Page 741 - Problem-Based Feline Medicine

32 – THE CAT WITH SIGNS OF ACUTE SMALL BOWEL DIARRHEA 733

Special stains (Giemsa) will reveal the filamentous Treatment
organisms in the histopathologic specimens.
There is no known effective therapy.
The organism is difficult to culture because of its
Supportive care with antibiotics, fluids and mainte-
intracellular, microaerophilic nature.
nance of body functions (temperature, nutrition) are
essential.
Differential diagnosis
The disease is so peracute that panleukopenia must be Prognosis
considered, as well as other infectious agents that cause
Poor.
severe enteritis and systemic disease.

RECOMMENDED READING

August JR (ed). Consultations in Feline Internal Medicine II. Philadelphia, PA, WB Saunders, 2001.
Ettinger S. Textbook of Veterinary Internal Medicine, Vol. 5. 2000.
Greene CG (ed). Infectious Diseases of Small Animals, 3rd edn. Philadelphia, PA, WB Saunders; 2005.
Guilford WG, Center SA, Strombeck DR, et al (eds). Strombeck’s Small Animal Gastroenterology, 3rd edn.
Philadelphia, PA, WB Saunders, 1996.
Marks SL, Kather EJ. Bacterial-associated diarrhea in the dog: a critical appraisal. Vet Clin North Am Small Anim
Pract 2003; 33: 1029–1060.
Suchodolski JS, Steiner JS. Laboratory assessment of gastrointestinal function. Clin. Tech. Small. Anim. Pract.,
2003; 18: 203–210.