Ronidazole having no effect what so ever. TF diagnosed cats

skymaster · **Joined:** Fri Aug 07, 2015 8:32 am **Posts:** 25

I'm now 12 days into a 14 day course of ronidazole for my two very young bengal cats and there has been absolutely no let up in the stinking, runny poos. I've read that the poo problem should have subsided after a few days of starting treatment.

They were started on 10mg / KG and then moved up to 30mg / KG after week one. It's a liquid that I get down them by putting it in some very strong flavoured fishy food (they are definitely eating it all)

I have been keeping their trays clean and sanitised as best I can and have washed all their bedding and thoroughly cleaned their whole area. I am also keeping their feeding area and food bowls extremely clean (they get a fully sterile bowl for each meal)....

Both of their poo is still the consistency of chocolate sauce and stinks to high heaven.

Does anyone have any ideas? Could I have killed the parasite but their tummies will take a while to firm up again?

Eggman · **Joined:** Thu Aug 28, 2014 11:22 pm **Posts:** 730

Were they also tested for Giadia? My Dexter had both and needed to be treated with different medications for both parasites.

It could also be diet/sensitive tum related. I guess that would be the next thing to try if all the treatments do not work.

What does your vet say about it all?

Donna741 · **Joined:** Wed Feb 05, 2014 9:03 pm **Posts:** 1048

I agree with Debbie, they may have something secondary going on in addition to the TF.

I would call the vet and let them know and ask about bringing in a fresh sample from both cats to be checked for other issues.

Sherry · **Joined:** Thu May 23, 2013 2:21 pm **Posts:** 9217

Testing the stool samples again is what is needed! If they have recently seen the cats, you can just drop the sample off and they can let you know. TF is not easy to cure -- and I'm not sure it's ever cured. It just goes dormant in the cat. Know it can take months for the diarrhea to go away. Here is some info I found for you:

"In addition to treating with ronidazole, we recommend giving a probiotic or a synbiotic for four weeks starting on the same day as the ronidazole treatment. Our pilot study using Protexin Pro-Kolin Enterogenic™ in conjunction with ronidazole resulted in significantly fewer recurrences.

Recurrences: Unfortunately, T. foetus in some cats can be resistant to ronidazole therapy, so clinical signs recur following treatment. If this occurs, rule out possible co-infections as it has been shown that T. foetus-infected cats frequently carry a number of other potential faecal pathogens. Only if recurrence occurs despite giving a concurrent probiotic or a synbiotic, and after ruling out other potential infections, then consider repeating ronidazole treatment, but at a higher dose."

Follow the guidelines of your vet. I do give Raiden a probiotic every day. It's not cheap, but it has definitely helped him.

skymaster · **Joined:** Fri Aug 07, 2015 8:32 am **Posts:** 25

Hi

Another sample is being tested at present. I have had a call already to say it's come back negative for most of the usual things... but the TF result will take a few more days....

They have now both been referred to a specialist pet hospital. In fact I think some of the literature online about TF was written by a vet at this same hospital (Langford, near Bristol) .... Seems our high street vet has run out of ideas...

I will take them there next week for a thorough examination... lets hope they can get this sorted...

Sherry · **Joined:** Thu May 23, 2013 2:21 pm **Posts:** 9217

I know how trying something like this can be, but hang in there. You're doing the right thing in making sure you check for everything! It's important your kitties get better. Keep us posted.

skymaster · **Joined:** Fri Aug 07, 2015 8:32 am **Posts:** 25

Hi

Well we've been the huge pet teaching hospital at Langford and the prognosis was basically that because they have tested positive for TF, that there's two cats living together in a house with a puppy, and that TF is extremely difficult to get rid of in the best of circumstances... that we stand virtually no hope of ever getting rid of it (due to constant reinfection)... A total waste of time basically... We were referred back to the high street vets...

The runny poo continues, as does the gas and explosive brown patterns on the side of the litter tray....

Is there anything natural I can give them that will at the very least, firm up their poo and reduce the gas and bloating?

spitspot · **Joined:** Mon Jan 12, 2015 2:26 pm **Posts:** 734

I would think a really good quality probiotic as Sherry mentioned would help some. How frustrating that this will be such a nightmare to get rid of. I use the protexin products for Oscar and think they are great. It sounds like the pro-kolin would really be beneficial.

skymaster · **Joined:** Fri Aug 07, 2015 8:32 am **Posts:** 25

Hi

They are already taking the protexin powder and the Dr. Mercola probiotic powder, it makes no difference to poo situation sadly.

Tabitha · **Joined:** Sun Feb 02, 2014 8:11 pm **Posts:** 1196

So sorry you are all having to go through this with no end in sight...

I am no expert and not had to deal with this, but my understanding is that by feeding a raw diet, this can mask the symptoms and as such may help firm things up for them.

spitspot · **Joined:** Mon Jan 12, 2015 2:26 pm **Posts:** 734

The pro-kolin is a paste if I understand correctly with kaolin to firm up stools. It won't cure but it might help with litter box mess

Eggman · **Joined:** Thu Aug 28, 2014 11:22 pm **Posts:** 730

I went through this too with Dexter my Bengal. I also had Muskey, my Burmese who caught it too.

I had to keep both cats separate until the treatment was completed and they were retested.

Have you tried keeping them separate during treatment so that they don't reinfect each other?

Sherry · **Joined:** Thu May 23, 2013 2:21 pm **Posts:** 9217

Perhaps adding more fiber to the diet -- pumpkin is recommended, but a very small amount -- 1/2 tsp maybe tops. TF is contagious and if you have more than one kitty -- it can just go round and round and round and round! However, I do not agree that you can never get rid of this. It's separating the cats, medicating the cat with the TF, and making sure everything is spotless when it comes to the litter boxes -- separate litter boxes are a a huge help if you can keep them from cross contaminating. Diarrhea is not fun for a pet! This is not going to make your kitty happy! Naturally, the medication is not going to work if the cat is reinfected! There is a topic here on TF. Read up on it on the internet. There are a lot of bengal owners who have dealt with this -- many members here as well. I would not give up! You can't have three pets with this issue. And I feel it can be cured!

skymaster · **Joined:** Fri Aug 07, 2015 8:32 am **Posts:** 25

Hi again,

We haven't yet tried the Pro Kolin paste. I've ordered some and a tin of 100% pure pumpkin. I'll give those a try this week...

I haven't given up yet... but this is extremely demoralising indeed....

I'm planning to teach them both to go to the toilet in the human toilet (I've ordered the kit online)... so that we can dispense with the litter boxes.... Right now just one poo will totally contaminate the entire litter contents due to it being sprayed and then mixed everywhere... I'm hoping that if they begin to use the toilet their paws won't need to come into contact with the poo atall...

I agree that the only way to stand any chance of getting rid of this is to separate the cats (from each other and the dog) and have them live for 14 days in an extremely clean environment and have their bums cleansed after every poo before their tongue gets near it... this and the course of Ronidazol at the full dose might just do it....

Eggman · **Joined:** Thu Aug 28, 2014 11:22 pm **Posts:** 730

It was extremely time consuming, stressful and difficult but we completely separated our two cats.

Muskey was upstairs in our bedroom with the door shut. He was pretty happy up there as he was an elderly cat so spent a lot of time sleeping anyway but we put a cat tree up there, litter tray, food etc and I visited him during the day and he slept with us at night :eek:

Dexter was kept downstairs with his own tree, food, litter try etc.

I was absolutely meticulous with cleaning both trays, food bowls and keeping everywhere as spotless as I could. I was pretty much cleaning non-stop all day long. Litter trays were changed and cleaned immediately after soiling. Dexter's diarrhoea was particularly bad and the tray needed changing frequently. I also had to clean him frequently too :(

I know how you feel it's extremely upsetting to deal with but I too feel you can get rid of this.

Ronidazole having no effect what so ever. TF diagnosed cats

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