We all know that pets can have intestinal parasites. In fact, “deworming” your dog or cat is a pretty common procedure. But did you know that not all intestinal parasites are worms? One of the more common parasites of dogs and cats is an organism called coccidia, which is nothing like a worm at all!
Worming their way in
Coccidia are actually single-celled organisms that can live in the intestine. These microscopic pests can be found in routine fecal examinations, but you will never see them in your pet’s stool–they are just too tiny.
Coccidia pass oocyts (their one-celled version of eggs) in the stool into the surrounding environment. Once they are outside of the animal, these oocysts mature and become infective to any dog or cat that might happen to swallow them. Any ground that has been exposed to animal feces can potentially harbor these oocysts. Animals that have been housed in large groups such as at a kennel, rescue, or shelter are at highest risk, although any pet can be infected.
Coccidia reproduce by invading the cells within the intestine. As they reproduce they actually cause the infected cells to burst, disrupting normal intestinal function. If a great enough number of cells are destroyed, watery–sometimes bloody–diarrhea can result. If severe enough this can be life threatening, especially for young or very small animals.
Exit plans
Once detected, coccidial infections are typically treated using drugs called coccidiostats. These medications stop the coccidia from reproducing, helping the pet’s immune system fight off the infection. Depending on the severity of the infection and the animal’s immune system, it often takes 5 or more days of treatment to clear the infection.
Coccidia are a prime example of why it is important to have your pet’s stool routinely examined for parasites. Not all intestinal parasites are seen with the naked eye, and some can be quite tricky. Periodic parasite screenings are an important part of keeping your pet healthy.