Melioidosis in Cats: Miko’s Case

Melioidosis is a serious infection that can occur in dogs and cats. People can be infected too, mostly from contaminated soil and water. The case of Miko, a male Korat cat who was 7 months old when he fell ill, shows that the first signs can look like nothing more than a sore leg.

Why Miko came in

Miko had a sore hind ankle and had been limping for a week. Medication at first did not help, and he was still in a lot of pain, so his owner brought him back for the vet to examine him again.

A detailed exam to find the cause

The vet found that the ankle was swollen, inflamed and very painful, but the ankle bones were normal. An infection and an open wound then developed in the same area, so a culture was taken.

The culture from the first sample (results took about 10 days) grew Burkholderia pseudomallei, a gram-negative bacterium that can also cause serious disease in people.

Treatment and results

• Antibiotics taken continuously for several months
• Ongoing wound care
• Care to prevent the infection spreading to people and other animals

Miko's wound has now fully healed, he walks and bears weight normally again, and there has been no sign of reinfection so far.

About the melioidosis bacterium

• Infection comes from contact with a contaminated environment; the bacteria can survive in soil and water for months to years
• It is more common in the rainy season or after rain
• It can cause other serious illness, such as bloodstream infection and abscesses in the chest and abdomen

Signs that mean you should see a vet

Lethargy, poor appetite, high fever, or pus-filled abscesses on the body. If your pet shows these signs, take them to a vet as soon as possible.

Talk to our vets

Better Pets Hospital Pattaya · Open daily 7:00 AM–10:00 PM · Call 095-326-5567 · LINE Betterpets · Map · 263/120-122 Chaiyapruek 2 Road, Nong Prue, Bang Lamung, Chonburi 20150