Coccidiosis

Coccidiosis is an intestinal disease caused by coccidia, a common protozoan parasite that affects domestic and wild animals. In fact, 22 species of coccidia can infect a dog's intestines; there are four most common species. Dogs can also have parasites such as Sarcocystis, Hammondia, and Isospora.

Causes of coccidiosis:

Dogs contract coccidiosis by engulfing the infective stage of the parasite. It can come from licking yourself or contaminated objects, or eating raw (unpasteurized) meat or other infected animals. Coccidiosis is a parasitic disease that damages your pet’s intestines. A mucohemorrhagic inflammation of the large and small intestines caused by coccidioidal infection.

The contagiousness of canine coccidiosis:

This disease occurs frequently under poor environmental conditions (high temperature, high humidity, high-density confinement) or long-distance transportation, and mainly affects 1 -Puppies 6 months old. Sick dogs and adult dogs with worms are the main sources of infection. The route of infection is digestive tract infection. In addition to infected dogs, it can also infect humans, cats and other carnivorous animals.

Symptoms and Treatment of Coccidiosis:

Certain puppies are at the highest risk for coccidiosis. Puppies living in unsanitary conditions and/or overcrowded conditions in pet stores and shelters are also appalling.

The earliest symptoms are usually mild diarrhea, which becomes more severe until it contains mucus and sometimes blood.

Anorexia, weight loss, and dehydration ensue. This acute phase lasts up to 10 days. In extreme cases, if left untreated, the puppy may die. Coccidia can be tested in stool.

The main symptoms of canine coccidiosis are: anemia, dehydration, general weakness, bloody stools and other symptoms. It is a hemorrhagic inflammation of the mucosa of the small intestine and large intestine in dogs caused by infection by Eimeria and other sporozoites and Eimeria and other parasites. disease. Puppies are more susceptible than adult dogs and have more obvious symptoms. The disease in puppies is mostly acute, and it can quickly spread over a large area in dog farms, and sometimes it can even be devastating. Sick dogs have mild fever, loss of appetite, indigestion, diarrhea, thin feces mixed with mucus, and severe cases of bloody stools and brown feces. The sick dogs usually become emaciated, anemic, dehydrated, and die from systemic failure. However, after 2 to 3 weeks of symptomatic treatment, the clinical symptoms disappear and some patients can recover. Adult dogs and older dogs have strong resistance. After being infected with coccidia, they often develop chronic disease.

Treatment:

Puppies are usually treated with antiparasitic medications for five days to two to three weeks to eliminate parasites. Typically, once symptoms appear, they are slow to resolve and it may take a week of treatment to see improvement. Severe cases may require hospitalization to combat dehydration with fluids.

In high-risk environments, puppies can be given a preventive drug called amprolium.This drug is more commonly used to treat chickens. Amprolium is not approved for use in puppies and is only effective against one stage of the protozoan life cycle. It must be applied for about 7 days until all parasites have reached this stage and are destroyed. Amprolium can cause thiamine deficiency in puppies if fed for more than ten days, so feed it under veterinary supervision before feeding it.

Prevention of coccidiosis:

Hygiene is the most important preventive measure against coccidiosis. Environmental control is important, as coccidia are resistant to common disinfectants. A strong ammonium hydroxide solution or heat treatment with boiling water is effective. Make sure toys, cages, and food bowls are disinfected daily to eliminate infectious organisms.

Some species of coccidial parasites are contagious to humans and can cause serious health problems.