I've seen a couple mentions of clostridium on the board, but not a whole lot of info on what it is, what causes it, and what can be done about it...
Well, as most of you know, Kai has been sick a couple times in the past, but we never got an actual diagnosis. We figured it was something bacterial because nothing helped until we tried Baytril and Flagyl on him. Well, he got sick again last week, and we decided to do the one thing we hadn't done before, which is a culture and sensitivity. (We didn't do it before b/c the
vet said it wouldn't show anything if he didn't have diarrhea...) The results came back today and it is clostridium. So I did a little research and came up with some info about clostridium that specifically pertains to my case (Kai), but that I thought would be important to share with you guys.
First of all, there are different strains of Clostridium, two of which cause tetanus and botulism <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/shocked.gif" alt="" /> The
vet said they found 2 strains in Kai, but I'm not sure which two...I'll get more details tomorrow.
Causes:
http://www.cehs.siu.edu/fix/medmicro/clost.htm </font><blockquote><font class="small">Quote:</font><hr />
C. difficile: Pseudomembranous colitis (PC) results predominantly as a consequence of the elimination of normal intestinal flora through antibiotic therapy. Symptoms include abdominal pain with a watery diarrhea and leukocytosis
<hr /></blockquote><font class="post">
http://medic.med.uth.tmc.edu/path/00001496.htm </font><blockquote><font class="small">Quote:</font><hr />
C. difficile
Clostridium difficile is a motile bacterium that can be part of the natural intestinal flora. Infection can occur through the use of broad-spectrum antibiotics which lower the relative amount of other normal gut flora. When this situation occurs, C. difficile proliferates and infects the large intestine. The bacterium then releases two enterotoxins that destroy the intestinal lining and cause diarrhea.
<hr /></blockquote><font class="post">
http://www.animal-haven.com/ConstDia.htm </font><blockquote><font class="small">Quote:</font><hr />
Stress can cause an overgrowth of clostridium, a naturally occurring bacteria in the stomach and intestine.
<hr /></blockquote><font class="post">
Prevention:
http://www.avianbiotech.com/diseases/clostridium.htm </font><blockquote><font class="small">Quote:</font><hr />
Minimize stress and overcrowding; Provide proper ventilation; Prevent malnutrition with a proper
diet.
<hr /></blockquote><font class="post">
Treatment:
http://www.anmldr.com/PalmVet/SA-18-7-8-9.htm#clostridium </font><blockquote><font class="small">Quote:</font><hr />
Ampicillin, amoxicillin or metronidazole given for 7 days will resolve most acute cases. Animals with chronic disease may require antibiotics for several weeks. The addition of fiber to the
diet also appears to help resolve and perhaps prevent reoccurrence. Soluble fiber, in particular, increases volatile fatty acids in the colon, thereby decreasing colonic pH which tends to inhibit proliferation and sporulation of C perfringens.
<hr /></blockquote><font class="post">
And one last bit of info... </font><blockquote><font class="small">Quote:</font><hr />
Clostridium perfringens - This organism is capable of producing type (A, B, C, D, and E) toxins that can causes necrosis of
the surrounding tissue including muscular tissue. The bacteria themselves produce gas that leads to bubbly deformations of the infected tissue. C. perfringens is capable of necrotizing intestinal tissue and can release an enterotoxin that may lead to severe diarrhea.
<hr /></blockquote><font class="post"> which, if you remember,
sounds an awfully lot like what happened to Kylie...
So...make SURE if you have a sick glider, you get a culture and sensitivity run. Having a diagnosis is half the battle!!