Coccidia – The Ongoing Battle –  Strong Invincible Coccidia

I am now a hobbyist breeder of French Bulldogs.  I am not a puppy mill, I do not have more than two litters a year of French bulldogs.  Despite my care, cleanliness and battle against coccidia, I am wondering if I will ever win.

I used to be a crime fighter, I am a retired NYPD Lieutenant, I made hundreds of arrests and facilitated hundreds more.  I am a private investigator, I have fought the war on crime, the war on drugs, the war on homelessness and every other war, but this war on coccidia may be the only war I cannot win.

Try I will.

Drs. Foster and Smith define coccidia in the following article:

Coccidia (Coccidiosis)

by Race Foster, DVM and Marty Smith, DVM
Drs. Foster & Smith, Inc.

What are coccidia?

Coccidia are small protozoa's (one-celled organisms) that multiply in the intestinal tracts of dogs and cats, most commonly in kittens and puppies less than six months of age, in adult animals whose immune system is suppressed or in animals who are stressed in other ways (e.g., change in ownership, other disease present).

In cats and dogs, most coccidia are of the genus called Isospora. Isospora canis and I. ohioensis are the species most often encountered in dogs; I. felis and I. rivolta are the most common in cats. Regardless of which species is present we generally refer to the disease as coccidiosis. As a puppy or kitten ages it tends to develop a natural immunity to the effects of coccidia. As an adult it may carry coccidia in its intestines, shed the cyst in the feces, but experience no ill effects.

How are coccidia transmitted?

A puppy or kitten is not born with the coccidia organisms in its intestine. However, once born, the puppy or kitten is frequently exposed to its mother's feces and if the mother is shedding the infective cysts in her feces then the young animals will likely ingest them and coccidia will develop within their intestines. Since young puppies and kittens, usually those less than six months of age, have no immunity to coccidia, the organisms reproduce in great numbers and parasitize the young animal's intestines. Oftentimes this has severe effects.

From exposure to the coccidia in feces to the onset of the illness is about 13 days. Most puppies and kittens who are ill from coccidia are, therefore, two weeks of age and older. Although most infections are the result of spread from the mother, this is not always the case. Any infected kitten or puppy is contagious to other puppies and kittens. In breeding facilities, shelters, animal hospitals, etc., it is wise to isolate those infected from those that are not.

What are the symptoms of coccidiosis?

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 kittens and 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 kittens and puppies. Entire kennels and catteries may become contaminated with puppies and kittens 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 or kitten to arrive at its new home and develop diarrhea several days later leading to a diagnosis of coccidia. If the puppy or kitten 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 or kitten 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 or kitten adjusting to a new home.

Fortunately coccidiosis is treatable. Drugs such as sulfadimethoxine (Albon), trimethoprim-sulfadiazine (Tribrissen) and amprolium (Corid) have all 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 cat, for instance, can infect the cat. Therefore, insect and rodent control are very important in preventing coccidiosis.

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

As a breeder of French Bulldogs in Florida , and knowing many other French Bulldog breeders in this country, and around the world, and breeders of other dogs and cats, most of us concur: 

If a breeder tells you their puppies never had coccidia, they are lying.  My veterinarian concurs with this conclusion.

Coccidia is one of the most frustrating parts of the breeding of French bulldogs.  It seems that whatever one does to prevent coccidia, the French bulldog puppies are destined to contract it one way or another.

It is to the point in my breeding program of French bulldogs, when individuals call and ask me when they can get the puppy and take the puppy home, I tell them the week (depending upon their circumstance and proficiency) and tell them to allow a possible two (2) weeks to clear up the inevitable coccidia.

I determine circumstance and proficiency based upon other pets, children and ages of the children, experience with dogs, prior pets, interviews with veterinarians, and other factors.  Some individuals can take the French bulldog puppies home at eight weeks, others at ten weeks and others twelve weeks.  In keeping the French bulldogs in the environment longer, the odds of reinfecting with coccidia is high, although a change in environment also increases the odds.  It is a Catch-22 with coccidia. 

I have treated with Albon, Sulfurtrim, and Ponazaril, with Ponazaril being the most effective.  As coccidia permeates our environment more and more it becomes more resistant to drugs. 

In order to protect the young intestinal tracts of my French bulldog puppies, coccidia or not, in preparation for the almost inevitable attack of coccidia, I give my puppies 1 ml of acidophilus, a probiotic in liquid form once a day.  This helps the natural flora of the intestine from damage and boosts the immune system.  I give my French bulldog puppies organic yogurt  (goat and cow) as another source of probiotic and mix it with their food.

Once they contract coccidia, it is important to catch it early and treat right away.  French bulldog puppies tend to dehydrate quickly when they have diarrhea, and as this is the most common side effect, it is important to keep them hydrated.  While treating with one of the above listed medicines, I supplement with pumpkin (not pumpkin pie mix) but organic pumpkin to reduce the diarrhea and attempt to head the dehydration off at the pass.

Some veterinarians tell me that it is good that the puppies get it as it helps them to build an immunity, others say it is inevitable and I need not be concerned, just cognizant and astute at early detection and treating.

It is a difficult situation to have to explain to potential owners of French bulldog puppies that the puppies will more than likely need to be treated for coccidia before they can take them home.  I have had misinformed potential buyer tell me that coccidia means the environment is not clean.  I explain to them that it is in our environment, and and no matter how clean, a French bulldog puppy has high odds of contracting coccidia.  I tell them it is like a childhood illness for a human.  If a baby is exposed to a cold, when the baby has a young immune system, the baby is going to catch the cold virus.  It is important to stay on top of it so that it does not go to pneumonia, and the same thing is important with a French bulldog and coccidia.

What is also likely is that when the French bulldog puppies have been given their health certificates and are released to go home after clean stool sampes, if they are released before four (4) months, it is likely they will have another bout of coccidia due to the stress of changing homes, leaving siblings, leaving their home pack.

I have tried everything to protect my French bulldog puppies and my newest trial worked, but I am still apprehensive. 

My French bulldog puppies are raised in whelping pen with their French bulldog mother who nurses them until five weeks of age or thereabout.  In all the litters of French bulldogs that I have raised, not one mother has shed a stool in the pen with her puppies, and this is one of the places coccidia can be contracted. 

After the puppies are on dry food, I would have them in the yard or in a fenced area of the yard separate from the larger dogs so that they could move around a bit.

Each morning I clean all dog stools from the yard, bleach and hose, despite this, coccidia.

I tried removing all the dirt and replacing with stones, and despite this coccidia.

I removed the stones and paved the yard, and despite this coccidia.

I tried ammonia, as literature states ammonia works, and despite this coccidia.

I asked the veterinarian, and she said, there is no way around it, but people have had some success with steam machines.

The last litter of French bulldog puppies, was kept in the bedroom in the whelping pen until five weeks of age, and thereafter in another whelping pen in an area in the dog room built just for puppies and puppy training.  I decided to keep their paws off the ground inside and out until eight (8) weeks and was successful in ridding the coccidia, from that litter, and I apprehensively say, from that litter. 

I always have the French bulldog puppies on large beach towels, and as they mature, and as they have more bowel movements and drink more water, more towel changes are necessary.  Towels are washed immediately in hot water with detergent.

I have purchased a commercial grade steamer, it is made by Tosca and cost around one thousand dollars.  I looked around at the ones in the home stores and most were around $300 and seemed flimsy.  I did the research and purchased a commercial machine.

My last two days off were spent steaming French bulldog wing of my home, all whelping pens, all crates, all outside enclosures and dog houses, all pavers and tiles.  I recently had knee surgery and did this lying down on the floor, as my friend steamed, I wiped. 

Dedication and determination is needed in the battle against coccidia.  I said to my friend while we were undertaking this new trial, “did you ever think when we were rollerblading in the Easthampton in our twenties, that we would be steaming tiles in our mid to late 50s for puppies?”  We laughed and called ourselves the aged and infirmed steamers and kept saying it would be worth it if the French bulldog future litters did not get coccidia.

So steam we did, for hours and hours and hours, getting every nook and cranny, preparing for the next litter of French bulldog puppies to come home.

We are determined, we are strong, we are invincible and we are courageous, but so is coccidia.