When bringing a new puppy or kitten into your home, one of the invisible hazards your veterinary team screens for is coccidiosis. Coccidiosis is a parasitic infection that most commonly affects puppies and older dogs, however it can also affect older cats.
While this diagnosis might sound alarming at first, the good news is that coccidiosis is treatable.
What is Coccidiosis and What are Its Causes?
Coccidiosis is the term used for an infection of coccidia organisms in the walls of your pet’s intestine. These tiny, single-celled parasites reproduce by spreading microscopic spores, called oocysts, which reside in soil or anywhere else animal droppings are found.
Your pet can ingest these spores from eating soil, digging, eating an infected prey animal (e.g. a mouse), or simply grooming themselves after walking on soil containing coccidia spores. Once ingested, these microscopic eggs hatch and invade the intestinal lining, causing cellular damage and inflammation.
How Does Coccidiosis Affect Pets?
Because coccidia affects the intestines of the pet, most symptoms have to do with digestion. You’ll see symptoms most clearly pronounced in puppies—coccidiosis may not show any visible signs in a healthy adult animal.
The most common symptom of coccidiosis is diarrhea. Other potential symptoms include:
- Bloody stool or diarrhea
- Vomiting
- Loss of appetite
- Dehydration
- Rapid weight loss
- Lethargy
- A hunched or ruffled posture
Healthy adult animals rarely experience severe symptoms, and in most cases, their immune systems are strong enough to fend off the infection without the help of prescribed medications. However, in some cases, coccidiosis can be very serious if left untreated.
Thankfully, coccidia can be completely eradicated from the body with a few simple veterinary treatments as long as it’s dealt with promptly.
How Do Vets Treat Coccidiosis?
When your veterinary team diagnoses your pet with coccidiosis—typically through a routine fecal float test—they will prescribe specific anti-parasitic medications. Your veterinarian may prescribe a sulfa-type antibiotic called sulfadimethoxine (Albon®), which may require prolonged treatment.
In severe infections, it may be necessary to repeat the treatment. If the sulfa-type antibiotic does not clear the infection, other treatments are available, including sulfa antibiotics combined with another drug, amprolium, or off-label use of ponazuril {Marquis®} or toltrazuril {Baycox®). Your veterinarian will discuss these treatments with you.
Additional supportive treatments may be needed if diarrhea and dehydration occur. These medications work by stopping the parasite from reproducing, allowing your pet’s immune system to clear the infection.
If your pet is severely dehydrated, your veterinary team may also administer subcutaneous (under the skin) or intravenous (IV) fluids to stabilize them.
Prioritizing Preventative Care
You can do a few things to reduce the spread of coccidia and protect your pets. This includes:
- Removing fecal matter from your property as soon as possible
- Thoroughly cleaning soiled areas and washing pet bedding regularly.
- Do everything you can to stop your pet from eating prey animals like mice and rats, as these critters often carry the coccidia parasite
Routine fecal testing (recommended at least every 6 months) is a vital part of preventative care, allowing your veterinary team to catch parasites like coccidia before they cause severe illness. If you notice diarrhea, lethargy, or loss of appetite in your young or senior pet, do not wait for symptoms to resolve on their own. Schedule a medical assessment immediately.
Managing unexpected gastrointestinal issues and running necessary diagnostics represents a financial investment in your pet’s health. Using comprehensive pet insurance is a proactive way to ensure your veterinary team can quickly provide the highest standard of care without causing financial stress.
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