Immunocompromised dogs are at severe risk. In most dogs, the disease is usually asymptomatic or self limiting. Puppies are most likely to show signs. No treatment is available for eliminating the organism although coccidiastats have been used with questionable success. Antibiotics may have some effect.
Treatment is primarily symptomatic to combat fluid loss.
Giardia is another protozoan intestinal parasite that infects many mammals including man. It problably is a zoonotic. The disease produced is variable depending on the individual and age. Young puppies are most often affected. Signs usually occur 1-2 weeks after infection and often the disease goes unnoticed or is self limiting after a bout of diarrhea.