Your puppy’s feet go still as you receive word from the vet that she has coccidia. Coccidia are microscopic protozoa that can have serious implications on his intestinal health, making him susceptible to serious illness and even death.
Some dogs become infected with coccidia without showing symptoms, while others experience diarrhea and vomiting that leads to dehydration and nutritional loss in puppies.
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Puppies are especially vulnerable to Coccidia because they lack natural immunity against it, inhaling dormant eggs (oocysts) from either their mother’s feces or environmental sources.
Oocysts shed intermittently via defecation, infiltrating food and water sources to spread infection and spreading the outbreak further.
Your vet should collect a stool sample and examine it under a microscope in order to diagnose coccidia. Make sure the puppy gets plenty of fluids so as to prevent dehydration from diarrhea.
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Dogs infected with coccidia can shed oocysts (immature coccidia) that are extremely resilient against environmental conditions and can survive on the ground, and ingest them causing watery diarrhea, weight loss and dehydration in susceptible pups. If one or both is consumed these oocysts will infiltrate into their intestinal wall lining resulting in watery diarrhea that results in watery stool, weight loss and dehydration symptoms for susceptible pups who ingest them.
Puppies are particularly vulnerable to coccidia, as their bodies don’t produce natural immunity until about 12 weeks. Good hygiene practices such as disinfecting cages and food bowls on a daily basis to remove infective oocysts is key in helping protect them.
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Puppies can become infected with coccidiosis through eating parasite eggs in contaminated environments. A fecal float test at your veterinarian clinic can detect this condition by mixing your dog’s stool sample with a solution designed to cause its oocysts (coccidia’s reproductive structures) to float and be easily observed under microscope.
Your veterinarian will prescribe the sulfadimethoxine drug, a sulfa-type solution. They may also advise feeding a bland diet and providing plenty of water/Pedialyte to avoid dehydration in puppies.
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Puppies and dogs alike are at risk for Coccidiosis, an intestinal condition caused by a single-celled parasite. Young dogs in particular are particularly prone to this illness due to their immature immune systems.
These parasites are transmitted when an infected dog consumes the oocysts found in its stool or soil contaminated with them, ingestion being an immediate route for transmission. Once in the system, these hardy organisms can survive up to one year with little difficulty.
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Puppies suffering from Coccidia can present with multiple symptoms. Protozoans caused by Coccidia can lead to diarrhea (from mild to severe), weight loss due to nutrients absorption issues and lethargy.
Coccidia can affect most adult dogs over time; however, puppies and those in stressful environments such as hospitals may develop it more readily. Establishing appropriate cleaning and disinfection protocols as well as treating sick pups regularly will help keep this problem in check.
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Puppies can easily pick up Coccidia protozoa (single-celled organisms) in their environment through food and water contamination, drinking from polluted sources or by eating host animals with parasites before defecating on them and spreading further infections through defecation. Puppies with compromised immune systems are particularly at risk from this parasite infection.
Cleaning and disinfecting your puppy’s home, yard, crates and litter box regularly can help control infections in their environment. Since chlorine bleach can be toxic for puppies weakened by illness, oxygen bleach made with hydrogen peroxide and water is more suitable.
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Coccidia parasites are microscopic protozoa parasites which can lead to diarrhea, vomiting and weakness in puppies, leading to dehydration and even death in severe cases.
Your vet may prescribe Albon (sulfadimethoxine) to effectively eliminate parasites from your system, with treatment usually lasting 9 days with stool sample rechecking at the end.
Many breeders assume a telltale sign of coccidiosis is bright yellow diarrhea; however, this isn’t always accurate.
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If your puppy has diarrhea, it could be an indicator of coccidia. Coccidia is an intestinal infection which can lead to serious health problems; puppies are particularly prone as they do not possess natural immunity against it and live in close quarters such as shelters or pet stores where food and water sources may become contaminated over time.
If your puppy has diarrhea and appears weak, bring them immediately to a veterinarian as this could be a serious condition that leads to dehydration and could even result in decomposition of tissues.
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Puppies that live in overcrowded environments such as animal shelters or pet stores or those who poop on their food and water sources are at higher risk for contracting coccidia, due to having weaker immune systems that make them more prone to picking up parasites like this one.
Coccidia is an intestinal protozoan parasite found most commonly among puppies and dogs, though some with compromised immune systems could experience explosive diarrhea due to an infection with this protozoa. While most puppies and dogs will pick up this infection without showing any negative symptoms, some with compromised immunity could experience explosive diarrhea outbreaks that require medical intervention to control.
