Thread: Schrödinger finally diagnosed...

It would seem that we finally have had some positive news re Schrodingers runny bum problem from the vet. After having to deal with this every day since he arrived and putting in yet another fecal sample (which was a composite of a number of samples taken over three days) and waiting over two weeks for the results the results came back positive for Tritrichomonas.

The vet, whom had never come across it herself gave me a link of a page on the internet and is going to be consulting a cat specialist to see what can be done for our schrodo and if she can get any medication to treat it.

She did mention that the problem can sometimes solve itself overtime (up to two years it would seem) but that the treatment using ronidazole has seen significant results. I'll await further information and the consult from the specialist before anything is agreed.

Finally we have a name for it and at last we can stop worrying that were giving him the wrong food.

Has anyone here on the forum ever heard of it ? experienced it ? dealt with it ? if so then please do tell.

Additionally, with this coming up he may yet have a temporary reprieve of his castration which was set for next Wednesday, oh and at weigh in today he's currently coming in at 6.5kg's - im not sure his cat tree can take much more abuse as I've had to already knock some nails in it

I have heard of TF and it does seem to be getting more and more common. The treatment that your vet has suggested does seem to be the best option from what I've heard although I know there is another treatment that has been used but I can't remember what it's called.

TF can clear itself but the in-between is not nice and I would imagine that your boy is feeling pretty uncomfortable, although his weight is surprisingly good.

Google it as much as you can because there is a lot of information out there

Louise

Thanks louise and dont worry we will be scouring the internet over the weekend on this. If you do remember what the other treatment you mentioned is could you please post/pm me it.

With schrodo apart from the upheaval of us following him every time he goes to the loo (about three or four times a day it must be said - sometimes more) and checking him/cleaning him when necessary he's a fine, energetic, utterly mad, attention seeking, noise machine.

I've posted some quasi recent pics of him here which i'll endeavour to upload to the forum this weekend when time permits.

Never heard of this before, but I can sympathize. When we got Zephyr he apparently brought something with him that made all three of our existing cats go through 2-3 bouts of diarrhea over about a month or so. Would be bad for a couple of days in each, then clear up, then reoccur a week or so later. Not fun! Repeated fecal tests found nothing, though some low level of coccidia was eventually isolated from Zephyr (and is known to have similar effects; as cats eventually develop immunity). Zephyr never had symptoms, nor had breeder had any issues at all.

Photos are very cute; he looks excellent despite his toilet issues!

Originally Posted by ayeizajedi

Thanks louise and dont worry we will be scouring the internet over the weekend on this. If you do remember what the other treatment you mentioned is could you please post/pm me it.

With schrodo apart from the upheaval of us following him every time he goes to the loo (about three or four times a day it must be said - sometimes more) and checking him/cleaning him when necessary he's a fine, energetic, utterly mad, attention seeking, noise machine.

I've posted some quasi recent pics of him here which i'll endeavour to upload to the forum this weekend when time permits.

Love the pictures especially the one with the quizical tilt of the mouth,think it was no5,but mum that one of the family jewels full on show was a bit much.....

Sorry, this is a ps. My cat was going to the loo 8 to 10 times an hour. He was so poorly. The vet tried everything, and then happened to come across an article in the vets journal about tritricamonus being found in cats and causing bad tummies. The drug is not metronidazol, but an unlicensed drug called ronydasol or something like that. Happy to give my vets name to pass on to other vets if your cat has same problems.

Hi Kittialex, thanks for posting!

Did you experience any side effects with the drug ? i read that it can cause seizures and also how long did you have to administer the drug for until it was cleared up?

Thankfully schrodo hasn't experienced anything as chronic as 8-10 toilet visits (except when he had his worming tablet!) and weight doesn't seem to be an issue either but all his "deposits" are runny and he does go a number of times a day bless him.

If you could PM me the details about your vets, etc, that would be super-triffic-fantastic and i can pass that information onto my vet.

Originally Posted by ayeizajedi

Thanks louise and dont worry we will be scouring the internet over the weekend on this. If you do remember what the other treatment you mentioned is could you please post/pm me it.

With schrodo apart from the upheaval of us following him every time he goes to the loo (about three or four times a day it must be said - sometimes more) and checking him/cleaning him when necessary he's a fine, energetic, utterly mad, attention seeking, noise machine.

I've posted some quasi recent pics of him here which i'll endeavour to upload to the forum this weekend when time permits.

Great photos, especially the one with him crashed out, proudly flashing his nadgers whilst he's still got them. So pleased you've found out what's causing his runny bum - at least you know what you're dealing with, and that there's a treatment for it, hopefully you're on the home stretch

The vet requested we take Schrödinger in for a check up to make sure he's ok prior to getting the medication ordered and also to get an accurate weight.

So he now weighs in at 6.7kg's and boy can you feel that on the 5 minute walk up there, it was like my arms where getting pulled out of their sockets - it didn't help that he wouldn't sit still either! nosey boy!

I asked if he was getting fat as he's put on so much weight recently and she said he was fine. The tablets which she's ordering may arrive by Saturday so his castration looks like its off until we run the complete course.

Fingers and toes crossed this medication works

my oldest maine coon was diagnosed with tritrichamonas Foetus 6 years ago
I am seriously amazed that many many cat breeders have not come across this(or claim not to know about it) and am constantly bemused at how many vets seem to know little about this. I don't mean that to sound offensive to anyone but I really do wonder!
My cat had no signs of anything until she was neutered at 6 months old. She then developed a severe runny tummy. She was padding the window to get outside and her rear end was simply running away from her..it was awful.
We went to my vet in Edinburgh and thankfully he, being a ragdoll breeder himself, knew all about Tritrich and tested immediately for it. The test took 5 minutes. A simple swab looked under a microscope which he showed me himself. It was very obvious to me there was something there
My girl was given the 'unlicenced' drug ronidazole, I had to sign my consent for it's use. Thankfully my vet already had his own supply in and I made up the capsules myself with the powder given to me. She was given a two week course and I was warned about seizures but I was prepared to take the chance as I couldn't let her live as she was.
I took my baby home..washed everything and my baby girl as her bottom was so red. She was vaselined up to prevent any more redness and the treatment began. The improvement was immediate and we have had no further episodes in 6 years.

The lady for vets to contact , I believe ,is Danelle Gunn Moore who is head of Feline studies at Edinburgh University(who happens to have a maine coon)))
Danièlle Gunn-Moore | Graduate careers | The Royal (Dick) School of Veterinary Studies

this link is from the feline advisory website. It gives information on Tritrichamonas Foetus and gives contact details for vets to get in touch with Danielle Gunn Moore
Tritrichomonas foetus infection in cats