Does anyone know anything about coccidiosis in dogs...particularly young puppies? I run a small kennel and use Ivomec each month, but I occasionally,(very occasionally), hear back from a buyer that coccidiosis showed up in a routine fecal analysis. I don't even know for sure that the cocciodiosis originates with my kennel, as I have never had any problems at all with my dogs. Any info would be appreciated.

-- Kim Scales (barkinbarnyard@rrv.net), July 02, 2000

Answers

Yesterday there was a discussion about this only in cats at the 7Mherbal farm talk list. to get there go to onelist.com or e-groups as its now known and sign up for the list, the website addy is http://www.7mfarm.com if thats not it let me know and I'll send the right addy tomorrow.. its on my oter carrier's info at aol. hope this helps. Bernice

-- Bernice (geminigoats@yahoo.com), July 02, 2000.

http://www.agric.gov.ab.ca/agdex/600/63-32.html

-- ~Rogo (rogo2020@yahoo.com), July 03, 2000.

This is from A Veterinary Guide for Animal Owners by Dr. C. E. Spaulding, DVM. (He may have written articles for Countryside in the past.) COCCIDIOSIS: Coccidiosis is caused by a parasitic protozoa, coccidia. It most often affects puppies, although adult dogs are often carriers and can infect younger dogs. It causes diarrhea, coughing and dehydration. There are often secondary infections, such as pneumonia and distemper. Damp, unsanitary conditions and overcrowding help to spread coccidiosis. Combination intestinal sulfas will usually work, and I have had good success using cottage cheese. This seems to change the pH of the intestine, killing the coccidia. I have had pups which did not respond to sulfa or antibiotic therapy chear up immediately when cottage cheese was fed as a sole diet. I know it sounds like a quack remedy (I chuckled the first time another vet told me about it), but is does usually work and causes no side effects, as sulfa drugs sometimes do in cases of dehydration.

-- Ken Scharabok (scharabo@aol.com), July 03, 2000.

Ken.. would this work for goats as well? Just curious. Bernice PS.. what about homemade from goat milk cottage cheese?

-- Bernice (geminigoats@yahoo.com), July 03, 2000.

I had sled dogs for years and coccidiosis was a very real and potentially deadly problem for puppies. Cleanliness is the best defense and Corid works good for treatment. I treated my adult race dogs in December too. Pups are most often at risk at 3-5 weeks, but as with all opportunistic organisms, stress may give it a leg up. Thus your pups having a problem shortly after moving could very well mean they were on the edge before leaving. I guess all dogs always have coccidia, but in smaller numbers. You may try Corid for the week before weaning/selling. It needs to be given 7 days straight. I can't pull the dosage out of my head, but I can find it if you want, email me. Good luck, Jill

-- Jill Schreiber (schreiber@santanet.com), July 04, 2000.

Coccidia are considered by some veterinary gastroenterologists to be a normal component of the intestinal tract. They do however cause disease when their numbers get out of control. It tends to be a problem mainly in puppies. Ivermectin does not work against this type of parasite because it is a protozoan rather than a helminth(worm). The most commonly used drug is a sulfa called albon given for ten days minimum. I've had no problems with toxicity but dehydration in pups could potentially cause kidney problems due to the sulfa content. Cleanliness of the kennel is also very important. I've never heard of the cottage cheese cure. Don't think I would use it in a clinical setting but it might be worthwhile trying it along with the albon or perhaps as a preventative??? Think I'll try a little next time a coccidia case comes around

-- teresa (teresam@ascent.net), July 04, 2000.

It is very common , some litters just seem to be more affected .I also treat with albon .And sometimes it does take more than one treatment .On your next litter have a stool sample checked.

-- Patty Gamble (fodfarms@slic.com), July 09, 2000.

I don't have any answers but I do have a question regarding coccidiosis. I just received a puppy, Shih Tzu 9wks, with a bad case of it. Does it ever completely clear from the pup's system or go into dormancy only? Can a puppy ever be considered healthy after having suffered this parasitic infection? Her stools were not bloody, it was straight blood. Any opinions would be helpful. I don't want her in pain, she is too sweet and wonderful.

-- Gail Buck (nonpapermcse@hotmail.com), March 10, 2002.

Liquid Albon for 21 days is supposed to clear it up. I order the bottles online or get them from the vet, a very large bottle for 37.00. But it tastes good and they love it. I use it for preventive before the pups get stressed going to the new homes. Worming puppies kills off the good bugs, and gives the cocci a chance to get going. When you worm them, you can hit them with 5 days just after worming and it should not be a problem.

-- Cindy in KY (solidrockranch@msn.com), March 11, 2002.

Gail, is the pups stool normal now? Even changing the food too rapidly can cause blood in their stools, change must come slow with them. What did the vet give you to give her? Yes, she can be perfectly normal after this. I use the cottage cheese, have for years, and it does work very well. If a pup has runny stools, feeding just cottage cheese for 12 hours will stop the runnies.

-- Cindy in KY (solidrockranch@msn.com), March 11, 2002.