13264 Pond Springs Road

Austin, Texas 78729

(512) 258-2024 - Voice

June 2004 Pet of the Month: Stardust

Stardust is a gorgeous young spayed female Maine Coon cat.  She started urinating outside of the litter box in April and a urine culture showed that she had a urinary tract infection.  Treatment with antibiotics based on her culture results cured the infection and she was feeling better by the beginning of May.  

At the end of May, Stardust again came to see us because she was feeling very ill and had lost a large amount of weight.  She was running a mild fever at this time and no longer had a urinary tract infection.  She was becoming anemic and dehydrated at this time and it was determined that time was of the essence in getting her illness diagnosed and treated.  Stardust was seen by a specialist and had an ultrasound done.  It showed that she had a very enlarged spleen and it was believed that this was due to a parasitic infection called Hemobartonella that causes red blood cells to be broken up in the cat's body.   Intravenous fluid therapy, cortisone,  and antibiotics were in order to help control this infection.  Stardust was able to return home after 6 days of intensive care therapy.  She continued antibiotics and cortisone at home to insure that the parasite was completely cured.  Her entire course of treatment spanned a period of 2 1/2 months.  She is now doing great and is back to her normal self.  She may have a tendency to have recurrent problems with anemia as a side effect of this infection but the recurrences should easily respond to treatment with medication.

Hemobartonella is a microscopic parasite that attaches to red blood cells in a cat's body.  The spleen recognizes these infected blood cells and destroys them.  This does lead to anemia because of the large number of red blood cells that have parasites attached.  An antibiotic is used to kill the parasite and cortisone helps prevent further destruction of red blood cells so that the body can have time to recover.  This parasite requires fleas to transmit the infection.  Stardust has never had a visible flea on her, but it does only take one flea to cause infection.  If you would like additional information on hemobartonella (know known as Mycoplasma), please feel free to email me at kpercival@CatHospitalofAustin.com

Number of Times this Page has been Viewed