Eli attacked my cat

[AllAmericanPUP]

Eli just attacked my cat Rome.
Rome was on the counter eating pizza(bad cat) and I saw her and told her to get down and then Eli came after her.
He got a hold of by the throat and my brother and I had to beat the crap out of him to get him to let go.
We looked all over the house but can't find her, but I know she is in here she is just hiding very well.
I see no blood trails or anything so I am hoping she is ok
She scratched up my hands quite badly and got my brother pretty bad too.
i put the picture down there ..... cause I know some people get sick and such when they see blood.......so don't scroll down if the site of blood makes you sick

[ESSlover]

Oh my dog! Are you ok? Is the cat okay? Is your brother ok? Is Eli ok? Feel better all of you!

[Canis erectus]

Holy cow! I would do what you can to find Rome and get him to his vet to be checked out even though you didn't see any blood. Eli looks like a big powerful dog who can likley do plenty of damage without breaking the skin. And be sure scrub out those scratches REALLy good (Of course I'm sure you already know that).

[Carolk9s]

Oh my dog those are nasty looking scratches! Poor you and your brother and poor Rome! Baaaaaad Eli!
Keep a close eye on your scratches in case of infection. Hope you cleaned them up good and put lots of antibiotic cream on!
Have you found Rome yet? Even if no blood, want to make sure nothing in his throat was crushed.
Baaaad Eli!

[imported_Matty]

My DOG! your arms look wicked :o give the cat some time to settle down. Even with the dogs and cats that seem to love each other there can be one instance where the dog can either go into predatory drift and attack a kitty friend.
Read this article re: your scratches. It probably won't apply to you, but, better safe than sorry.
What is Cat Scratch Disease?

Cat Scratch Disease (CSD), sometimes called Cat Scratch Fever, has been diagnosed in people since the early 1900's. It is caused by an infection with the bacteria called Bartonella henselae. Most people who develop CSD have been bitten or scratched by a cat, often during play. It has been estimated that there are over 20,000 cases of CSD in people in the United States each year. Luckily, in most cases recovery is rapid and uneventful, but in some instances there are complications that can become quite serious. Recent research is providing useful new information on CSD, but there are still some important questions left to answer.

What causes CSD?

Cat Scratch Disease in people is caused by Bartonella henselae. Other species of Bartonella exist, and are thought to be the cause of other diseases in cats, dogs, and wild canids such as coyotes and foxes. Research is continuing to provide new information on the Bartonella organism. In this article we will concentrate on Bartonella henselae as the cause of Cat Scratch Disease in humans.

What are the symptoms of CSD in people?

Seven to 12 days after being bitten or scratched by a cat, the person usually notices a swelling and then a small abscess or blister at the site of the injury. About one to three weeks after this, the person may develop swollen lymph nodes in the area closest to the injury. The swelling may persist for a few weeks to several months. A person with CSD may also experience flu-like symptoms: fever, headache, fatigue, muscle soreness and poor appetite. Most people recover in just a few weeks. In about 5-15% of cases, other more serious conditions may develop, including heart, eye, brain, intestinal, and skin problems. People with immunocompromised conditions (such as organ transplant patients, those undergoing immunosuppressive treatments for cancer, and people with HIV/AIDS) are more likely than others to have complications from CSD.

How is CSD treated?

Antibiotics may be used to treat CSD, although they usually do not seem to shorten the length of the infection in people with healthy immune systems. For immunocompromised patients, antibiotics are important to prevent secondary infections from starting, and are often continued for several months.

Could my cat be carrying Bartonella?

Yes, it is possible for a healthy cat to be a carrier of the CSD organism. Your cat would most likely not show any signs of disease. Kittens are most likely to be infected and, because they are so playful, more likely than older cats to pass the bacteria to people. Because children spend the most time playing with cats, and may tend to play more roughly than adults and therefore get bitten or scratched more often, they are the group most likely to develop CSD.

How does a cat get infected with Bartonella henselae?

It is thought that the CSD microorganism is transmitted to cats by fleas. A significant number of Bartonella organisms can be found in flea feces. Fleas shed feces on cats, and cats are most likely infected as they scratch or groom themselves, ending up with flea feces (and the Bartonella organism) in their mouth and on their claws. Research shows that the highest numbers of cats testing positive for the CSD organism were from warm, humid climates, where fleas thrive. Humans are infected when the organism is transferred from the cat's mouth or claws to a person via a bite or scratch. So far there is no evidence that a bite from an infected flea can give a person CSD.

Ticks have been shown to carry some strains of the Bartonella organism in dogs, and could possibly be carriers in cats also, although ticks are usually less of a problem in cats than in dogs.

Does a cat that is a Bartonella carrier get sick, also?

The cat involved usually does not show any signs of disease. In a few cases there may be fever, swollen lymph nodes, and muscle pain. If there are signs, they are generally mild and resolve quickly, as is the case in most humans. However, recent studies indicate that there may be a connection between Bartonella infection and certain chronic inflammatory conditions in cats (including gingivitis, stomatitis, inflammatory bowel disease, certain eye problems, and some urinary tract abnormalities). More research is needed to clarify this.

Can I have my cat tested for Bartonella?

Since most cats carrying the organism do not show any signs of sickness themselves, not many people request testing for their cats. However, people who may be at higher risk for complications from CSD may wish to talk to their veterinarian about testing for their cat. Bartonella testing may also be recommended for cats that develop one of the conditions that may be caused by infection with this organism (as mentioned above). People considering testing for their cats should be aware that there are several tests available for Bartonella, and that each test has limitations. Available tests include blood culture, PCR, EIA, IFA, and Western Blot. The Bartonella organism does not circulate constantly in the blood, but only intermittently, which can cause difficulty in the interpretation of test results.

Blood culture (growing the Bartonella organism from a blood sample) is considered the most reliable test in cats, but because the organism only circulates intermittently, several consecutive cultures are needed to be certain whether the organism is present or not. Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) is a very sensitive DNA test that can detect the presence of Bartonella DNA, but because the organism circulates intermittently, PCR may also need to be repeated several times. However, results can usually be obtained more rapidly than with blood culture. Enzyme immunoassay (EIA), Immunofluorescent Antibody (IFA), and Western Blot all test for antibodies to the Bartonella organism. The level of antibody present is reported as a number called a 'titer.' For many diseases, a certain titer is considered indicative of exposure to the disease. However, an antibody titer indicative of infection has not yet been established and agreed upon for Bartonella in cats. This makes it difficult to interpret these test results. Research is continuing in this area.

In addition to the complications involved for testing for Bartonella, it can be difficult to effectively treat for this organism. Routine use of antibiotics for prevention or treatment is not generally recommended. Because Bartonella can circulate intermittently in a cat's bloodstream, it can be difficult to know when treatment has been effective. The organism may seem to have been cleared, only to show up again on later tests. Many different antibiotics have been tried, and so far none have been conclusively shown to fully clear this infection in cats. Azithromycin is recommended by some investigators. Follow-up testing is needed to be certain the infection has truly been cleared from the cat's system. Rigorous flea control (for both the cat and the environment) is essential, and ticks should also be controlled.

How can I reduce the risk of my cat becoming infected with Bartonella?

Because Bartonella is transmitted by fleas, and possibly by ticks, the best protection is to keep your cat free of these pests. For more information on this, see the article Flea Control and Prevention.

What can I do to reduce my risk of getting Cat Scratch Disease?

Keep your cat free of fleas and ticks.

Avoid rough play with cats, especially kittens.

Wash any cat bites and scratches immediately with soap and lots of water.

Keep your cat's nails trimmed.

Do not allow cats to lick open wounds that you may have.

If you develop an infection where you were scratched or bitten by a cat, or if you develop symptoms including fever, headache, swollen lymph nodes, and fatigue, contact your physician.

Immunocompromised people considering adopting a cat may wish to choose an adult cat from a flea-controlled environment, and should have the cat tested for Bartonella before bringing it home.

Although Cat Scratch Disease is just one of several diseases that people can get from cats, in most cases the risk can be greatly decreased by being informed and by taking a few common-sense precautions. If you have questions, seek the advice of your veterinarian and your physician. For most people, the risk of harm is greatly outweighed by the pleasure and companionship cats provide.

[AllAmericanPUP]

we are all fine.

yes I washed my scratches very well, and over again and over and over, lol. I then put neosporin on them.

Rome came out of hiding and she is fine. I listened to her breathing and it sounded find, I felt her neck and everything and everything felt fine. but I will keep an eye on her.
She is locked in my moms room for now, with food, water and a litter box of course.

[gooeydog]

Internal bleeding is more of a worry in a situation like this, so be sure you check the cat over as soon as you get a chance. Even bruises (which are just blood trapped under the skin) can be serious if in the right spot, so you don't want to miss something that might become a bigger problem.

[pLaurent]

Internal bleeding is more of a worry in a situation like this,

Exactly goo. This cat should be taken to the vet ASAP.