Intestinal Parasites in Dogs: An Insight by Sarah J. Wooten, DVM and Emily Oliver, CVT (Reviewed on 03/28/2025, Published on 03/04/2020) - Sharing on Facebook, Twitter, Email or printing options available.

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Uh, matey, you've got a nasty little issue brewing with your pooch pal – Coccidia, the common culprit of canine tummy troubles, especially in puppies. But don't fret, it ain't no walk in the park for adults either.

According to the Companion Animal Parasite Council (CAPC), more than 40% of dogs in North America are host to these parasites. Thankfully, Coccidia ain't no tough customer to handle; with proper treatment, your pup's chances of bouncing back are good as gold.

What the Hells is Coccidia?

Coccidia, or coccidiosis, is a catch-all term for a family of parasites that 'll make a pesky home in your doggo's gut. They're teeny tiny critters that you sure as heck can't see with your bare peepers, but they're often detected under the lens of a microscope during a routine fecal exam. Yup, these parasites love to hide in your pup's intestinal wall, just waiting to cause a ruckus.

You probably won't notice these nasties unless they start causing a commotion, but they can make life a living hell for weak, young, or recently stress-struck pups. Coccidia can cause watery, bloody stool and weakness, and it can even be fatal for mini pups and old dawgs in severe cases.

How Did They Get Here?

To keep yourself in the know about Coccidia, it's important to understand how they hop from one pup to another. Coccidia infect pups through their poop, which contains infectious oocysts. These oocysts can mature and turn into infectious little monsters within 12-26 hours, meaning they're primed to get a new host by gobbling them up.

Pups who live with each other, such as dogs in shelters, rescues, kennels, or breeding facilities, are particularly susceptible to Coccidia. But it ain't just dogs who catch these parasites; bugs like mice, houseflies, cockroaches, and other critters might also spread Coccidia to pups if they're eaten. Doggos can even get Coccidia from chowing down on an infected carcass.

While most types of Coccidia ain't contagious to humans, some species like Cryptosporidium and Toxoplasma can. But these types are pretty rare when it comes to being transmitted from dogs to people.

The Sickly Symptoms of Coccidia

Since Coccidia can go unnoticed in healthy, adult pups, it's essential to recognize the symptoms. In weak, young, or stressed pups, Coccidia can cause white, bloody diarrhea, weakness, weight loss, dehydration, loss of appetite, vomiting, a lack of energy, and – in the worst-case scenario – even death.

But don't fret too much if your adult pup ain't currently showing any signs; it's their immune system, which can be weaker in young pups, that determines whether or not they'll develop symptoms related to Coccidiosis. Stress factors like rehoming, sickness, disease, or surgery can also make pups more vulnerable to this little parasite.

Diagnosing Coccidia, for Pete's Sake!

To diagnose Coccidia in your pup, your vet will take a gander at where they come from, what their habits are, recent travels, stays in doggie daycares, and more. They'll also examine your pup, perform some tests, and check your pup's feces under a microscope for the presence of Coccidia oocysts. Fecal float tests are an easy peasy test that your local vet can run to look for these parasites. Just make sure your vet gets a fresh sample of your pup's poop on the same day as the test and keeps it in a sealed container.

Whipping out Those Antiparasitic Big Guns

Coccidia infections are treated with antiparasitic medications, which can be divided into coccidiostats and coccidiocidals.

Coccidiostats, like the popular Albon, help stop Coccidia from reproducing so the pup's immune system can kick those parasites to the curb. The length of treatment depends on how many Coccidia are a-brewin' and how strong the pup's immune system is. Most pups are treated for 5-25 days.

Coccidiocidals, such as Ponazuril and Toltrazuril, destroy Coccidia. These can be compounded into pup-friendly formulations by your local pharmacist and only require a few doses compared to lengthier treatments with Albon.

The Financial Burden of Treating Coccidia

The cost of diagnosing and treating a Coccidia infection varies based on where you live. In general, the associated costs can include an exam ($40-$70), a fecal float test ($30-$50), and medication ($35-$100) depending on the type, length of treatment, and size of your pup.

Keeping the Little Devils Away

Since Coccidia is so prevalent, reinfections are likely. To prevent your pup from getting infected again, clean up any feces as fast as humanly possible, and use a diluted chlorine bleach solution (1 cup of bleach to 1 gallon of water) to disinfect the soil.

Avoid letting your pup eat poop or potentially infected critters like mice or bugs. Remember, not all pups who have Coccidia will display symptoms, so it's crucial to have your pup's poop checked for parasites yearly at your local vet's office.

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Intestinal Parasites in Dogs: An Insight by Sarah J. Wooten, DVM and Emily Oliver, CVT (Reviewed on 03/28/2025, Published on 03/04/2020) - Sharing on Facebook, Twitter, Email or printing options available.