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Could you give me some information about Clostridium perfringens? My puppy is on a medication for this organism. Thank you.
A normal bacterial inhabitant of the intestine that may transform to cause disease. 
Clostridium perfringens is a normal inhabitant of the large intestine of dogs and cats. It is an anaerobic bacterium, which means it does not need oxygen to live. Some strains of this bacterium produce toxins that cause colon cells to secrete and excrete fluids, resulting in acute episodes of watery or even bloody diarrhea. Chronic, intermittent large bowel diarrhea associated with straining, mucus formation, and soft stools may also result.
In some circumstances C. perfringens will overgrow its normal boundaries in the intestine and cause additional signs of clinical disease, such as loss of appetite, nausea, vomiting, and depression. An animal that eats food contaminated with C. perfringens toxin may also develop these signs of infection.
Dogs boarded in kennels appear to be at higher risk for significant diarrhea associated with Clostridium perfringens infection. This is probably due to boarding stress, which can lower the body's ability to fight infection. Dogs that eat relatively small amounts of fiber are also at higher risk.
Diagnosis relies on demonstration of spore-forming bacteria on rectal scrapings, quantitative fecal cultures or special assays for Clotridium perfringens toxin in the affected animal's feces. However, although the presence of spores or toxins in the feces may be suggestive of C. perfringens infection, it does not guarantee that coexistent signs of disease are caused by it. Spore colony counts from a fecal sample greater than a certain number are associated with clostridial infection; lesser counts are often found in normal dogs without signs of clinical disease.
Most dogs will respond to a short course of antibiotics (usually for a week or less), but some seem to need chronic administration of antibiotics to prevent recurrence of signs of clostridial disease. Very sick animals may need a bland diet and supportive fluid administration in addition to antibiotics.
Generally, veterinarians consider the prognosis to be good for cases of clostridial diarrhea. Most patients will recover in less than a week. In rare cases rapid elaboration of the toxin can cause severe intestinal damage and death.
Prevention of infection with Clostridium perfringens includes feeding a diet high in fiber to at risk dogs, and isolation of dogs with clinical evidence of infection. Preventing dogs from eating potentially contaminated food, such as carrion, will reduce the risk of infection as well.
Be sure to follow your veterinarian's instructions about the medication.
06/25/03 100 Rowena Drive
Somerset, KY 42501 606-678-0302 |