Health information for Doodle Breeders

Coccidiosis in dogs is caused by tiny single-cell organisms & can be especially dangerous in young puppies.

Coccidia infection is caused by intestinal parasites, but these aren't worms, they're actually tiny, single-cell organisms that are too small to be seen by the naked eye.

This disease is most dangerous to young puppies whose immune systems are weakened either by another type of illness, or stress.

This is why Coccidiosis is often seen in pups who have recently left their momma and siblings and come into a new home.

The stress of all the changes in their lives, perhaps combined with the exposure to other bacteria, parasites or infections, weakens their immune systems and allows the Coccidia organisms to grow, flourish and make the puppy sick.

Coccidiosis is an extremely contagious illness, and it can be very severe in young puppies.

Please take the time to read all the information on this page - it will help you keep your little one safe.

About Coccidiosis:

There are several different species of coccidia that are found in dogs, cats, rabbits, rodents, and more.

Even humans can get a form of this disease (but luckily the type of coccidia your puppy might get isn't transferable to humans!). The most common species of coccidia in dogs are called Isospora Canis.

Many dogs and puppies have these organisms in their digestive tract, but that doesn't necessarily mean that they're going to get sick. They're basically 'carriers' for this disease but don't show any symptoms because they have strong immune systems which keep the parasites under control.

Your pup might get sick because his immune response takes a nose-dive due to stress, or some other illness, or he might 'catch' Coccidiosis from another infected dog or animal.

The Oocysts (the name given to the tiny, immature Coccidia organisms) are excreted from an infected animal in his feces, they then are absorbed into the soil and are hardy enough to live there for extended periods. If your pup eats either the infected stools or the soil around/under them he gets sick himself.

The incubation period (time between your pup being exposed to the disease and his symptoms appearing) is about 2 weeks. Coccidiosis is most often seen in puppies who are less than 6 months old, and usually within about 3 weeks of a major stressful experience or illness.

It's less common in adults who have already built up immunity to it over time. If an adult dog is infected with coccidia, it's often because he already has a weakened immune system due to another illness or health condition.

Symptoms Of Coccidia Infection In Dogs

The Coccidiosis symptom you're most likely to notice first is repeated watery, smelly diarrhea.

This diarrhea may be mild, moderate, or severe depending on what stage the disease is at and occasionally, in some puppies, a few episodes of mild diarrhea may be all that happens as the little guy's immune system overcomes the infection.

But in most cases, diarrhea will get worse pretty quickly and become watery and often bloody as well. Lethargy, loss of appetite, vomiting, and weight loss will follow. When he's having diarrhea and/or vomiting and not drinking LOTS of water your pup will get dehydrated quickly, and this is dangerous in itself.

These symptoms are almost the same as the symptoms of Parvovirus which is another extremely contagious and dangerous, often fatal, illness and it can be difficult for even an experienced dog owner to tell the difference between them.

But all you need to know is that BOTH these diseases are potentially fatal to your puppy and ANY pup who has repeated watery diarrhea, with or without other serious symptoms, needs to be seen by a veterinarian right away!

Occasionally a Coccidiosis infection can affect your pet's central nervous system and symptoms such as tremors, shaking or even convulsions will show up as well.

Treating Coccidiosis In Dogs

Coccidiosis can be diagnosed by your veterinarian by examining a fecal sample from your puppy under a microscope. This is called a 'fecal flotation'.

Early on in the infection, it's possible to get a 'negative' result from a fecal sample, simply because there haven't been enough coccidia protozoa eggs shed as yet. Even at later stages, a single fecal sample won't always contain Oocysts.

So, it may take a couple, or even several, more tests, done over a few days, to make an accurate diagnosis. It's also possible for your veterinarian to make a positive diagnosis of coccidiosis by analyzing a blood sample.

Generally, the best way is to combine the fecal test results with the observation of other symptoms such as lethargy, weight loss, and so on to conclude. Once coccidiosis has been diagnosed your vet will probably prescribe a sulfa-based antibiotic such as Albon or Tribissen. These medications don't actually kill the coccidia protozoa, but stop them from breeding and reproducing, eventually removing all organisms over time.

Because of the way they work, these antibiotics may need to be taken for two weeks or so to be effective, and sometimes more than one course of treatment is needed. Albon can also sometimes initially be given by injection, then followed up orally.

If your puppy's Coccidiosis is severe, sometimes additional supportive veterinary care is needed, and this might include IV fluids and even hospitalization for a few days.

(Note: sulfa-based medications aren't recommended for use on dogs who are pregnant as they can cause birth defects in the puppies.)

Some natural dog remedies can help to soothe your dogs digestive tract and re-balance bacteria and reduce inflammation. Used in conjunction with the treatment prescribed by your vet they can help speed up recovery and get your pup feeling better, faster.

Here are a couple of excellent natural products that you may want to try:

Only Natural Pet Probiotic Blend for Dog - A gentle formula that helps restore the balance of microbes in your pets' digestive tract. Provides "friendly" bacteria to help minimize inflammatory responses and other GI distress symptoms.

Only Natural Pet GI Support for Dogs - This soothing product aids digestion, and is especially good for dogs suffering from dog food allergies or sensitivities. Helps reduce symptoms that accompany many canine digestive disorders such as vomiting, diarrhea, constipation and more.

NOTE: Do remember to let your vet know about any natural or over-the-counter products you are giving your dog though. Your vet needs to have the complete picture to give your puppy the best possible care.

Preventing Re-Infection:

Because coccidiosis in dogs is spread through feces, high standards of hygiene are very important!

Picking up feces immediately, keeping flies/insects and rodents away (they can also spread this disease on their feet/in their bodies) and cleaning all areas thoroughly is vital.

Coccidia organisms are very hardy, can survive for long periods in the soil, and are difficult to kill - most household cleaners aren't going to be effective.

Cleaning at high temperatures (ie steam cleaning and sterilization with boiling water) is the best option for utensils and toys (ie bowls, chew toys etc.) Wash bedding on the 'HOT' cycle in your washing machine with bleach.

For kennel areas, floors, concrete, etc., washing thoroughly with a 10% ammonia solution is the best and most effective way to keep everything sanitary. You can also use a 1:16 solution of bleach: water.

Whichever solution you choose, wash all areas thoroughly and leave to soak in for at least 20 mins before rinsing.

Grassy areas or soil/dirt can be very difficult in terms of removing all traces of coccidia protozoa. The best thing to do is to soak the area with either of the above cleaning solutions. However, these surfaces can remain contaminated for up to 2 months or more, so bear that in mind.

Most puppies and dogs who survive this illness develop a certain amount of immunity and will usually not catch the same strain of coccidiosis again. But, this isn't always the case so it's still important to make sure you've sanitized your home/yard very carefully.

What is the suggested basic deworming protocol?

The most practical dewormer to use for the treatment of roundworms and hookworms is pyrantel (Strongid® or Nemex®). Puppies should be treated immediately on intake (as early as 2 weeks of age), and again every 2-3 weeks until 8-12 weeks of age. Re-treatment is very important!

For deworming of adults, two doses of pyrantel are recommended: one immediately on intake, another 2-3 weeks later if still in the shelter.

If whipworms, tapeworms, Giardia, or coccidia are diagnosed, or other parasites are a common problem, a protocol should be developed with a veterinarian.

What about environmental contamination?

The eggs or cysts of some parasites are very resistant to disinfection and will persist in the environment for a very long time. Examples of these are roundworms and coccidia. Other parasites, such as Giardia and Tritrichomonas, are quite fragile in the environment and are easily destroyed by most disinfectants as well as by drying.

Overview of Life Cycle:

Nonsporulated (noninfective) oocysts in feces

Sporulated (infective) oocysts in the environment

Schizonts (asexual stages) in the small and/or large intestine

Gametes (sexual stages) in the small and/or large intestine

Zoites, which may be sporozoites ormerozoites, are found in extraintestinal tissues (i.e., mesenteric lymph nodes, liver, or spleen) of definitive host as well as in paratenic (transport hosts) such as mice, rats, hamsters, and other vertebrates.

Disease

Coccidiosis causes diarrhea with weight loss, dehydration, and (rarely) hemorrhage

Severely affected animals may present with anorexia, vomiting, and depression. Death is a potential outcome.

Dogs may shed oocysts in feces but remain asymptomatic.

Intercurrent disease(s), infectious or iatrogenic immunosuppression or the stresses of environmental changes (i.e., shipment to pet stores or relocation to pet owners) may exacerbate coccidiosis.

Prevalence

Coccidial infections are common in dogs.

Published surveys indicate that coccidia is present in from 3% to 38% of dogs in North America.

Young animals are more likely than older animals to become infected with coccidia.

Host Associations and Transmission Between Hosts

Canine coccidia is acquired by ingestion of sporulated oocysts from contaminated environments.

Coccidiosis is also transmitted to dogs by ingestion of transport hosts (predation) containing extraintestinal stages.

Cystoisospora spp. is rigidly host-specific. Canine coccidia will not infect felines leading to the passage of oocysts in feces.

Canine Cystoisospora spp. are not known to be of zoonotic significance.

Prepatent Period and Environmental Factors

Development of oocysts to infective sporulated oocysts (sporulation) does not occur above 40° C or below 20° C.

Sporulation occurs rapidly (<16 hours) at temperatures between 30° C and 37° C.

Sporulated oocysts are resistant to adverse environmental conditions and can survive as long as one year in moist, protected environments if they are not exposed to freezing or extremely high temperatures.

Site of Infection and Pathogenesis

Developmental stages reside in either cell lining the intestinal villus (enterocytes) or cells within the lamina propria of the villus.

Maturation and emergence of asexual and sexual stages from infected cells cause cell lysis. This damage can be especially severe when caused by species that develop within cells in the lamina propria.

Zoites also are found in extraintestinal tissues (i.e., mesenteric lymph nodes, liver, or spleen) of definitive or paratenic hosts. These resting or latent stages are not thought to cause clinical disease.

Diagnosis

Diagnosis of canine and feline coccidiosis is based on signalment, history, clinical signs, and the structure of oocysts present in feces.

Fecal examination should be performed using centrifugal flotation and an adequate amount of feces.

Several genera of coccidia-like organisms may be present in canine and feline feces. It is important to differentiate them on the basis of size, stage of sporulation, and presence/absence of oocysts or sporocysts.

The presence of oocysts in feces is not, in itself, adequate proof that coccidiosis is the cause of accompanying clinical signs.

Treatment

Sulfadimethoxine is the only drug that is label approved for treatment of enteritis associated with coccidiosis.

Numerous additional drugs and drug combinations have been used with some success.

Among the newer drugs, ponazuril appears to be effective, according to published research and user testimonials.

Treatment of Coccidiosis of Dogs

Sulfadimethoxine

50-60 mg/kg daily for 5-20 days (D,C)

Sulfaguanidine

150 or 200 mg/kg daily for 6 days (D,C); 100-200 mg/kg every 8 hours for 5 days (D,C)

Furazolidone

8-20 mg/kg once or twice daily for 5 days (D,C)

Trimethoprim/Sulfonamide

Dose/length depends on sulfa; 30-60 mg/kg trimethoprim daily for 6 days in animals ≥ 4 kg; or 15-30 mg/kg trimethoprim for 6 days in animals ≤ 4 kg

Sulfadimethoxine/Ormetoprim

55 mg/kg of sulfadimethoxine and 11 mg/kg of ormetaprim for 7-23 days (D)

Quinacrine

10 mg/kg daily for 5 days (C)

Amprolium

300 to 400 mg (total) for 5 days (D); 110-200 mg (total) daily for 7-12 days (D); 60-100 mg/kg (total) daily for 7 days (C); 1.5 tbsp (23 cc)/gal (sole water source) not to exceed 10 days (D)

Amprolium/Sulfadimethoxine

150 mg/kg of amprolium and 25 mg/kg of sulfadimethoxine for 14 days (D)

Toltrazuril

10-30 mg/kg daily for 1-3 days (D)

Diclazuril

25 mg/kg daily for 1 day (C)

Ponazuril

20 mg/kg daily for 1-3 days (D,C)

Control and Prevention

In addition to treatment, appropriate sanitation helps prevent the spread of coccidiosis in kennels.

Oocysts sporulate quickly once in the environment; daily removal of feces can aid in the prevention of coccidiosis.

After they are infective, oocysts are resistant to most commonly used disinfectants. Infective oocysts can survive for many months in the environment.

Disinfectants containing high concentrations of ammonia can destroy oocysts, but harmful odors and the necessity of removing animals from runs or cages during treatment limit their use.

Steam and pressure washing may help to dislodge feces from kennel and cage surfaces.

Painting or sealing kennel floors will help prevent adherence of feces to these surfaces and will aid in cleaning.

Treatment of all in-contact animals, including bitches, may also be beneficial in controlling coccidiosis in kennels.

Prevention of predation should be emphasized to prevent infection via paratenic hosts.

Public Health Considerations

Because humans are not susceptible to Cystoisospora infections in dogs, canine coccidia is not considered zoonotic agents.

Selected References

Dubey JP, Lindsay DS, Lappin MR. 2009. Toxoplasmosis and other intestinal coccidial infections in cats and dogs. Vet Clin Small Anim. 39:1009-1034.

Gates MC, Nolan TJ. 2009. Endoparasite prevalence and recurrence across different age groups of dogs and cats. Veterinary Parasitology. 166: 153-158.

Lappin MR. 2005. Enteric protozoal diseases. Vet Clin Small Anim. 35: 81-88.

Source:

https://www.sheltermedicine.com/library/resources/?r=intestinal-parasite-control-guidelines