Treatment for a cat suspected of having plague should be started when?

• A. Initiated After Culture And Sensitivity Results Are In.
• B. No Treatment Is Given As This Is A Reportable Disease With Human Health Consequences, & The Cat Will Be Euthanized.
• C. Begun Only After Government Authorities Have Arrived To Approve Of The Treatment.
• D. Initiated Immediately After Samples Are Collected.

Answer: (D)

Early, empiric treatment is critical when plague is suspected. Yersinia pestis can progress rapidly in cats, and starting antibiotics promptly improves survival and helps limit transmission to people. Waiting for culture or sensitivity results before treating delays care and can be fatal. Public health reporting and containment are important, but they should not block immediate therapy in a suspicious case. While samples are collected for confirmation, begin antibiotics effective against plague to reduce bacterial load and shedding. Therefore, initiating treatment immediately after samples are collected is the best approach.