Toxoplasmosis in dogs: symptoms and contagion
When we adopt a dog, we soon discover that the link between an animal and its owner is very strong and special, and we quickly understand that the dog has become more a member of our family and not just an animal. . Pet.
- Therefore.
- The care of our animal is of great importance in our daily life and.
- We must be careful of any symptoms or behavior that indicates a condition.
- In order to offer treatment as soon as possible.
In this Animal Expert article we will explain your symptoms to be able to identify the disease, how it is treated, how it can be prevented and how it becomes infected.
Toxoplasmosis is an infectious disease caused by a protozoan parasite called Toxoplasma Gondii.
It is not an exclusive disease of dogs, as it affects a wide variety of warm-blooded animals and, also, humans.
When you suffer from contagion from the extra-intestinal cycle (which affects all animals), toxoplasma passes from the intestinal tract into the bloodstream, where it reaches the organs and tissues it affects and therefore suffers a reaction. inflammatory and immune.
Toxoplasmosis in dogs is a disease that our dog acquires during the extra-intestinal cycle and, to understand this mechanism of action, it is necessary to differentiate the two reproductive cycles of this parasite:
A dog may become infected with toxoplasmosis by contact with an infected surface, by ingestion of cat droppings or by ingestion of raw meat contaminated with parasite eggs.
Young or immunosuppressed dogs are a group at risk of spreading toxoplasmosis.
Acute toxoplasmosis manifests itself in several symptoms, although our animal does not have to suffer at all.
If we notice any of the following symptoms in our dog, we should immediately go to the veterinarian with him:
First, the veterinarian must confirm the diagnosis of canine toxoplasmosis and, to do so, perform a blood test to measure different parameters, such as serology and antibodies, the number of defense cells and certain liver parameters.
If the diagnosis is confirmed, treatment will vary depending on each specific case and the basic health status of the animal.
Intravenous fluids will be used in cases of severe dehydration and antibiotics may also be prescribed to control infection in affected areas, treatment should also have the primary goal of restoring the dog’s immune system, especially when it was already weakened prior to infection. Toxoplasma.
In some severe cases, the dog may require a period of hospitalization.
To prevent the spread of toxoplasmosis in dogs, care should simply be taken and the following hygiene measures taken into account:
No que diz respeito ao contágio para humanos, devemos esclarecer que não é possível o contágio da toxoplasmose de um cachorro para um humano.
Between 40 and 60% of humans have already had toxoplasmosis, but if the immune system works properly, the symptoms do not manifest, being only a dangerous disease at the beginning of pregnancy in women who do not have antibodies.
Human contagion occurs by ingesting contaminated food and, in the case of children, by possible contact with infected cat feces.
This article is for informational purposes only, in Animal Expert.com.br we cannot prescribe veterinary treatments or make any kind of diagnosis. We suggest that you take your pet to the veterinarian in case of any type of condition or discomfort.
If you would like to read articles similar to, we recommend that you visit our Parasitic Diseases section.