Toxoplasmosis is an infection most often link up with disease in cats . However , dogs can also be infected byToxoplasma gondii , the sponge that causes toxoplasmosis . Fortunately , most otherwise healthy grownup dogs will not show symptom of toxoplasmosis and do n’t ask treatment , but there may be some illustration where some dogs may call for to be treated .
To facilitate still any worries , this clause provides everything best-loved parent ask to hump about toxoplasmosis in frankfurter .
What Is Toxoplasmosis?
Toxoplasmosis is an infective disease because of a single - celled organism calledToxoplasma gondii , orT. gondiifor short . T. gondiiis a parasite that can infect well-nigh all mammals admit man , though it can only farm to maturity date and multiply in domesticated and wild cats .
Toxoplasma gondiihas been found all over satellite Earth . If a true cat exhaust predate animals or raw marrow infected withT. gondii , the sponger will mature and reproduce in the cat ’s digestive tract . When the cats infected withT. gondiidefecate , their dejection bear millions of infectious parasitic egg .
Over metre , a cat ’s immune system pressure the sponge to stop reproducing and rather , form dormant vesicle in muscle and brain tissue paper . Humans become septic when they accidentally absorb parasite testicle from contaminated food or water , or from not moisten their hands after cleanse the bedding box used by a khat that is actively infected with Toxoplasma .
Toxoplasma behaves otherwise in dogs because they are consider intermediate boniface ( i.e. the parasite can not mature or reproduce in dogs ) , and septic blackguard are not considered contagious to other animate being or humans . Most good for you dog-iron can eliminate the contagion on their own if they come into contact with the parasite , though pup , geriatric dogs , young wiener with thedistemper virus , and adult dogs with compromised immune system are at higher endangerment for becoming sick from toxoplasmosis .
Causesof Toxoplasmosis in Dogs
Toxoplasmosis in hotdog can either be an acute or inveterate condition . Dogs become infected withToxoplasma gondiiby accidentally absorb parasitic eggs in dirt , eating cat poop , or eat polluted garden truck or raw pith .
Symptomsof Toxoplasmosis in Dogs
Most dog do not show any symptoms of toxoplasmosis , and even if they do , the symptoms can be quite obscure . Toxoplasmosis symptom in wienerwurst may admit :
If your dog is feel any of the symptom list here , please make an appointment with a veterinarian as presently as possible . These symptoms are also associate with many other disease conditions and often necessitate veterinary assistance to name and address the exit .
Toxoplasmosis symptoms in domestic dog that involve treatment are more common with the piercing form of the disease ; the inveterate variety ordinarily has no symptoms and does not require treatment .
Diagnosing Toxoplasmosisin Dogs
To diagnose toxoplasmosis , a veterinarian will behave a full forcible examination and touchstone vitals , including body temperature , heart pace , breathing charge per unit , and weight . Be sure to let your veterinarian know if your Canis familiaris has wipe out cat poop or if you have stray cats that visit your chiliad . science laboratory mental testing on descent and pee will be ordered to measure your dog ’s immune system and electric organ routine .
Your veterinarian will probably order a fecal exam to mark for other sponger that can cause the same symptoms as toxoplasmosis . They might also consecrate imaging tests such as radiographs ( X - rays ) and abdominal echography to get more information . If your weenie has neurological signs , your veterinarian may want to pass judgment their spinal fluid for sign of the zodiac of contagion orinflammation , and also behave a neurological interrogatory . think back , symptoms of toxoplasmosis are rarified in dogs , so your vet may require to run a few tests to figure out what is going on .
The most specific run for toxoplasma are serologic mental testing that measure the level of toxoplasma proteins ( antigens ) present in the body . PCR is the typical exam to diagnose toxoplasmosis and determine if the infection is acute or chronic .
If you are rummy as to whether your dog has been exposed to toxoplasmosis , you may have their antibody test . If they have already been infect , they will have antibodies in their rake , however , antibody tests are not utilitarian to watch if a dog has an active infection or if they need intervention .
Treating Dogsfor Toxoplasmosis
If your dog is very sick from toxoplasmosis , they will involve to be hospitalized for treatment . While hospitalized , dogs will typically receive endovenous fluid treatment for hydration and endovenous antibiotics to eliminate the contagion through an IV catheter rank in their arm . If your dog has seizures , anticonvulsant medicinal drug may be dictate to control them .
Most of the clock time , however , dogs will be treated for toxoplasmosis with antibiotics on an outpatient basis , as firedog seldom show symptoms or get very ominous from this disease . Also remember – most Canis familiaris do n’t need any discussion for toxoplasmosis . Usually it is only the dog with compromised immune system and very young dogs with acquire resistant system that show clinical signs associate with toxoplasmosis .
Cost to Treat Toxoplasmosis in Dogs
The cost for treating toxoplasmosis in dogs calculate on a few broker , starting with the examination luck of the process . The cost of testing for toxoplasmosis varies and can range from $ 300-$1,500 . From there , the price will vary free-base on the necessary discussion . Hospitalized discussion can cost upwards of $ 1,000 , but when it arrive to a simple dose of antibiotics , most dogs can be treated for under $ 100
How to PreventToxoplasmosis in Dogs
Even thoughToxoplasma gondiiis a coarse parasite , the respectable news is that most dogs do not get sick from it , and there are ways to derogate your dog ’s exposure .
Because the parasite that causes toxoplasmosis is commonly spread by ingestion of in the buff meat and unwashed green groceries , the best path to prevent your bounder from acquiring this parasite is to refrain from give your frank raw nub and always wash produce before giving it to them .
To avoid ingestion of cat poop , you should limit your dog ’s access to it . Keep feral cats out of your cubic yard , and if you have a hombre , keep thelitter boxin an area where your hotdog can not get at it .
Additional strategies to trim down your dog ’s picture to toxoplasmosis let in :
If you have further questions about toxoplasmosis in citizenry , correspond out the CDC websitefor more data .
