Closridium difficule

[donna mote]

As previously posted we were extremely worried about Brinkley and the sudden weight loss. He turned 1 year in August and dropped over 17lbs in a very short period , almost completely quit eating.

Today we got the results back from the last series of blood work.
He has closridium difficule.. He will be on antibiotics and probiotics for the next 14 days.

Meantime we have been feeding him the well known "satin balls" thanks to all you guys and he has already started picking up his weight. Satin balls and arbys roast beef was about all we could get him to eat.

Your knowledge and experience on this would be appreciated.

 

[R Taft]

I have never dealt with it, though i am becoming an "expert" at getting thin dogs up to weight with my RAW satin balls
I think like most infections, if their is a antibiotic the "bug" is sensitive too, Brinkley will get better........Probiotics are great to give along with antibioict and I also always at a teaspoon of Slippery Elm to protect the gut.
Did they do a drug sentitivity test for the right Anti-B's?
:hugs: to Brinkley, hope he gets to feel well soon Ronnie

 

[NewfLove]

I am glad you got an answer. I have heard a lot about satin balls!!

 

[donna mote]

thanks so much Ronnie, not sure about the drug sensitivity test. Randy did not say and since Brinkley stays with his Dad, I get only the phone calls until they come in on the weekends. Not familiar with slippery elm. Would that be found in the health food stores

 

[Erika]

so glad you got answers

 

[NewfieMama]

Glad you found out and have a plan of action! Feel better soon Brinkley!

 

[donna mote]

:hugs:thank you all so very much for the well wishes, my boy really gave his mama a scare

 

[Pipelineozzy]

This was from bloodwork or a stool sample that they found it?

 

[graybird]

Donna, my girl had the clostridium perfringens enterotoxin (as opposed to the clostridium difficile). My thread on her treatment: http://www.newf.net/Forums/showthread.php?t=92127&highlight=clostrid*. Synopsis: metronidazole and tylosin together, avoid ampicillin (diarrhea is a side effect), use sweet potato (both yellow and orange-flesh) rather than rice in the diet as the fiber helps to firm things up.

The difficile is more difficult ("difficile" is French for "difficult", in case you're not Quebecois) to eradicate, but if you google clostridium difficile dogs, you'll find some studies. Hugs, best of luck, and keep asking questions.

 

[NewfDad]

Just an FYI, you may want to talk to the Vet and or your Doctor on handwashing and such with a C. Diff infection. Traditional hand cleaning doesn't work with C. Diff.

 

[sbyer]

I suffered from this a year and a half ago resulting from heavy doses of antibiotics for infected dental implants. It took a long time to recover from it - couple of months. Human treatment was 2 courses of metronidazole (Flagyl) and then vancomycin when the metro didn't resolve it completely, plus probiotics and plain yogurt. This is the standard treatment for humans.
I hadn't realized it could be a problem with dogs too and don't know if the treatment is the same. C Diff. is a bacteria normally present in the bowel but when the bacterial balance in the bowel is altered/upset ie from antibiotics it can become a big problem.
Good luck with Brinkley's treatment and hope he responds quickly to the medications.
Did they do stool tests too?

 

[JRM]

Yes the C-diff was found from a stool test, all his blood work was clear, they tested for 15 different things "I think" from the stool sample. The vet covered several topics with me over the phone, our appointment is for Thursday to meet with him and get the medication. As per phone discussion it seem to be a 14 day treatment and hopefully that will be all that is required.
The Satin Balls have become a daily routine, I preferred to buy fresh ground beef daily and just mix it as needed. The one thing I can add to the satin ball recipe from my experience,,,,, was unable to get Total cereal at one point, changed to Special K thinking Brinkley wouldn’t care, well he would nibble it but not really eat very much, cross town for Total and he went back to eating all I would give him.

 

[ardeagold]

I hope you get this straightened out for Brinkley soon! Please let us know how he's doing once he's on the medication.

Interestingly the woman who originally made/designed the satin ball recipe specifically states no substitutions because the dogs won't eat them. The only substitution she mentions are different types of oil. She recommends grape seed first, then virgin olive, then regular vegetable.

 

[R Taft]

thanks so much Ronnie, not sure about the drug sensitivity test. Randy did not say and since Brinkley stays with his Dad, I get only the phone calls until they come in on the weekends. Not familiar with slippery elm. Would that be found in the health food stores

Slippery elm comes from healthfood stores.Good luck Ronnie

 

[victoria1140]

slippery elm vailable from health food stores, certain chemists.

With C. Diff wash all bedding etc over 75 degrees Celsius as this is the optimum killing temperature. Also lots of hand sanitiser and keep him isolated from anyone who has a major illness as not sure if it can cross gender but better to be safe than sorry

 

[charlieinnj]

Is it recommended to use anti and pro-biotics at the same time?

 

[JRM]

Is it recommended to use anti and pro-biotics at the same time?

I have not been back for a face to face with the vet yet, however per phone discussion, if I took him correctly, will verify during my visit, the probiotics will be used with the antibiotics at the same time, the probiotic will help maintain some of the good bacteria while he is on the antibiotics. Will let you know if this changes after our appointment, the vet is in the process of getting a certain probiotic that he does not have in inventory, so it may be Thursday now before our appointment.