Neosporosis in Dogs: A Parasitic Infection Pet Owners Should Know

Confusion, walking in circles, muscle weakness, blindness, paralysis and death are all signs of Neosporosis in dogs; an infectious disease that’s caused by a parasite. Puppies and dogs who live on farms are most susceptible.

Here is lifesaving information about the disease and how you can protect your dog from catching it.

I was introduced to Neosporosis by two pet owners who wrote to me about their dog. They explained how their dog’s hind legs had become paralyzed after contracting Neosporosis. Their questions sent me on a mission to learn about the disease and how it’s treated.

The first thing I learned is that Neosporosis is tricky to diagnose and treat. Unfortunately, the disease mimics other health problems and there are only a few medications that can treat it.

I also discovered a glitch about treating Neosporosis that’s kind of controversial. I’ll share it at the end of the story. First, let’s discuss the essentials of the condition.

What is Neosporosis?

Neosporosis is an infection that’s caused by a parasite known as Neospora caninum or N. caninum. The organism lives inside farm animals and wild animals. Dogs can also become a host for the parasite.  

N. caninum infects victims by planting tiny cysts in their bodies. This gives it time to grow and multiply inside your dog without showing any symptoms. Eventually the cysts rupture and set the stage for the infection to takeover.

First, N. caninum attacks a dog’s neurological and muscular systems. It does this by killing off tissue cells. In fact, the word “neosporosis” is a medical term that means, “death of cells.”

How a dog acquires the Neospora caninum parasite

Dogs can develop Neosporosis from being in contact with farm animals and wild animals. They catch the disease from eating the raw meat from these animals and being around their feces.

N. caninum can be found in a variety of animals.

These include:

• Cattle
• Sheep
• Goats
• Horses
• Chickens
• Coyotes
• Deer
• Rodents
• Rabbits
• Wolves
• Foxes
• DOGS

Your dog can become infected by:

• Eating a diseased animal
• Eating the feces of an infected animal.
• Eating the after-birth fluids of diseased livestock.
• Walking on the soil where an infected animal has been.

In addition, puppies can get Neosporosis from the womb of an infected mother dog. The disease is often found in newborn puppies who have a mother infected with the disease. 

Neospora caninum is the number one cause of spontaneous abortion in dogs. It can be the only symptom that points to a mother dog who is a carrier of the parasite.

Symptoms of Neosporosis

Neosporosis is most commonly seen in puppies, hunting dogs and dogs who live near livestock. Some infected dogs become carriers of the disease and never show signs of illness. That makes it easy for them to pass along the parasite to their offspring. It also makes it easy for these carriers to contaminate shared feeding and water bowls.

Symptoms puppies show:

• Stiffness in the hind legs
• Muscle atrophy
• Hind end paralysis
• Rigid limbs
• Liver damage
• Skin ulcers
• Symptoms for adult dogs:
• Skin ulcers
• Dermatitis as the cells of the skin die off
• Muscle weakness in the neck
• Difficulty swallowing
• Pneumonia
• Liver problems
• Walking in circles
• Blindness
• Paralysis in the back legs
• Paralysis of the lungs

How dogs with Neosporosis are diagnosed and treated

Your veterinarian will begin with a CBC (complete blood count) and urinalysis. This is done to rule out diseases that look like Neosporosis.

These include: rabies, distemper, fungal infections and pesticide poisoning.

A spinal tap of the cerebrospinal fluid is often ordered for the brain and spinal cord.

Dogs who have Neosporosis need immediate medical care. They should start anti-malaria drugs and long-term antibiotics as soon as possible.

Unfortunately, the prognosis for puppies and young dogs with Neosporosis isn’t very good. The majority pass away soon after contracting the disease.

How to prevent Neosporosis

The best way to prevent Neosporosis is to have your dog avoid infected animals and where these animals feed. That also means keeping your pup away from areas where farm and wild animals leave body fluids and feces.

The controversial part I mentioned earlier

In addition to keeping your pet away from areas where the N. caninum parasite can be found, experts recommend that you avoid serving your dog raw food while you’re in a susceptible area.

According to the Merck Veterinary Manual, “Dogs are presumed to become infected with Neosporosis when they consume raw meat diets.”

Instead, researchers suggest that bones and raw meat be thoroughly cooked before feeding it to your pets. The farming industry also recommends this method for dogs who live on farms. They believe it’s one less way cattle and other livestock can become infected.

However, if your dog eats a raw diet and you live on a farm, be sure to use only human-grade raw meat and bones. That way you’re assured the food you serve has been FDA approved and is free of parasites.

Want to read more about this topic?

Spondylosis in Dogs

Carpal Laxity in Puppies

Dog Birth Defects