JOURNAL ARTICLE
RANDOMIZED CONTROLLED TRIAL
Add like
Add dislike
Add to saved papers

Randomized, Controlled, Crossover trial of Prevention of Clindamycin-Induced Gastrointestinal Signs Using a Synbiotic in Healthy Research Cats.

BACKGROUND: Synbiotics often are prescribed to limit antibiotic-associated gastrointestinal signs (AAGS) in cats, but data to support this recommendation are lacking.

OBJECTIVE: To determine whether synbiotic co-administration mitigates AAGS in healthy research cats treated with clindamycin.

ANIMALS: 16 healthy research cats.

METHODS: A randomized, double-blinded, placebo-controlled, 2-way, 2-period, crossover study with a 6-week washout was performed. Each study period consisted of a 1-week baseline and a 3-week treatment period. Cats received 75 mg clindamycin with food once daily for 3 weeks, followed 1 hour later by either 2 capsules of a synbiotic or placebo. Food consumption, vomiting, fecal score, and completion of treatment were compared using repeated measures split plot or crossover designs with covariates, with P < 0.05 considered significant.

RESULTS: Cats that received the synbiotic were more likely to complete treatment in period 1 (100% vs. 50%, P = 0.04). Cats vomited less when receiving the synbiotic but this was not significant, but there were significant period effects (F-value = 11.4, P < 0.01). Cats had higher food intake while receiving the synbiotic (F-value = 31.1, P < 0.01) despite period effects (F-value = 8.6, P < 0.01). There was no significant effect of treatment on fecal scores, which significantly increased over time (F-value = 17.9, P < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL IMPORTANCE: Administration of a synbiotic 1 hour after clindamycin administration decreased hyporexia and vomiting in healthy cats. Additionally, significant period effects suggest that clinical benefits of synbiotic administration persist for at least 6 weeks after discontinuation, decreasing the severity of AAGS in cats that subsequently received clindamycin with placebo. Unlike in people, synbiotic administration did not decrease antibiotic-associated diarrhea.

Full text links

We have located links that may give you full text access.
Can't access the paper?
Try logging in through your university/institutional subscription. For a smoother one-click institutional access experience, please use our mobile app.

For the best experience, use the Read mobile app

Mobile app image

Get seemless 1-tap access through your institution/university

For the best experience, use the Read mobile app

All material on this website is protected by copyright, Copyright © 1994-2024 by WebMD LLC.
This website also contains material copyrighted by 3rd parties.

By using this service, you agree to our terms of use and privacy policy.

Your Privacy Choices Toggle icon

You can now claim free CME credits for this literature searchClaim now

Get seemless 1-tap access through your institution/university

For the best experience, use the Read mobile app