Overview
order Coccidia in dogs is one of the most common get ofdiarrheain canine companions . Puppies are most unremarkably bear on , but order Coccidia can cause problems for adult dogs as well .
According to theCompanion Animal Parasite Council ( CAPC ) , coccidia infection are present in almost 40 percentage of frank in North America . Fortunately , coccidia are easy to treat , and if treated by rights , prognosis for dogs is good .
What is Coccidia?
Coccidia , also called coccidiosis , is the match - all terminal figure for a grouping of parasite that infect dogs and other mammalian . Coccidia are microscopic parasites that last in the paries of a dog ’s bowel . There are many metal money of coccidia , and dogs are most often affected by the species of coccidia calledIsospora .
While you could not see them with your naked eye , coccidia eggs are routinely detected by veterinary stave on microscopical fecal exam . They see like transparent eggs with very thin walls .
order Coccidia can be dodgy to name because a dog can be infected and not show any sign at all . Alternatively , coccidia can cause watery , bally diarrhea and weakness in dogs , and can be life - threatening to very young or very small dogs .
WhatCausesCoccidiosis in Dogs?
As a responsible dog owner , it is of import to know how coccidia is transmit from click to dog .
Coccidia eggs , which are called oocysts , are cash in one’s chips in low-down . Within 12 - 26 hours , these ball age and can infect animal that accidentally withdraw the infected poop .
Coccidiosis is very usual in immature dogs that are domiciliate together , like dogs that are housed in a shelter , deliverance , kennel , or spawn facility .
order Coccidia are very common in the United States , and these parasites do n’t just taint pawl . black eye , houseflies , cockroaches , and other germ can all become infected and become a source of infection if they are rust by pet dogs . In addition , frankfurter can become infect by squander any part of a carcass that is infected with coccidia .
Most of the fourth dimension , dogs are infected with metal money of coccidia thatonlyinfect Canis familiaris , and the most common species of order Coccidia do not infect humans . Some other mintage , such asCryptosporidiumandToxoplasma , can be transmitted to the great unwashed , but these types of coccidia are rarely transmitted from dogs to humans .
Symptomsof a Coccidia Infection in Dogs
As previously discussed , order Coccidia can get severe watery , bloody diarrhea , weakness , and anaemia in puppies . However , in normal , tidy adult weenie , coccidia can cause no symptoms at all .
Whether or not a dog develops clinical sign tie in to coccidiosis depends on the hotdog ’s resistant system , which is often weaker in puppies than in grownup dogs . tenseness can also reduce the strong point of the resistant organisation , and coccidiosis can modernize in firedog that have been recently stressed by rehoming , other contagion or disease , or operating room .
Coccidia makes its home base in the facing of a dog ’s gut . When an infectious oocyst is get down by a detent , it break undecided and releases tiny molecule that infect intestinal cells — cells that line the gut . These lilliputian particles regurgitate speedily inside the intestinal cell stimulate them to break open . If enough enteric cell abound at the same time , then the dog develops reeking , bally diarrhea .
Additional symptom of coccidiosis in dogs include :
Diagnosing Coccidiosis in Dogs
Coccidiosis in dog is diagnosed with a combining of history ( where you dog is from , what his habits are , late travel , kennel stays , pooch daycare , etc . ) , signalment ( eld , breed , sexuality , altered or not ) , physical exam findings , and laboratory tests .
order Coccidia are well diagnose by examine your dog ’s feces under the microscope for the front of coccidia oocysts ( testis ) . Fecal float trial are routine tests that are well race at your local veterinary office . To operate a fecal psychometric test , your veterinarian will need a fresh sample of poop from your dog , ideally collected the same day as the trial and kept in a plastered container .
A technician mix a small amount of stool with a answer that is heavier than parasite egg , which forces the egg to be adrift to the surface and hold fast to a microscope slide . In some case , the sampling may be spun in a extractor to further help orchis float to the surface . The microscope slide is then polish off and examined under a microscope , allowing visualization of the egg .
Sometimes a dog can be infect with coccidia but not show any eggs on the faecal ice-cream float test . In these event , if your vet is suspicious of a order Coccidia infection , she may still advocate discourse for coccidia , or she may recommend repeating the faecal float trial to count for parasites .
How to TreatCoccidia in Dogs
There are two ways to treat coccidia infections in dogs : coccidiostat drugs and coccidiocidal drug .
Coccidiostat drugsare the traditional and most coarse medications used to do by coccidia infections . Coccidiostat drug stop coccidia from reproduce and countenance the dog ’s immune system to eradicate the infection .
How long coccidiostat drugs take to eliminate the infection depends on how many coccidia are infecting the dog and how strong the bounder ’s immune system of rules is . Typically , dog are treated for 5 - 25 days with Albon , the most normally prescribe coccidiostat drug .
Coccidiocidal drugskill coccidia . Ponazuril and toltrazuril are both coccidiocidal drugs that are commonly used in farm creature for coccidia infections . Both of these drugs can be compound into hot dog - friendly preparation by your local pharmacist , and only require a few doses in comparison to longer intervention with Albon .
General Cost to Treat Coccidia in Dogs
The cost of diagnosing and treatment for a coccidia infection range based on geographic location . In general , associated cost can admit :
Exam : $ 40-$70
Fecal Float Test : $ 30-$50
Medication : $ 35-$100 , depending on case of medication , duration of treatment , and size of it of bounder
How to PreventDogs From a Coccidia Infection
Reinfection with coccidia is likely because the parasite is so vulgar in the environment . If your heel has been diagnosed with coccidia , it is important to disinfect the environs .
take away any stool as soon as potential to prevent reinfection . Oocysts in the soil can be vote down by spraying a diluted atomic number 17 blanching agent answer at a dilution of 1 cupful of bleach to one gallon of pee .
To avoid contagion , forbid your cad from eat feces or potentially infected host such as mouse or insects .
think of that not all dogs that have order Coccidia have symptoms , so be certain and have your dog ’s stern test annually for parasite at your local veterinary office .
