From:
Christine Bertch
Date: 2001-11-09 01:49:00 UTC
Subject: Re: question about E. coli and sad note
Hi,
Well, since I just went through this, I can answer that question. The
diagnosis for E. coli would not be made from stool sample, but rather from a
urine sample (and culture) because it causes urinary tract infections.
Animals that come in contact with their own feces (i.e. they're having
diarrhea and get it on themselves, esp. near genitalia) are especially prone
to urinary infections. E.coli appears as a rod-shaped bacterium and, in my
Benji's case, the urine was sent to the lab for an exact culture diagnosis
and sensitivity test.
On another sad note, Benji did not make it through his urinary tract
infection, we had to put him to sleep on Monday night. I miss him so much.
We tried many different things, but I could tell that he wanted to stop. He
just became very weak and unresponsive to everything...he was over 8 and
also had adrenal and insulinoma so he just could not handle anything more.
He will be joining his cagemates Rikki and Missy over the Bridge.
Christine
*in memory of Benji*