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Puppy has coccidia, bloody diarrhea, and won't eat. Is this normal?

Updated on September 23rd, 2025

Pet's info: Dog | French Bulldog | Male | unneutered | 2 months and 24 days old | 7 lbs

My puppy was diagnosed with Coccidia on 12/4. The vet gave us meds(Albon) and we just finished day 5. However, today he is starting to develop diarrhea with a tint of blood at the end of the trail and not really eating. Is this normal?

2 Answers

Most Helpful Answer

Answered By Daniel Fonza, DVM

Veterinarian

Published on December 10th, 2017

Hi there and thank you for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! I would recommend bringing in another fecal sample to your vet to ensure that the coccidia have been killed. I would also recommend initiating a bland diet of chicken and rice and adding in a probiotic such as Purina Fortiflora. Sometimes a second course of dewormer is needed or a different dewormer is needed for treatment. With parasites, inflammation can result leading to diarrhea and soft stool and sometimes a bland diet or sensitive stomach is needed short term. I hope this helps! Please let me know if you have any other questions or concerns.

2Pet Parents found this answer helpful

Related Answers from Veterinarians

Answered By Destini R. Holloway, DVM
Veterinarian
Published on January 31st, 2017
Oh poor girl. Coccidia has been known to cause bloody stool. However Coconut should be eating daily to ensure she doesn't get low glucose (hypoglycemia) which can make her deathly ill. I would highly encourage you to offer Coconut some boiled plain chicken and rice or canned dog food to try and entice her to eat something. You can also start with 1-2 tsp of honey to make sure her blood sugar doesn't tank, causing serious illness.
The diarrhea can take up to 3-4 days to show improvement, and up to a week for full resolution. However you can help her with the fluid loss by offering her small amounts of diluted unflavored Pedialyte via syringe or a small turkey baster. Also adding in 1-2 tsp of canned pumpkin (not the filling) in her food daily can help add fiber and encourage firmer stools. I hope your little one gets better soon. If she does not improve within the next 1-2 days, or seems to be getting worse, then it is best to have your vet take another look at her to make sure nothing else is going on with her.
1Pet Parents found this answer helpful

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