[moonvalley]

Thanks, I feel blessed that my knowledge is letting me do good.

There is a test for both. It is similar, and probably is often misdiagnosed. Note the age range for typical:

The primary sign of an animal suffering with coccidiosis is diarrhea. The diarrhea may be mild to severe depending on the level of infection. Blood and mucous may be present, especially in advanced cases. Severely affected animals may also vomit, lose their appetite, become dehydrated, and in some instances, die from the disease.

Most infected puppies encountered by the authors are in the four to twelve week age group. The possibility of coccidiosis should always be considered when a loose stool or diarrhea is encountered in this age group. A microscopic fecal exam by a veterinarian will detect the cysts confirming a diagnosis.

What are the risks?

Although many cases are mild it is not uncommon to see severe, bloody diarrhea result in dehydration and even death. This is most common in animals who are ill or infected with other parasites, bacteria or viruses. Coccidiosis is very contagious, especially among young puppies. Entire kennels may become contaminated, with puppies of many age groups simultaneously affected.

What is the treatment of coccidiosis?

It should be mentioned that stress plays a role in the development of coccidiosis. It is not uncommon for a seemingly healthy puppy to arrive at its new home and develop diarrhea several days later leading to a diagnosis of coccidia. If the puppy has been at the new home for less than thirteen days, then it had coccidia before it arrived. Remember the incubation period (from exposure to illness) is about thirteen days. If the puppy has been with its new owner several weeks, then the exposure to coccidia most likely occurred after the animal arrived at the new home. The authors merely point this out as they have been involved in legal cases as to who was responsible for the cost of treatment, the breeder or new owner. Usually coccidia was present only to surface during the stressful period of the puppy adjusting to a new home.

Fortunately coccidiosis is treatable. Drugs such as sulfadimethoxine (Albon) and trimethoprim-sulfadiazine (Tribrissen) have been effective in the treatment and prevention of coccidia. Because these drugs do not kill the organisms, but rather inhibit their reproduction capabilities, elimination of coccidia from the intestine is not rapid. By stopping the ability of the protozoa to reproduce, time is allowed for the puppy's own immunity to develop and remove the organisms. Drug treatments of five or more days are usually required.

How is coccidiosis prevented or controlled?

Because coccidia is spread by the feces of carrier animals, it is very important to practice strict sanitation. All fecal material should be removed. Housing needs to be such that food and water cannot become contaminated with feces. Clean water should be provided at all times. Most disinfectants do not work well against coccidia; incineration of the feces, and steam cleaning, immersion in boiling water or a 10% ammonia solution are the best methods to kill coccidia. Coccidia can withstand freezing.

Cockroaches and flies can mechanically carry coccidia from one place to another. Mice and other animals can ingest the coccidia and when killed and eaten by a dog, for instance, can infect the dog. Therefore, insect and rodent control are very important in preventing coccidiosis.

The coccidia species of dogs and cats do not infect humans.


Amber Tech's Coccidia remedy contains human grade anti-microbial and anti-parasitic herbs: Olive leaf, mustard seed, black seed, pau d'arco, cloves, alcohol, and distilled water. Suggested dosage is based on the weight of the animal. Shake Well. Give 2-15 drops orally, 4x/day for 10 days. One bottle will treat approximately 3 medium sized puppies.


Treat With Albon Liquid Suspension (1/4 cc per pound per day - the dose is doubled the first day) for 21-30 days. You must not give B Vitamins during Albon treatment. Albon works by inhibiting folic acid synthesis and B vitamins can negate its action. DO give a high potency probiotic supplement all through treatment as Albon damages intestinal flora. When you finish with the Albon, give a B Vitamin supplement with Zinc and Vitamin C, as well as Ecchincea and Goldenseal drops (the powdered herbal extract is also fine if you can find a way to get it down your dog - it's very bitter). We have had good success giving Echinacea and Goldenseal drops during Albon treatment. We mix them with Dyne which improves palatability. Give the drops 3 times a day, but not at the same time as you give the Albon. I don't know if the herbs would react with Albon, but in the absence of data on this subject, I give them a few hours apart to minimize this risk. (According to the German Commission E Monographs, there are no known drug interactions for Echinacea, but this data is not available for Goldenseal.) Ecchincea helps to build the immune system and Goldenseal among other things helps get rid a diarrhea. Note, while very good supportive herbs, they alone will not do the job.

If Giardia is suspected, follow with Panacur** treatment for 5-7 days. (If you have severe Giardia you may need to treat longer, but 5-7 days is usually effective for mild cases). Giardia symptoms can be distinguished from Coccidia symptoms because the stools appear greasy and pale in color before progressing to bloody, foul smelling stools. With Coccidia, the stools are filled with yellowish mucous before progressing to foul smelling, bloody stools. If you notice a combination of these symptoms, you might be dealing with both Coccidia and Giardia at the same time. I have heard of breeders dealing with serious concurrent infections of Giardia and Coccidiosis safely using Albon in the morning and Panacur in the evening. I would only do this if the condition of the dog was very grave. If the infections are still within manageable parameters, I'd treat first with Albon and then Panacur or vice versa.

If e-coli or salmonella are a problem, you may need to use Neomycin. If clostridium or other bacteria are a problem, you may need to incorporate Amoxicillin. According to my vet, Neomycin and Amoxicillin can be used concurrently if you are unsure which bacteria you are dealing with. If seriously indicated, Amoxicillin can be used with Albon if the doses are split up (i.e. Amoxicillin A.M., Albon Noon, Amoxicillin P.M.). I don't know if Neomycin and Albon are compatible so would not use them in combination unless your vet felt it was necessary and O.K. to do.

During the diarrhea stage, electrolytes added to the water are a must. Avoid chilling at all costs. You may need to even use light heat, especially for infected puppies.