Coccidia Parasites In Kittens

Many cats that are infected with coccidia do not have diarrhea or any other clinical signs.

Coccidia parasites in kittens. When the oocysts are found in the stool of a cat without diarrhea they are generally considered a transient insignificant finding. Intestinal parasites coccidia in. A cat with diarrhea may have coccidia a potentially nasty and dangerous parasite find out what coccidia in cats looks like what it can do and how to get rid of it. While some cats can eliminate the parasite themselves others may need antibiotics to cure the infection and kittens in particular are at a higher risk of complications.

We do recommend ponazuril as the preferred treatment of coccidia in kittens in a shelter. Coccidia are a group of microscopic parasites that can cause a disease called coccidiosis in kittens and cats. If you have a kitten that is infected alert the breeder or owner to the problem so that treatment can be prescribed for their remaining animals. This parasite is very tiny compared to other intestinal parasites and can be easily missed so a very thorough fecal analysis or multiple fecal analyses must be performed in order to find it.

Infections occur in adult cats and kittens but are much more likely to cause serious. Coccidia are tiny single celled parasites that live in the wall of your cat s intestine. To become infected with coccidia a cat must come into direct contact with the parasite. If the kitten is dewormed but her poop still doesn t seem quite right ask a vet for a fecal exam to test for other parasites.

Coccidia are microscopic parasites that live within the cells that line the intestine. Coccidia get grouped together with worms because they are routinely searched for in stool tests for worms fecal ova and parasite test. While albon sulfadimethoxine is the only fda approved drug. Some kittens will have parasites that aren t covered by your standard dewormer such as tapeworms coccidia or giardia.

Coccidia infections also known as coccidiosis can cause gastrointestinal problems such as diarrhea. They are single celled intestinal parasites called protozoa which are only visible with a microscope. Cats become infected by swallowing soil that contains coccidia or other substances in the environment that may contain cat feces it is also possible that rodents could eat the coccidia and contract a resting stage of the. Risk factors for coccidiosis include age young kittens at least 2 weeks of age but typically less than 6 months 1 stress always a challenge in a shelter and coinfection with other parasites.

If your veterinarian is concerned that your cat may have one of the less common types of coccidia such as toxoplasma or cryptosporidium they may need to run additional specific tests. Kittens are often exposed to the protozoa from their mother s feces as adult cats often contain the parasites without showing any symptoms. All known causes of parasite exposure are listed below. Hunting and eating rodents that contain protozoa in its resting stages.

Direct contact with infected feces. They are found more often in kittens but they can also infect older cats. Intestinal parasite coccidia in dogs. Staying vigilant about hygiene by frequently removing feces and.

Coccidia are not worms. Coccidia is a nasty little single celled organism that causes mucousy diarrhea in kittens and can be treated with the prescription drug ponazuril.