Toxoplasmosis in dogs: symptoms, treatment and prevention

Amongst parasitic diseases, toxoplasmosis in the dog is the least studied. Officially, his bearer is cats, but four-legged friends can also be an intermediate host. However, here there is a difference. The organism of cats works in such a way that causative agents of toxoplasmosis are released into the external environment. The dog becomes infected through food and water, which is especially possible if the animals use only feeders. But the disease in the dog does not have an outlet in the external environment. However, it is almost impossible to determine at an early stage that your pet is a carrier of intracellular parasites.

Toxoplasma

What it is? These are small parasites that attach to the blood cells and begin their journey through the body. About it you need to know, because the disease is dangerous for a person. The simplest toxoplasm is most often transmitted from cats, but during a period of exacerbation it may well be released from the saliva of the dog. Therefore, playing with your pet, you run the risk of getting sick yourself. Intracellular parasites within a person lead to serious disturbances in the functioning of the body, which can have long-term consequences. First of all, they are dangerous for pregnant women, because they can penetrate the placental barrier and cause miscarriages or provoke severe deformities.

Dangerous or not

In fairness, it should be noted that the probability of infection of the owner from the dog is negligible. Today we are not talking about immediately getting rid of pets, but about how to prevent this disease and cure a pet, in case the symptoms have already manifested. Therefore, there is no need to get rid of a sick animal. Observe personal hygiene and visit a veterinarian.

Methods of diagnosis

Toxoplasmosis in the dog begins to manifest itself during the period of exacerbation. However, even at this time, one can guess the presence of pathology only by indirect signs. When palpation, larger lymph nodes are felt. Cough and purulent discharge from the nose can be observed. Perhaps a sharp increase in temperature, but soon it will return to its normal performance. Frequent diarrhea is also an indirect symptom.

There are also common signs that can be suspected toxoplasmosis in dogs. This loss of appetite and, as a result, weight loss, a state of apathy and even nervous disorders. Agree, to understand immediately what is what, an experienced doctor will not be able to do. Often the symptoms are confused with signs of viral diseases. Correctly diagnose the disease can, when the treatment has not given results. After that, the doctor prescribes an enzyme immunoassay, which allows to detect the presence of antibodies in the blood and to plan therapy.

Progression of the disease

Toxoplasmosis in dogs can develop in different ways. The chronic form remains almost invisible to the host. However, in some cases, there is a different picture. The incubation period lasts up to 6 weeks. At this time, toxoplasma multiplies in the organs of hematopoiesis. Accumulating in sufficient quantities, they settle throughout the body. First of all, it affects the digestive tract, liver, spleen. As a result, we observe loss of appetite, vomiting and diarrhea. Sometimes against this background develop skin diseases, dermatitis or eczema.

Acute toxoplasmosis

The earlier the diagnosis is carried out, the more likely the animal is to recover. In rare cases, it can be observed how toxoplasmosis occurs in dogs. Symptoms develop rapidly, with the defeat of the central nervous system and the destruction of certain centers in the brain and spinal cord. In this case, paresis and paralysis develop, cramps are possible. Toxoplasmosis can affect the kidneys and pancreas, causing severe pain in the abdomen. If the lungs suffer, then severe dyspnea is observed. But most often under the impact are the organs of the abdominal cavity. Foci of destruction in the liver and spleen lead to rapid depletion. So fast can be toxoplasmosis in dogs. Symptoms of severe disease are rare, but it is extremely difficult to distinguish them from the plague of carnivores.

Treatment of a pet

If the dog is sick, it is a tragedy for every owner. Find a veterinarian, allocate time to visit the clinic, perform the necessary procedures on a daily basis - this is an additional burden, but the hardest to watch and be unable to help. However, toxoplasmosis rarely leads to severe lesions. Usually, the owners may not notice short-term signs that disappear as soon as the disease turns into a chronic form.

Forecasts

But completely cure it, most likely, will not succeed. Therefore, if the dog is ill, you need to go through the examination first and make a correct diagnosis, and then smooth the symptoms. In this case, a small number of parasites remain in the blood, but does not give the animal any anxiety. The dog in this case is completely not contagious.

Main directions

Now let's talk about how to treat toxoplasmosis. If the examination showed the presence of parasites in the blood, then it is recommended to conduct a full course, which includes several approaches.

• First of all, it is important to destroy the parasites themselves. While they remain in the same quantity, the condition is unlikely to improve. To do this, the body injects special drugs, very toxic and for the dog. Therefore, the dosage is carefully measured by the weight of the animal.
• Limit the effect of toxoplasm. These parasites have an amazing property. As soon as the conditions cease to be favorable, they are encapsulated and wait. Since they have completely penetrated into living cells, they can be eliminated only in one way - by strengthening immunity. The best immunomodulators are suitable for this purpose.
• Strengthening the state of the body. For this, various drugs are used that allow you to adjust the functioning of the liver and kidneys, heart and blood vessels. That is, a general strengthening course that reduces the burden on vital organs.

Do not self-medicate, your doctor should prescribe a therapy. Since it is necessary to treat toxoplasmosis for a long time, you need to know exactly what dosages should be used. In fact, this disease does not respond to treatment. With the help of a special complex it can be put into sleep mode, which will not disturb the animal. But if you ignore the symptoms, you can earn serious consequences in the form of the defeat of any internal organ.

Prevention

As you know, any disease is much easier to prevent. The simplest creation that causes toxoplasmosis is a very insidious parasite. If it penetrated the body, it remains in the tissues even in the case of successful treatment. That is, if the immunity weakens, then at any time it again begins to multiply.

Infection of the animal is often due to the consumption of raw meat. Therefore it is very important to heat it for at least 30 minutes. But a predator should receive a raw product. Yes it is, so veterinarians recommend pre-freeze it. At very low temperatures, the parasite also perishes.

Be sure to keep the place where the pet is sleeping. Weekly, you need to remove the litter and perform a wet cleaning. In addition, it is important to limit the communication of the dog to street animals and to ensure that there are no rats and mice at home.

It is necessary to take basic preventive measures so that your pet does not suffer from toxoplasmosis in the future.