Treatment of Bordetella bronchiseptica infection in cats
Bordetella infections can be treated with antibiotics.
 

Prevention
Apart from general measures, antibiotic therapy should be considered for the treatment of upper respiratory tract disease (URTD) in cats.

Cleaning ocular and nasal discharges from cats with Bordetella bronchiseptica infection is an important nursing consideration.

Congestion and malaise combine to cause inappetance so fluid therapy and nutritional support are vital. Ocular and nasal discharges should be cleaned away regularly and steam inhalation may help to reduce congestion.

Antibiotic therapy is always indicated with bacterial URTD. Antibiotics should be continued for as long as discharges are present. Recent studies have shown that isolates of Bordetella bronchiseptica (Bb) from cats are susceptible to tetracycline and doxycycline but that resistance to trimethoprim and ampicillin is widespread.

Infection can be treated with

  • tetracycline (10mg/kg PO q8h)
  • doxycycline (10mg/kg PO q24h)
  • amoxicillin/ clavulonic acid (62.5mg/cat PO q12h).
Some recent isolates of Bb from cats show evidence of development of tetracycline-resistance.