anyone know about baycox for coccidia?

[laur+danny+horde]

Looking for any info / experience with using baycox in cats and kittens to kill coccidia. Apparently it has been used for years overseas with great results, but its still offlabel in the US. Any recommended place to get it quick? Have exposed litters of rescue kittens - :cry: the moms were just dx. The albon treatment doesn't safeguard the kittens from catching the coccidia.

Thanks for any info!

lauru

 

[Jess & Earl]

Hi Laur

Both Albon and Baycox treat coccidia, they don't prevent it so I'm not sure why you're looking for Baycox? I'd use Albon, and I'd only ever go through hoops to get Baycox if I encountered a weird resistant infection. It's not used for cats in this country. You might be able to get it from a place that compounds it for livestock, but again I'm not sure why you wouldn't just try the albon-? Anyway a compounding pharmacy would be the way to go since it's not legally intended for cats in the US.
Jess

PS Why the 911 icon?

 

[laur+danny+horde]

Hi Jess, thanks so much for responding.

I used the 911 because I have a very thin, small foster kitten who has been nursing on one of the recently-rescued mamas that was just dx with coccidia. I don't think the kitten can survive the severe diarrhea in her weakened state, so I am desperate to prevent her from getting ill.

The other cat with coccidia is the first' one's sister. She is a mama too, and her kittens were already fostered out to another rescue home. So now we have probable incubation in two homes with numerous kittens at risk. There are also several elderly and (separated) FeLV+ cats at possible risk.

The problem with Albon is that it does not kill the coccidia. It inhibits its reproduction and one has to dose for weeks until the cat can fight off the infection itself. Therefore for several weeks, the infected cat is shedding the organism all over the place. Kittens in particular would be exposed to it via the mama or the litterbox. Of course sanitation is key, and I am now replacing litter and disinfecting twice daily. But the kittens are likely already incubating... The vet only gave meds for the mamas, he didn't give me any solution for preventing the kittens from getting sick.

The baycox (toltrazuril) is supposed to kill the coccidia, and has been used overseas for years as a preventive to forestall an incubating cat/kitten from actually progressing to the state where the mucosal lining of the intestine is damaged, causing the diarrhea. A single dose can prevent the progression, from what I read. So, it seems like a great way to safeguard our foster kittens, and elderly and FeLV+ cats.

My vet is supposed to be researching the baycox for me. Hoping he'll check VIN. Getting the meds delivered from overseas will take a week or more so I really need an answer today so I can get the order going.


links:
Cat Breeders handbook http://books.google.com/books?id=A5SYfs ... &q&f=false
http://www.catforum.com/forum/38-health ... sulfa.html
http://fanciers.com/index.php?view=item ... Itemid=165
http://www.petkb.com/Uwe/Forum.aspx/vet ... ttens-cats
http://www.dazzledots.com/articles.html

 

[Jess & Earl]

Hi Laur

You can check out ponazuril, it is available in US and can be compounded here, it is a similar anti-protozoal agent. Although I think you can get Baycox compounded here too. Re: the coccidia incubation, the Albon should work well in those cases, actually, in preventing the advancement of the infection -- that's exactly what 'static' agents like Albon excel at. But anyway, if your rescue group has the funds, you can get ponazuril in this country compounded to a kitten size. It's usually used in horses though it's definitely an alternative agent for coccidiosis in dogs and cats. It's just too expensive to use widely but for a particular few patients it's worth checking out. I don't know the age range or excretion through breast milk, though, I'd have to check that out.

Re compounding: I've more recently used BestPetRx ( bestpetrxmeds.biz ) for compounding because they are great about shipping and apparently can get a cardio drug that no other pharmacy can.

Hope this helps.

(edited for typo)

 

[laur+danny+horde]

Jess, we went ahead and bought the baycox. Even with Cat Breeders Handbook recommending, the vets wouldn't write a compounded script. Which is just as well, given the large number of cats to be treated. I did consider the marquis paste but the price is really high. And as I say I may need a lot of doses.

And the bug is surely spreading. A kitten has begun the bad diarrhea this evening. Luckily he has fed well the last week so he's in decent body condition. The weak kittens (more recently rescued) will have another 10 days or more for incubation. I just hope the baycox gets here quick.

Thanks again!