I've got the results of Saffy's fecal sample and Isospora (Coccidia) has shown up positive.
I've been doing a bit of internet research, but nothing much has really come up that helps, except that in extreme cases, if not treated, it can cause death.
The vet said it is usually transferred between animals, and can even be brought in on a shoe...?
Which makes me think the bout of runny poo (with blood) that William had a few months ago was probably the same, i just put it down to diet as it cleared up pretty quickly. Saffy has had ongoing diarrhoea now for 4 weeks or so.
A cat can carry this disease for some time with no symptoms and just pass it on. Apparently, they can then re-infect each other as the oocysts can lay dormant for months...
(According to my research)
"Coccidiosis rarely affects a healthy dog or cat significantly, but it can lead to gastrointestinal problems and death in debilitated or immunocompromised adult animals. Puppies and kittens also are at risk for serious infection"
(Taken from
http://www.pets.ca/encyclopedia/coccidiosis.htm)
The vet has suggested we send a sample of Williams poo to be tested, too, and Saffy may have to be hospitalised for a week to be medicated (she will literally kill me if i try and get pills down her neck)
Then we have to make sure there's no cross contamination after it's all been treated.
We are waiting on the bacterial sample to be completed to make sure there's nothing else she needs to be treated for.
The medication she will need is Sulphenamide.
What a nightmare - poor Saffy must be in pain...
Anyone here know anything about the disease?