Dog Coccidiosis: Symptoms and Treatment

1 Dog Coccidiosis: Symptoms and Treatment

I. Symptoms: Puppies are more susceptible than adults. Onset is mainly acute and can spread rapidly through a kennel, sometimes destructively. Dogs show mild fever, loss of appetite, diarrhea with mucus; severe cases have bloody (brown) stool, weight loss, anemia, dehydration, and eventually weakness and death. After 2-3 weeks of treatment, clinical signs disappear and the body begins to recover.

II. Treatment: 1. Sulfamonomethoxine 100 mg/kg orally 2-3 times daily for 3-5 days. 2. Sulfadimidine 60 mg/kg orally 3 times daily for 3-4 days. 3. Amprolium 150-200 mg/kg mixed into food for 7 days. 4. Furazolidone 10 mg/kg orally twice daily for 3-5 days. 5. Supportive care: glucose, fluids, bicarbonate, and hemostatics as needed. 6. Keep housing and environment clean; disinfect regularly and isolate sick dogs. Adult dogs usually need not worry since they produce enough antibodies; a next-generation anticoccidial such as toltrazuril works against all species and reduces oocyst shedding. If you cannot control the condition, see a vet promptly.