Coccidiosis In Kittens Symptoms
In kittens coccidiosis infection can cause watery and bloody diarrhea vomiting pain and dehydration followed by rapid weight loss.
Coccidiosis in kittens symptoms. Vomiting weight loss dehydration due to loss of fluids loss of appetite anorexia uveitis inflammation of the uvea in the eye death especially in young kittens or older cats with underlying medical conditions diagnosis. Signs that your cat is infected. Coccidiosis is a parasitic type of infection caused by the coccidia parasite. This helps identify any eggs larvae or.
Symptoms of coccidiosis appear almost two weeks after the initial infection. Coccidia invade the gut and irritate the lining of the bowel. The veterinarian will perform a complete physical examination of the cat watching for known signs of coccidiosis. Usually a drug called trimethoprim sulfonamide is prescribed and given orally to your cat for about a week in order to treat the infection.
Many cats can be infected with coccidia but show no symptoms. Be prepared to provide the cat s full medical history especially if it is an adult cat with immune system issues. The primary symptom of coccidiosis is diarrhea which may contain blood or mucus. Young cats less than six months old are more likely to get affected due to their immature immune system 2.
Coccidiosis can be easily treated if feline coccidia are detected early and medication is prescribed. Probiotics prebiotics and special diets may also be needed but while coccidia is a very common parasite in cats. Cats commonly develop diarrhea with mucus a jelly like substance in it and flecks of blood from. If your cat or kitten begins to exhibit any of the symptoms of coccidiosis bring it to a veterinary clinic or animal hospital immediately.
Other symptoms may include. The primary sign of an animal suffering with coccidiosis is diarrhoea. The most common way to. Although most cats in the us carry the parasite they do not develop.
Because kittens can be quickly affected by diarrhea and. These often cause an intestinal tract infection called coccidiosis 1 2. If left untreated coccidiosis in symptomatic kittens can lead to death. With appropriate and prompt treatment the prognosis is good.
Those cats most likely to show symptoms of coccidiosis are young kittens those with weak immune systems or cats kept in crowded unhygienic conditions. Any infected kitten or puppy is contagious to other kittens or puppies. In breeding facilities shelters animal hospitals etc it is wise to isolate those infected from those that are not. Symptoms of coccidia are usually seen in kittens less than 6 months of age or adult cats with weak immune systems but coccidia can be present in cats of any age and breed.
This causes stomach cramps loss of appetite and poor growth in young kittens. A sensible first step is to analyze a sample of the poop and look at it under the microscope. Your vet may be suspicious of coccidian infection based on the clinical signs and age of the kitten. However there are plenty of other parasites which can produce similar symptoms so a workup may be needed.
Kittens and older cats that are stressed or have a weak immune system are more likely to be affected by coccidia 1 2. It most commonly causes watery mucus based diarrhea in animals.