Coccidiosis is the parasitic infection of a microorganism called coccidia. They inhabit the intestinal tract of dogs and puppies, causing watery diarrhea that can sometimes be blood-tinged. It can be a serious illness, especially in young puppies. Sulfa drugs are effective against coccidiosis because they halt the reproduction of coccidia. This allows the immune system to overcome the microorganisms. However, the medication needs to be given for a minimum of five days, and up to 21 days, in order to clear up the infection entirely.
Sulfadimethoxine
Sulfadimethoxine is a prescription medication that is commonly used to treat coccidiosis. It can be found in a liquid suspension, which is convenient for dosing small puppies. It also comes in a pill form.
All of the prescribed medication should be administered to your pet, even if it seems to improve after a few days. Since the sulfa drug does not kill the coccidia, it is a slow-acting, yet effective, treatment.
Trimethoprim-sulfadiazine
Often referred to as SMZ-TMP, these sulfa drugs work in the same manner as sulfamethoxine by inhibiting the protozoan's uptake of folic acid, which is necessary for reproduction.
This medication should be given with food. You should make sure that your pet is drinking plenty of water when on SMZ-TMP, so that crystals do not form in the urine. However, this medication is usually well tolerated with minimal side effects. It should not, however, be used in pregnant animals.
Ponazuril
Ponazuril is a large animal medication, but it can be compounded for use in dogs. Unlike the sulfa drugs, this medication actually does kill coccidia, meaning fewer doses are necessary.
Ponazuril has not been studied for use in dogs, even though shelters and kennels use this medication extensively with excellent results. It is worth checking with your veterinarian to see if this is an option to treat your dog, but since it is a large animal medication, it is not commonly stocked by small animal veterinarians.
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