Coccidia in Dogs: Causes, Symptoms, & Treatment

Coccidia are parasites that can cause a gastrointestinal infection if your dog ingests them. Read on for the causes, symptoms, and treatments, as well as steps you can take to help keep your pup safe from an infection.

What Are Coccidia?

Coccidia are gastrointestinal parasites that can infect a dog and cause the clinical disease known as coccidiosis. However, it’s relatively uncommon and if infection occurs, it’s typically alongside other health issues — like coinfections, immunosuppression, and stress.¹

Coccidiosis happens more often in puppies than adult dogs, especially those in kennels, boarding, or breeding facilities. Some adult dogs may be infected, and have a higher chance if they’re immunocompromised.¹

How Do Dogs Get Coccidia?

Dogs can become infected by ingesting coccidia eggs — aka oocysts — usually through contaminated dog feces, rodents, or the environment where these feces are present. Once ingested, coccidia pass through the intestinal tract and are eventually shed in a dog’s stool. The eggs mature in the stool within a few hours and can then infect another dog if ingested.²

Is Coccidia in Dogs Contagious?

Coccidia in dogs is contagious to other dogs. However, the species of coccidia that infects dogs can’t infect cats or humans.^1,2

If your dog has been diagnosed with a coccidia infection, it’s important to keep them away from other dogs until the infection has been treated. Key places to avoid include dog parks and doggy day care.

Coccidia Symptoms

Coccidia symptoms in dogs can include:²

• Diarrhea
• Stool that’s bloody or has mucus with it
• Vomiting
• Weight loss
• Lethargy
• Lack of appetite
• Dehydration

Puppies are more likely to show signs of infection than adult dogs, but many dogs won’t develop any symptoms. More severe infections can lead to dehydration and possibly death.² For this reason, it’s a good idea to get your dog checked by the vet regularly to catch potential illnesses so they can be treated early on.

Diagnosing Coccidiosis

Your veterinarian will likely request a stool sample to perform a fecal test. They’ll look for eggs to help identify which coccidia species has infected your dog, but they may need additional blood work to help with the diagnosis.^1,2

If your dog is showing signs of coccidiosis but there are no eggs in their feces yet, they may need to go back for more fecal tests before your vet can diagnose the correct species for treatment.²

Coccidia Treatment in Dogs

Luckily, most cases of coccidiosis don’t require treatment, since your dog is likely to shed the infection on their own.^1,2 Although this may be true, don’t hesitate to seek veterinary care if your dog is showing symptoms.

Depending on the severity of the infection, your vet may prescribe a medication to help get rid of the parasites. Supportive care can help them recover — with fluid therapy, nutritional support, and medication to help aid the gastrointestinal tract among some of the options. Additional treatments may be needed if your dog has other health complications alongside coccidiosis.^1,2

Bathing your dog and disinfecting their environment can be very helpful in preventing reinfection after they’ve been treated.²

How To Prevent Coccidia in Dogs

There are a number of steps you can take to help prevent coccidia infections (and reinfections) for your furry family members:^1,2

1. Prevent contamination: Keep your dog’s food and water away from the places they relieve themselves, and pick up feces often to help keep spaces free from contamination.
2. Disinfect their environment: Coccidia are resistant to many disinfectants, but steam and degreasing cleaners can be used to help remove them from the environment.
3. Prevent ingestion: Train your dog to not eat feces or rodents to help decrease the likelihood of ingesting coccidia eggs.
4. Isolate infected dogs from other other pets: Keep dogs with coccidia away from other dogs.
5. Take your dog to the vet for regular checkups: This can help ensure infections and other problems aren’t left untreated.

MetLife Pet Insurance Can Help With Coccidia Infection Costs

If your dog needs veterinary care for a coccidiosis infection, MetLife Pet Insurance could help you cover the cost of diagnosis and treatment.

For instance, Tasha, a puppy from California, had her exam, fecal test, and medication covered by her MetLife Pet policy. Her pet parents were reimbursed $275 on a $300 vet bill. Then there’s Bill, a young dog from Arizona, whose owner was reimbursed over $160 on a $180 vet bill for diagnostic testing.³

With pet insurance in your back pocket, you can confidently get the care your dog needs — whether it’s to treat an infection or fix an upset stomach. Get started today with a free quote.