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My new puppy has coccidia. How long was she infected before we got her?

Updated on September 23rd, 2025

Pet's info: Dog | Dachshund miniature | Female | unspayed | 2 months and 2 days old | 4.3 lbs

we just got an 8 week old pup 4 days ago now come to find out she has coccidia how long would she have had this prior to us getting her?

2 Answers

Most Helpful Answer

Jennifer Summerfield, DVM CPDT-KA

Answered By Jennifer Summerfield, DVM CPDT-KA

Veterinarian, Certified Dog Trainer

Published on April 11th, 2018

Hi there! There's really no way to know exactly when she contracted it. The stress of moving to a new home often causes it to flare up, if it was already present in the puppy's system.

It's very common to see coccidia in new puppies, just like other types of parasites, and does not imply that your breeder did anything wrong. This problem is usually quite easy to treat with medication from your vet, and shouldn't cause any long-term problems for your pup.
Vote Icon1Pet Parents found this answer helpful

Related Answers from Veterinarians

  • Answered By Lauren Kennedy, DVM

    Veterinarian

    Published on February 20th, 2018

    These puppies most likely have a low level infection of coccidia. Even though they are not symptomatic I would still recommend treating them so they don’t become further infected in the future.

    Since both sets of puppies have the protozoa they most likely had contracted it before you began fostering them.

    Coccidia can be easily treated and once gone, does not cause further issues.

    I hope this helps. Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach. Best of luck.

    Vote Icon

    1Pet Parents found this answer helpful

Smart Picks for Smart Questions

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Should I adopt a puppy who had coccidia but is now recovering?
Coccidiosis is a common microscopic parasite in puppies. As long as he receives a complete course of treatment and is seen by your vet very soon after adoption for follow-up and wellness and gets started on his vaccinations, I don't see a problem with going ahead with the adoption.
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Is it safe to bring home a puppy from a litter with fatal coccidia?
Hi there. I would expect that all puppies in the litter likely have coccidia, so the pup would need to be seen by a veterinarian for treatment right away. Whether it will survive or not depends on how sick it is at the moment. Coccidia is usually fairly simple to treat, but it sounds like a severe case if two pups have already passed away.
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My puppy has coccidia. Should I keep her separate from other dogs?
Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! Yes, they should be maintained separately as this can be easily caught by another dog. Coccidia is transmitted via the fecal oral route so if there any surfaces that are contaminated with your pup's feces, this should be washed thoroughly and other dogs should be kept away from it. Good luck and have a good night!
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My puppy has coccidia parasite but seems fine. Should I worry?
If your dog is not having diarrhea, then I would consider her a subclinical carrier. I would recommend treating her, however, as she is young with an inadequate immune system. Additionally, she can spread it to other dogs via her feces. The treatment is quite easy; a 5 day course of Albon. The dogs usually like the taste of it, and it is once a day only.
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Will my dog always have coccidia, or can stress bring it back?
With treatment, most pets will clear coccidia from their intestines. I recommend to have Bailey checked for coccidia by his veterinarian. Also keep in mind there are two primary species of coccidia and only one affects dogs. I hope this and please feel free to post any additional questions.
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Why do pet store rabbits often get coccidia after purchase?
You are exactly right. Physical stress, overcrowding, poor hygiene are all reasons that coccidia causes disease in these young rabbits. This is a common problem in most rabbit breeding farms and puppy mills.
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My puppy has coccidia. Is it contagious to humans? Can he lay on the couch?
Be sure to completely clean all areas where he has had feces or diarrhea. Otis important to clean the environment or reinfection is possible. Most coccidia is not contagious to humans but it can be in cas s if immune compromise or young children. Practice good hygiene and hand washing after handling the puppy should be adequate. Here’s some more info. https://vcahospitals.com/know-your-pet/coccidiosis-in-dogs I hope this helps. Thanks for using PetCoach.
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