Coccidiosis (dysentry) in infants

 
Causes of coccidiosis

• Stress plays a role in the development of coccidiosis  and it is not uncommon for a seemingly healthy kitten to arrive at his new home and develop diarrhea several days later. This is usually diagnosed as coccidia.
• If the kitten has been at the new home for less than thirteen days, then he probably had coccidia before he arrived as this is about the incubation period (from exposure to illness).  If the kitten has been with his new owner several weeks, then the exposure to coccidia most likely occurred after the animal arrived.

Conventional Treatment

Usually drugs such as sulfadimethoxine (Albon?) and trimethoprim-sulfadiazine (Tribrissen?) are prescribed. However, these drugs do not kill the organisms, but rather inhibit their reproduction capabilities and so elimination of coccidia from the intestine is not rapid. By stopping the protozoa from reproducing, time is allowed for the kitten's own immunity to develop and remove the organisms. Drug treatment of one to three weeks is usually required, but the condition reoccurs.

Holistic and Animal Homeopath Natural Solution

Note - as well as supporting the animal, using nosodes will help strengthen the system against re-infection in the future.

• A natural and effective formula of Dysenteric (coccidiosis) nosodes, Gaertner (bowel nosode),  E.Coli nosode, Sycotic Co. combined with remedies suited to the symptoms of the individual pet i.e. Baryta Carb - would suit very young animals when other remedies are slow to respond
• China  indicated when loss of body fluid occurs for longer than 3 days
• Ver Alb  if condition is severe leading to collapse; stools resemble rice-water
• Podophyllum 1M  for long standing cases which have not shown response to other remedies particularly if symptoms are worse in the mornings
• Other remedies Allium Sat, Ipecac (nausea) Merc Corr

These remedies are generally given 3 x daily for a week or longer if needed.  If not totally cleared up, then either the strength or frequency or remedies themselves need to be reviewed by the practitioner.