La canine coccidiosis It is a little-known disease that, however, can be fatal for dogs, so it is essential to know how to recognize it. This disease appears when the dog becomes infected with coccidia, unicellular organisms that lodge and multiply in the intestinal tract.
It is important to know not only how to treat the disease, but also how it is spread, because only then can we avoid more infections in other dogs. This disease can cause great damage to the cells of the intestine of dogs. It must be said that it is the puppies that suffer from the disease, although adults can be carriers.
How is coccidiosis spread
El single-celled coccidian organism is found in dog feces that are infected. The problem is that oocysts, which are the eggs in which the coccidia are found, are very resistant, so even if we clean the feces from the site, these eggs may still be alive, especially if the area is humid and little sunny. Other dogs can be infected by eating infected feces or licking the ground where eggs are left. As we say, adult dogs do not get sick, but they become carriers of the organism, which increases the chances of infecting a puppy, who are the ones who suffer the consequences of the disease.
Once inside the body, the organism reaches the small intestine and begins to destroy cells and to reproduce, which causes various damages to the dog's health. The big problem with this disease is that the dog does not begin to show symptoms until a week later, when millions of intestinal cells have already been destroyed and the organism has reproduced in large numbers. It must be said that the dogs that are more likely to contract and suffer the disease are puppies that are four to six weeks old.
Symptoms of coccidiosis
The puppies are the ones that show symptoms, since adult dogs are only carriers of this organism and transmit it through their feces. That is why the symptoms are those seen in infected puppies. One of the clearest symptoms is that the dog has problems growing and a strange phenomenon occurs whereby the back legs grow larger than the front legs. It is a disease that mainly attacks the stomach, so we will see other symptoms such as lack of appetite, vomiting or diarrhea. The dog will be listless and sleepy. In addition, they tend to have a swollen belly and have blood in their stools when the disease is very advanced.
The big problem with these general symptoms is that they can be confused with many other diseases. From a simple poisoning to a stomach virus. Be that as it may, the fact that the dog stops growing and does not eat is quite serious in a puppy, so the visit to the vet should be done as soon as possible. As soon as we see that something is wrong, we must go, because with coccidiosis cells are destroyed very quickly and it is a disease that progresses quickly if it does not stop. Stomach problems lead to anemia and dehydration, which in a puppy can even lead to death. Hence the urgency to go to the vet as soon as possible.
Treatment for the disease
When it comes to ending coccidiosis, a varied treatment must be carried out. To know if it is this organism it is necessary to perform an analysis of the dog's feces. Treatment of the coccidiosis is usually done with sulfadimethoxine. With this medicine they usually improve, but sometimes this does not happen due to the appearance of giardias, which are pathogenic organisms that sometimes appear when defenses are lowered. If this is the case and we see that the medicine does not improve, the veterinarian usually applies Dimetriazole for about ten or fifteen days.
Parallel to the pharmacological treatment of the veterinarian, it is important to take care of the dog's stomach and keep it hydrated. It's fundamental replenish glucose and water in the body, since with the disease the dog dehydrates easily. The vet can recommend a diet and how to help him ingest fluids. In the most extreme cases, when the dog is too weak, he will have to stay at the vet to have the fluids administered into a vein.
How to avoid illness
One of the best ways to avoid dealing with a disease as bad as coccidiosis is to exercise extreme caution and prevent so that the dog cannot be infected. With puppies there can be all kinds of diseases and problems. It is one of the most delicate stages of the dog and that is why all the care is little. This disease can be spread in dogs that already have vaccines, which is why it is so dangerous, since we trust ourselves thinking that the dog is immunized against all kinds of diseases and it is not.
During the first months of life it is always better to prevent the dog from interacting with too many dogs that we do not know. We can get them to socialize with those we know are in good health. On the other hand, when we take it out for a walk we should not let it go. If we let go of the dog we will not be able control what you do or eat. The problem is that many dogs eat the feces of other dogs, smell it or lick it, so that contagion is assured. With the puppies we must be attentive and keep them away from the feces that we can see in the area. It is also good to walk it through areas where the sun tends to shine since in hot environments the body does not survive in the same way as in humid and dark areas.
During the first months it is also a good idea do some periodic tests to see the dog's health status. Stool tests can be a good idea to find out if they carry any organisms that can harm them. The dog is dewormed in the first few months but some other deworming may be necessary.