Many people are aware that Toxoplasma gondii can cause miscarriage in pregnant women and fetal malformations, leading many to rehome their pets upon learning of their pregnancy. Cats and dogs can serve as intermediate hosts for Toxoplasma, where the parasite undergoes asexual reproduction within nucleated cells of various tissues and organs.

Transmission Pathways:‌
Animals become infected by ingesting infectious oocysts from cat feces or consuming meat, organs, secretions, excretions, or milk from intermediate hosts containing Toxoplasma tachyzoites or cysts.
Tachyzoites can also infect through skin or mucous membranes, as well as via placental transmission to fetuses.
Clinical Manifestations in Dogs:‌

1、How to tell if your dog has Toxoplasma gondii:
Most infected dogs show no symptoms (asymptomatic latent infection).
Puppies and young dogs are more susceptible and exhibit severe symptoms.
Symptoms may resemble canine distemper or infectious hepatitis, including:
Fever, cough, anorexia, lethargy, weakness
Ocular/nasal discharge, pale mucous membranes, dyspnea
Hemorrhagic diarrhea (acute cases)
Occasional vomiting followed by paralysis/neurological signs.
Pregnant dogs may experience abortion or premature delivery, with offspring showing diarrhea, respiratory distress, or ataxia.

Laboratory Findings:‌

Acute phase: Reduced RBC/WBC counts with neutrophilia (neutropenia and monocytosis are rare).
Chronic cases: Leukocytosis (primarily neutrophilia) and thrombocytopenia without bleeding tendency.


2、How to treat toxoplasmosis in dogs?

a) First of all, we must do a good job of prevention. We must use various types of anthelmintics to deworm dogs regularly, because there are many types of parasites, and one medicine cannot kill all the worms.

b) If the dog has been infected with parasites, you can feed the dog sulfonamide drugs that are effective against Toxoplasma according to the instructions. At the same time, take some blood-producing health products, because Toxoplasma will suck the dog's blood to avoid anemia.

c) Clean the dog's feces in time, because there will be worm bodies or eggs in the feces, so as to prevent the dog from eating them by mistake.


Because Toxoplasma is extremely harmful to pregnant women, if someone in the family is pregnant, it is best to take the dog and the pregnant woman to the hospital for a check-up, so that each other can feel at ease.

Categories: pets