A complete work up is necessary to try to find the original focus of infection, eg, vegetative endocarditis, unless it is obvious, eg, umbilical infection in a neonate. This is necessary to make sure that the chosen drug gets to the site of the infection. Blood cultures are often negative as bacteraemia tends to be episodic. Multiple cultures may be necessary. Bacteraemia is thought to precede fever spikes.
Treatment must begin before bacterial isolation and identification, especially as it is often difficult to isolate the causative organism. Early, aggressive, broad spectrum anaerobic and aerobic treatment at high dose rates is recommended.
| animal | disease | bacteria | first choice | second choice |
| dogs | septicaemia, endocarditis | Staphs, Streps,E.coli | gentamicin & amoxycillin | cephalexin |
| cats | infectious anaemia | Haemobartonella felis | doxycycline | azithromycin |
| pigs | erysipelas | Erysipelothrix | penicillin | co-trimazine |
| foals | septicaemia | coliforms, Pseudomonas | ceftiofur | gentamicin |
