Coccidiosis is a parasitic disease that affects the intestinal tract of animals. This condition spreads from one animal to the next by ingestion of infected tissues and contact with infected feces. The parasite affects humans, animals, birds and livestock, but can be species-specific.

Diagnosis is made through low-powered microscopic examination of the infected animal’s feces.

Drugs like trimethoprim sulfadiazine and sulfadimethoxine help in stopping the reproduction of the parasites in the body. While these medications may not kill all parasites, they would stop their ability to reproduce, allowing the animal’s immunity to remove the remaining organisms by itself.

The primary symptom of coccidiosis is diarrhea, which could become bloody. While most animals affected with this condition show no symptoms, young animals could suffer severe symptoms and even become fatal. When one of the dogs in a liter has these symptoms, all dogs in that same environment may have this infection.

Coccidiosis is caused by the parasite coccidian, which need animal cells to live and reproduce.