DOI 10.1080 / 17415349.2021.2003277

Amelia Poole , DipAVN , DipFelBhv , CertFN , CertECC , RVN https :// orcid . org / 0000-0002-9379-940X RCVS Knowledge

ENVELOPE ameliakp @ hotmail . com

Amelia is an RVN who has worked in practice for 13 years , at a variety of privately owned hospitals and rescue centres , concentrating on intensive in-patient care . She is currently completing her top-up degree at Harper Adams University and is working at RCVS Knowledge as a quality improvement project manager .

ABSTRACT A feline patient presented with a history of chronic diarrhoea , weight loss , persistent third eyelid protrusion , polyphagia and polydipsia . Diagnostics included blood analysis , faecal analysis and culture , abdominal ultrasound and radiography , full-thickness gastrointestinal biopsies via laparotomy and endoscopic biopsies of the upper and lower gastrointestinal tract .

Diet trials with hypoallergenic food caused worsening of the diarrhoea , and novel proteins only worked for a short period of time ( 3 – 4 weeks ), after which the diarrhoea developed again . A faecal microbiota transplantation ( FMT ) was performed . Diarrhoea ceased within 72 hours ; self-limiting diarrhoea has occurred since but the FMT treatment was a success .

The RVNs were pivotal in assisting with the FMT procedure , in the preparation of samples , preparation and monitoring of the patient , and advising and supporting the owner during the treatment process .

Keywords Feline , microbiota , transplantation , FMT , diarrhoea , gut , microbiome , cat

Introduction

Wednesday , 1 July 2020 was a memorable day , not because of the Covid-19 pandemic or the heatwave in south-east England , but because , for the first time in 2 years , Logan , a 3-year-old domestic short-haired cat , had passed solid faeces .

Logan ’ s chronic diarrhoea regularly resulted in sporadic faecal incontinence , perianal sores from scooting across the floor , extreme borborygmi and flatulence . Logan ’ s owner was an RVN so numerous diagnostic tests and treatments had been performed but none of them were successful .

Fragile gastrointestinal microbiome

Logan had a poor start to life . He was brought into the practice as a stray kitten , having been thrown from a moving car . Before he was even 12 weeks old he had undergone surgery to repair a tear in his abdominal wall and treatment for facial injuries . Logan developed diarrhoea at 12 months old . He was initially treated with anthelmintics , a bland diet and probiotics . However , when the diarrhoea failed to improve , further diagnostics were completed . These included diet trials , full blood analysis , faecal analysis and culture , abdominal ultrasound , full-thickness gastrointestinal biopsies via laparotomy , and endoscopic biopsies of the upper and lower gastrointestinal tract . Diet trials

18 Veterinary Nursing Journal