Update on Feliz

[moonvalley]

Feliz was throwing up, and had diarrhea. I diagnosed and am treating it- she has Camby. I was really worried, but in a day she turned around- treatment posted under "guess what" in general forum.

And I was amazed, she is turning the most beautiful shade of silver.

I weighed her yesterday, and she is exactly 2 lbs.

She is now 3 months old.

When I goto her pen when I get home she runs in circles around inside her bed, and kinda rolls at the same time. She is the love and light of my life these days. Gabrial our St. Bernard lays on the ground- I had him weight yesterday too, 100.6 lbs at 7 months, and lets Feliz play with him. He only occaisionally will lift up his paw, but I have to watch closely as he could squish her with a paw.

One of my suprises last week was Feliz can climb vertically up a gate- thus she figured out how to get out of her pen.....

[jbarile]

I am so happy feliz is doing so much better!!! I was going to ask when you first posted but wasn't the proper time, what is Camby?

[Connie]

I'm so glad to hear Feliz is doing better! Huge difference in weight between her and your St. Bernard! My grandson would love to see that St. Bernard...he's crazy about them! So little Feliz is a climber too...Maddie has been the same way...I call her my little escape artist. LOL

[moonvalley]

Campylobacteriosis
Campylobacteriosis is a bacterial imbalance in the digestive tract and produces acute infectious diarrhea in puppies and kittens. Commonly mistaken for Parvovirus, this disease, however, requires different treatment. If you suspect that your dog is affected, have him specifically tested for "Camby". It should also be noted that the disease can be transferred between humans, cats, dogs and other livestock. Initial signs include fecal mucus sheath and gets progessively softer until watery and may also contain blood. Symptoms may also be accompanied by vomiting which may or may not also contain blood. Feces are usually mustard in colour and have a sweet/flowery aroma.

[moonvalley]

Mode of infection is varied, but mostly from contact with urine, feces, or something brought in on shoes, etc. It is also acquired by contact with contaminated food, water or, raw meat (poultry, beef). Symptoms usually start 12-48 hrs after initial contact & spread to susceptible dogs rapidly (young or weaker dogs). Signs of acute infection include vomiting and a watery, mucus, and sometimes bloody diarrhea. Pups have a difficult time surviving, but if caught quick enough (before anorexia), no one dies. Death occurs because of dehydration. Some dogs get better without treatment. Humans can contact this disease from animals. The incubation period is one to seven days. The disease usually runs its course in five to fifteen days. Antibiotics may be advisable.

This disease can be tested for specifically, so if you have an affected dog that appears to have Parvo, but in your mind know that, that could not be possible, have them tested for "Camby". It is important to note that this disease can be transferred between humans, dogs, cats and other livestock. It starts with fecal mucus sheath & continues to get progressively softer until it is watery and contains blood. It then becomes explosive. Vomiting may accompany and may or may not also contain blood. Feces have a sweet/flowery aroma along with a "slaughterhouse on a summer day" smell (similar to parvo diarrhea but with a floral hint). Feces are usually mustard colored. Dogs dehydrate at an astounding rate. Dogs are also at risk of intussusception .

Do NOT automatically assume Parvo when you see this. Parvo treatments have killed the majority of Campylobacteriosis dogs.

What is happening is that there is a bacterial growth in the digestive tract which throws it off balance. The body is trying to counteract this by removing the extra (or offending) bacteria. It seems to do this by trying to remove ALL body fluids as quickly as possible. Death is caused by massive dehydration. From the 1st signs of symptoms, death can be as short as 12 hrs, or as long as 7 days. The younger the dog, the worse it is. The key is to treat this as fast as possible before the dogs go anorexic AND to treat ALL dogs on the premises (erythromycin is the treatment of choice).

After the diarrhea has stopped, you can cram the dog as full of fluids as you want, just not when it is at its most fragile point. You don't want to shock an already shocked system. Also, DO NOT flea-dip/worm/vaccinate at this time, PLEASE!!!!! Anorexic dogs have to be tempted to eat again. Rare, bloody, slightly garlicky & slightly salty beef has worked the best in the past for getting the appetites working. Start small. You may have to give anorexic dogs Nutri-Cal to get them going again. But after they are cured they WILL begin to eat again.

[moonvalley]

Campylobacter Infections






Frequently Asked Questions

What is campylobacteriosis?
How common is Campylobacter?
What sort of germ is Campylobacter?
How is the infection diagnosed?
How can campylobacteriosis be treated?
Are there long-term consequences?
How do people get infected with this germ?
How does food or water get contaminated with Campylobacter?
What can be done to prevent the infection?
Some tips for preventing campylobacteriosis.
What are public health agencies doing to prevent or control campylobacteriosis?

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

What is campylobacteriosis?

Campylobacteriosis is an infectious disease caused by bacteria of the genus Campylobacter. Most people who become ill with campylobacteriosis get diarrhea, cramping, abdominal pain, and fever within 2 to 5 days after exposure to the organism. The diarrhea may be bloody and can be accompanied by nausea and vomiting. The illness typically lasts 1 week. Some persons who are infected with Campylobacter don't have any symptoms at all. In persons with compromised immune systems, Campylobacter occasionally spreads to the bloodstream and causes a serious life-threatening infection.




How common is Campylobacter?

Campylobacter is one of the most common bacterial causes of diarrheal illness in the United States. Virtually all cases occur as isolated, sporadic events, not as a part of large outbreaks. Active surveillance through FoodNet indicates about 15 cases are diagnosed each year for each 100,000 persons in the population. Many more cases go undiagnosed or unreported, and campylobacteriosis is estimated to affect over 1 million persons every year, or 0.5% of the general population. Campylobacteriosis occurs much more frequently in the summer months than in the winter. The organism is isolated from infants and young adults more frequently than from other age groups and from males more frequently than females. Although Campylobacter doesn't commonly cause death, it has been estimated that approximately 100 persons with Campylobacter infections may die each year.



What sort of germ is Campylobacter?

The Campylobacter organism is actually a group of spiral-shaped bacteria that can cause disease in humans and animals. Most human illness is caused by one species, called Campylobacter jejuni, but 1% of human Campylobacter cases are caused by other species. Campylobacter jejuni grows best at the body temperature of a bird, and seems to be well adapted to birds, who carry it without becoming ill. The bacterium is fragile. It cannot tolerate drying and can be killed by oxygen. It grows only if there is less than the atmospheric amount of oxygen present. Freezing reduces the number of Campylobacter bacteria present on raw meat.

How is the infection diagnosed?

Many different kinds of infections can cause diarrhea and bloody diarrhea. Doctors can look for bacterial causes of diarrhea by asking a laboratory to culture a sample of stool from an ill person. Diagnosis of Campylobacter requires special laboratory culture procedures, which doctors may need to specifically request.




How can campylobacteriosis be treated?

Virtually all persons infected with Campylobacter will recover without any specific treatment. Patients should drink plenty of fluids as long as the diarrhea lasts. In more severe cases, antibiotics such as erythromycin or a fluoroquinolone can be used, and can shorten the duration of symptoms if they are given early in the illness. Your doctor will make the decision about whether antibiotics are necessary.

Are there long-term consequences?

Most people who get campylobacteriosis recover completely within 2 to 5 days, although sometimes recovery can take up to 10 days. Rarely, some long-term consequences can result from a Campylobacter infection. Some people may have arthritis following campylobacteriosis; others may develop a rare disease that affects the nerves of the body beginning several weeks after the diarrheal illness. This disease, called Guillain-Barré syndrome, occurs when a person's immune system is "triggered" to attack the body's own nerves, and can lead to paralysis that lasts several weeks and usually requires intensive care. It is estimated that approximately one in every 1000 reported campylobacteriosis cases leads to Guillain-Barré syndrome. As many as 40% of Guillain-Barré syndrome cases in this country may be triggered by campylobacteriosis.



How do people get infected with this germ?

Campylobacteriosis usually occurs in single, sporadic cases, but it can also occur in outbreaks, when a number of people become ill at one time. Most cases of campylobacteriosis are associated with handling raw poultry or eating raw or undercooked poultry meat. A very small number of Campylobacter organisms (fewer than 500) can cause illness in humans. Even one drop of juice from raw chicken meat can infect a person. One way to become infected is to cut poultry meat on a cutting board, and then use the unwashed cutting board or utensil to prepare vegetables or other raw or lightly cooked foods. The Campylobacter organisms from the raw meat can then spread to the other foods. The organism is not usually spread from person to person, but this can happen if the infected person is a small child or is producing a large volume of diarrhea. Larger outbreaks due to Campylobacter are not usually associated with raw poultry but are usually related to drinking unpasteurized milk or contaminated water. Animals can also be infected, and some people have acquired their infection from contact with the infected stool of an ill dog or cat.




How does food or water get contaminated with Campylobacter?

Many chicken flocks are silently infected with Campylobacter; that is, the chickens are infected with the organism but show no signs of illness. Campylobacter can be easily spread from bird to bird through a common water source or through contact with infected feces. When an infected bird is slaughtered, Campylobacter can be transferred from the intestines to the meat. More than half of the raw chicken in the United States market has Campylobacter on it. Campylobacter is also present in the giblets, especially the liver.

Unpasteurized milk can become contaminated if the cow has an infection with Campylobacter in her udder or the milk is contaminated with manure. Surface water and mountain streams can become contaminated from infected feces from cows or wild birds. This infection is common in the developing world, and travelers to foreign countries are also at risk for becoming infected with Campylobacter.




What can be done to prevent the infection?

There are some simple food handling practices for preventing Campylobacter infections. Physicians who diagnose campylobacteriosis and clinical laboratories that identify this organism should report their findings to the local health department. If many cases occur at the same time, it may mean that many people were exposed to a common contaminated food item or water source which might still be available to infect more people. When outbreaks occur, community education efforts can be directed at proper food handling techniques, especially thorough cooking of all poultry and other foods of animal origin, and common sense kitchen hygiene practices. Some data suggest that Campylobacter can spread through a chicken flock in their drinking water. Providing clean, chlorinated water sources for the chickens might prevent Campylobacter infections in poultry flocks and thereby decrease the amount of contaminated meat reaching the market place.

Some Tips for Preventing Campylobacteriosis

Cook all poultry products thoroughly. Make sure that the meat is cooked throughout (no longer pink), any juices run clear, and the inside is cooked to 170oF (77oC) for breast meat, and 180oF (82oC) for thigh meat.
If you are served undercooked poultry in a restaurant, send it back for further cooking.
Wash hands with soap before handling raw foods of animal origin. Wash hands with soap after handling raw foods of animal origin and before touching anything else.
Prevent cross-contamination in the kitchen:
Use separate cutting boards for foods of animal origin and other foods.
carefully clean all cutting boards, countertops and utensils with soap and hot water after preparing raw food of animal origin.
Avoid consuming unpasteurized milk and untreated surface water.
Make sure that persons with diarrhea, especially children, wash their hands carefully and frequently with soap to reduce the risk of
spreading the infection.
Wash hands with soap after having contact with pet feces.




What are public health agencies doing to prevent or control campylobacteriosis?

To learn more about how Campylobacter causes disease and is spread, CDC began a national surveillance program in 1982. A more detailed active surveillance system was instituted in 1996; this will provide more information on how often this disease occurs and what the risk factors are for getting it. CDC is also making an effort to inform the public about campylobacteriosis and ways to avoid getting this disease. The U.S. Department of Agriculture conducts research on how to prevent the infection in chickens. The Food and Drug Administration has produced the Model Food Code, which could decrease the risk of contaminated chicken being served in commercial food establishments.







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This page last reviewed September 3, 2003

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Division of Bacterial and Mycotic Diseases

[Lexi's_Mommy]

I am so happy feliz is doing so much better!!!

[moonvalley]

Today Feliz's stool is back to normal. Five more days of the antibiotic. Feliz is a pain - I mix the antibiotic in Nutracal, and warm water. I draw it into a syringe and squirt a little in her mouth at a time.

This morning when I went to give it to her- she started screaming!

That's what I get for making her feel better....

[SoCalyorkiLvr]

You sound like a miracle worker! I just saw your and replied to your "Guess What" thread and I think it's great.

I wondered if camby is sometimes misdiagnosed as coccidia? The symptoms sound similar. Is there a test for coccidia?

[teri88]

We have a climber too! I call him my little Monkey. How do you guys get the pics next to your names?

[moonvalley]

Thanks, I feel blessed that my knowledge is letting me do good.

There is a test for both. It is similar, and probably is often misdiagnosed. Note the age range for typical:

The primary sign of an animal suffering with coccidiosis is diarrhea. The diarrhea may be mild to severe depending on the level of infection. Blood and mucous may be present, especially in advanced cases. Severely affected animals may also vomit, lose their appetite, become dehydrated, and in some instances, die from the disease.

Most infected puppies encountered by the authors are in the four to twelve week age group. The possibility of coccidiosis should always be considered when a loose stool or diarrhea is encountered in this age group. A microscopic fecal exam by a veterinarian will detect the cysts confirming a diagnosis.

What are the risks?

Although many cases are mild it is not uncommon to see severe, bloody diarrhea result in dehydration and even death. This is most common in animals who are ill or infected with other parasites, bacteria or viruses. Coccidiosis is very contagious, especially among young puppies. Entire kennels may become contaminated, with puppies of many age groups simultaneously affected.

What is the treatment of coccidiosis?

It should be mentioned that stress plays a role in the development of coccidiosis. It is not uncommon for a seemingly healthy puppy to arrive at its new home and develop diarrhea several days later leading to a diagnosis of coccidia. If the puppy has been at the new home for less than thirteen days, then it had coccidia before it arrived. Remember the incubation period (from exposure to illness) is about thirteen days. If the puppy has been with its new owner several weeks, then the exposure to coccidia most likely occurred after the animal arrived at the new home. The authors merely point this out as they have been involved in legal cases as to who was responsible for the cost of treatment, the breeder or new owner. Usually coccidia was present only to surface during the stressful period of the puppy adjusting to a new home.

Fortunately coccidiosis is treatable. Drugs such as sulfadimethoxine (Albon) and trimethoprim-sulfadiazine (Tribrissen) have been effective in the treatment and prevention of coccidia. Because these drugs do not kill the organisms, but rather inhibit their reproduction capabilities, elimination of coccidia from the intestine is not rapid. By stopping the ability of the protozoa to reproduce, time is allowed for the puppy's own immunity to develop and remove the organisms. Drug treatments of five or more days are usually required.

How is coccidiosis prevented or controlled?

Because coccidia is spread by the feces of carrier animals, it is very important to practice strict sanitation. All fecal material should be removed. Housing needs to be such that food and water cannot become contaminated with feces. Clean water should be provided at all times. Most disinfectants do not work well against coccidia; incineration of the feces, and steam cleaning, immersion in boiling water or a 10% ammonia solution are the best methods to kill coccidia. Coccidia can withstand freezing.

Cockroaches and flies can mechanically carry coccidia from one place to another. Mice and other animals can ingest the coccidia and when killed and eaten by a dog, for instance, can infect the dog. Therefore, insect and rodent control are very important in preventing coccidiosis.

The coccidia species of dogs and cats do not infect humans.


Amber Tech's Coccidia remedy contains human grade anti-microbial and anti-parasitic herbs: Olive leaf, mustard seed, black seed, pau d'arco, cloves, alcohol, and distilled water. Suggested dosage is based on the weight of the animal. Shake Well. Give 2-15 drops orally, 4x/day for 10 days. One bottle will treat approximately 3 medium sized puppies.


Treat With Albon Liquid Suspension (1/4 cc per pound per day - the dose is doubled the first day) for 21-30 days. You must not give B Vitamins during Albon treatment. Albon works by inhibiting folic acid synthesis and B vitamins can negate its action. DO give a high potency probiotic supplement all through treatment as Albon damages intestinal flora. When you finish with the Albon, give a B Vitamin supplement with Zinc and Vitamin C, as well as Ecchincea and Goldenseal drops (the powdered herbal extract is also fine if you can find a way to get it down your dog - it's very bitter). We have had good success giving Echinacea and Goldenseal drops during Albon treatment. We mix them with Dyne which improves palatability. Give the drops 3 times a day, but not at the same time as you give the Albon. I don't know if the herbs would react with Albon, but in the absence of data on this subject, I give them a few hours apart to minimize this risk. (According to the German Commission E Monographs, there are no known drug interactions for Echinacea, but this data is not available for Goldenseal.) Ecchincea helps to build the immune system and Goldenseal among other things helps get rid a diarrhea. Note, while very good supportive herbs, they alone will not do the job.

If Giardia is suspected, follow with Panacur** treatment for 5-7 days. (If you have severe Giardia you may need to treat longer, but 5-7 days is usually effective for mild cases). Giardia symptoms can be distinguished from Coccidia symptoms because the stools appear greasy and pale in color before progressing to bloody, foul smelling stools. With Coccidia, the stools are filled with yellowish mucous before progressing to foul smelling, bloody stools. If you notice a combination of these symptoms, you might be dealing with both Coccidia and Giardia at the same time. I have heard of breeders dealing with serious concurrent infections of Giardia and Coccidiosis safely using Albon in the morning and Panacur in the evening. I would only do this if the condition of the dog was very grave. If the infections are still within manageable parameters, I'd treat first with Albon and then Panacur or vice versa.

If e-coli or salmonella are a problem, you may need to use Neomycin. If clostridium or other bacteria are a problem, you may need to incorporate Amoxicillin. According to my vet, Neomycin and Amoxicillin can be used concurrently if you are unsure which bacteria you are dealing with. If seriously indicated, Amoxicillin can be used with Albon if the doses are split up (i.e. Amoxicillin A.M., Albon Noon, Amoxicillin P.M.). I don't know if Neomycin and Albon are compatible so would not use them in combination unless your vet felt it was necessary and O.K. to do.

During the diarrhea stage, electrolytes added to the water are a must. Avoid chilling at all costs. You may need to even use light heat, especially for infected puppies.

[moonvalley]

"Nervous coccidiosis" is a nervous system condition associated with coccidial infection. Signs are consistent with central nervous system involvement, and include muscle tremors, convulsions and other central nervous system symptoms. A consistent sign in "nervous cocci" dogs is that stimulation of any type seems to trigger the symptoms.
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Coccidiosis (blood or fecal test)

Diagnosis -

Demonstration of a considerable number of oocysts in feces is suggestive. The number in feces depends on the stage of the disease; several fecal samples may have to be examined. Species identification requires a specialist.
Clinical signs and lesions are confirmatory.

Treatment -


To be effective coccidiosis must be treated early. Advanced cases do not respond. Sulfadimethoxine, sulfadiazine, trimethoprim-sulfadiazine, trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole and furazolidone (4 - 10 mg/kg, PO, 12 hour interval) have been effective. Treatment is usually administered for up to 7 days or until the patient is asymptomatic.
Fluids and general supportive therapy.


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Have a look here for home test kits
http://www.fecpak.com/index.php

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Do it yourself fecal for coccidiosis:

Oocysts can be identified if the feces are mixed with a
concentrated sugar solution. The oocysts float to the top, along with
larger worm eggs. They are collected and examined with a microscope.

Via fecal sample is not straightforward. Even when a flare is at it's worst, the oocysts may not be shedding in every single stool. Therefore, a negative report does not rule out coccidia. The most thorough way to assess is to collect a sample from every single stool produced for 48 to 72 hours.

pictures of coccidiosis oocysts: http://images.search.yahoo.com/searc...r=FP-tab-web-t

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NEW at R-Biopharm: RIDASCREEN® Campylobacter ELISA for the direct and highly specific antigen detection of C. jejuni and C. coli in stool samples.
The new RIDASCREEN® Campylobacter ELISA enables the reliable detection of bacteria which are no longer capable of multiplication within 2 hours.
The simple test protocol together with ready-to-use reagents provided in drop bottles within the kit, allow a rapid, safe, and sensitive diagnosis of Campylobacteriosis, representing the most common cause of diarrhoea in humans transmitted through food after Salmonellosis worldwide.

[SoCalyorkiLvr]

Thanks. My daughter's dog deveolped coccidia and he was allergic to sulfa and therefore, albon, but my breeder knew to treat with chorid and he recovered quickly. She was a life saver. I think he would have died if I had left it to the vet. She basically was ready to "write him off".

Thanks for the info.

[moonvalley]

Hi Kim,

I don't know if you caught this:

Amber Tech's Coccidia remedy contains human grade anti-microbial and anti-parasitic herbs: Olive leaf, mustard seed, black seed, pau d'arco, cloves, alcohol, and distilled water. Suggested dosage is based on the weight of the animal. Shake Well. Give 2-15 drops orally, 4x/day for 10 days. One bottle will treat approximately 3 medium sized puppies.

Best,

Deborah