Guide To Coccidia In Cats
Highly contagious protozoans are responsible for causing coccidiosis in cats. These protozoans invade the body and cause an infection in the intestinal tract. Very young kittens are usually targeted by these protozoans since they don’t have fully-developed immune systems yet. Older cats can also be affected if they have a weakened immune system for some reason. So, how are these protozoans transmitted to your cat?
Transmission
Infected kittens and cats pass immature coccidia in their stool. If your cat is around these feces and ingests the coccidia, they will infect the intestinal tract and start to multiply. Most kittens become infected when around their infected mother’s feces. Cats can also become infected if they eat a rodent that ingested the protozoans itself.
Symptoms
Your cat will begin to display signs approximately two weeks after ingesting the protozoans. The most prominent symptom of this disease is diarrhea in cats. This can be mild or severe depending on how advanced the infection is.
Common signs of a severe infection include loss of appetite and vomiting. Dehydration can quickly develop due to vomiting and diarrhea. This can be life-threatening to kittens. The disease proves to be fatal in some cases.
Diagnosis
Your cat will need to submit a stool sample to be checked for the parasites. However, the parasites may be hard to detect since they’re immature. The sample will have to be examined closely in order to detect the presence of coccidia. In some cases, a blood test can be used to diagnose coccidiosis.
Treatment
Antibiotics are needed to treat this condition. Your cat will need to take this medication for about two weeks. Doing so will eliminate the possibility that all parasites weren’t eliminated. When exposed to the same environment, your cat can become infected again. Therefore, disinfecting the environment with bleach and water will help prevent coccidia in cats.
All owners should know a little something about various problems such as cat ear mites. Fortunately for you, cat-illnesses.com is a great resource for all owners. Make sure you come by to read all about these health conditions.
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