue group. We are kind of spead out so we use different vets. Vet #1 has been finding "campy" (campylobacter, a bacteria) in direct stool samples and dispensing Erythromycin as the cure. Vet #2 (mine) can't even find that campy is a problem in cats nor that Erythromycin is stated to cure this bacteria. (she tell me she was reading from her vet book, a new publication)

So my question is, has anyone ever had a cat diagnosed with campy and if so was a medicine prescribed?

ps Vet #2 is doing more research in the area, I am just trying to do some research on my own.

THANKS>

I had several foster kittens with Campylobactor this season, we used Clindamyacin, Amforal, and Tylan powder, on them and that cleared them right up.

Originally Posted by Petnurse2265

I had several foster kittens with Campylobactor this season, we used Clindamyacin, Amforal, and Tylan powder, on them and that cleared them right up.

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All three on one animal or a choice of one of the mentioned medicines??

We used all 3, we were just using the clindamyacin, but the 1st kitten was not getting any better. Once we started using the Amforol and the Tylan the kitten started eating again the next day. When the first kitten's sister got sick with the same symptoms we automatically used all 3 and she was better immediately.

Has the campylobacter caused any health problems in the cats? I know many cats (and dogs) carry this bacteria naturally in their intestines without it ever becoming a problem for them. Some would say that campylobacters are a part of the cats natural bacterial culture.

Originally Posted by Sol

Has the campylobacter caused any health problems in the cats? I know many cats (and dogs) carry this bacteria naturally in their intestines without it ever becoming a problem for them. Some would say that campylobacters are a part of the cats natural bacterial culture.

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It is causing (or seems to be causing) a very bad diarrhea. But you seem to be correct, my vet (vet #2) seems to think that it might be a natural occuring bacteria for cats.

In your opinion, what could be causing the diarrhea if nothing else but campy was found?

See with my kittens, I had loss of appetite, vomitting, fever that would come and go, but no diarrhea because they weren't eating.

Originally Posted by JenLuckenbach

It is causing (or seems to be causing) a very bad diarrhea. But you seem to be correct, my vet (vet #2) seems to think that it might be a natural occuring bacteria for cats.

In your opinion, what could be causing the diarrhea if nothing else but campy was found?

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There are so many different things that can cause diarrhea in cats. They can be sensitive to the food they're eating, they might have intestinal parasites or some bacteria causing problems... these are just a few reasons.

What have been done for the tummies? Whenever I have cats with diarrhea I starve them for 12-24 hours and then only feed raw meat or boiled fish (boiled chicken is OK to). That usually does the trick.

I'm not a vet, but if bacterias are suspected to cause the problem antibiotics should be given, of course. In Sweden most vets prescribe Flagyl (metronidazole) if bacterias are thought to cause diarrhea, but I have no idea which one of the two are the most effecient.

I'm not saying that campylobacters can't cause problem beacuse they probably can if they are allowed to grow and become the dominant bacteria in the intestines, but I just don't think that campylobacters are supposed to be blamed just beacuse "they're there" because in many cases they don't cuase any problems at all.