Coccidiosis in dogs is a parasitic disease caused by protozoa of the genus Coccidia (Isospora spp., Eimeria spp., etc.) that parasitize in the intestines of dogs (mainly the small intestine and large intestine).
The following is a detailed description of coccidiosis in dogs:
1. Pathogens:
Coccidia: a single-celled, invertebrate protozoa belonging to the class Sporaria and order Coccidiales. Common canine coccidia species include Isospora canis and Eimeria canis.
2. Life history and transmission routes:
Direct transmission: Infection through ingestion of food, water, or the environment contaminated with coccidial oocysts. Oocysts can survive for a long time under suitable external conditions and have strong resistance.
Mother-to-child transmission: Female dogs can transmit coccidia to newborn puppies through colostrum.
3. Clinical symptoms:
Puppies: Symptoms are more obvious, including diarrhea (may be bloody or mucus), weight loss, loss of appetite, depression, growth retardation, etc.
Adult dogs: Mild infections may have no obvious symptoms, but severe infections or low immune function may cause symptoms similar to those of puppies.
4. Complications:
Dehydration: Prolonged diarrhea can cause severe dehydration and electrolyte imbalance in dogs.
Secondary infection: The intestinal barrier function is damaged and bacterial or viral infections are easy to occur.
5. Diagnosis:
Stool test: Examine a fresh stool sample under a microscope to look for coccidial oocysts.
Clinical symptoms and medical history: Combine the dog’s age, clinical manifestations, breeding environment and feeding conditions.
6. Treatment:
Drug treatment: Use anti-coccidioidal drugs prescribed by veterinarians, such as sulfonamides (such as sulfachlorpyrazine, sulfaquinoxaline, etc.), toltrazuril, amprolium, etc., and administer according to body weight and product instructions .
Supportive treatment: correct dehydration and electrolyte imbalance, provide easy-to-digest, nutritious food, and provide antidiarrheal, anti-inflammatory, anti-secondary infection and other auxiliary treatments when necessary.
Environmental cleaning: Thoroughly clean and disinfect the dog’s living environment, especially fecal contaminated areas, to reduce coccidia oocystsSpread.
7. Prevention:
Regular deworming: Follow veterinary recommendations and deworm your dog regularly, especially puppies and dogs with low immune function.
Environmental hygiene: Keep the dog's living environment clean, avoid feces contaminating food, water sources and activity areas, and disinfect regularly.
Isolation of newly-introduced dogs: Newly-introduced dogs should be isolated for observation and dewormed to prevent the introduction of sources of infection.
To sum up, dog coccidiosis is a parasitic disease caused by protozoa of the genus Coccidia that parasitizes in the intestines. It is mainly transmitted through direct contact and mother-to-child transmission. The symptoms of puppies are obvious, often manifesting as diarrhea and weight loss. The main treatment is drug deworming, and preventive measures include regular deworming, maintaining environmental hygiene and isolating new dogs. Once you find that your dog has relevant symptoms or coccidia oocysts are found in fecal examination, you should seek medical treatment in time.