Haemobartonellosis - contd.

Treatment
Treatment for haemobartonellosis includes blood transfusion, antibiotics, and prednisone. Blood transfusions are used to temporarily stabilize severely anemic cats, replenishing the number of red blood cells. The need for transfusion is based on the cat's overall condition.

Tetracycline antibiotics are employed to eradicate as many H. felis organisms as possible. Doxycycline is probably the most frequently prescribed antibiotic in this class because it usually causes fewer side effects than other tetracyclines. Suppression of appetite, nausea or vomiting are common signs of adverse drug reaction. The drugs do not completely eliminate the infection, but they appear to lessen the severity of the disease.

Prednisone is frequently prescribed in cases of feline infectious anemia. This corticosteroid medication is used to help block immune system-mediated red blood cell destruction.

Haemobartonellosis remains one of the few specifically treatable causes of severe anemia in cats. In many circumstances, treatment is started when the disease is suspected, even if the organisms are not identified.