How is Giardia diagnosed and treated?
Giardia can be very easily diagnosed through a fecal sample or a stool sample. The treatment involves medication, normally called Fenbendazole, as a first choice, if that doesn’t work, we use something called Metronidazole. It can be a very resilient parasite, which may need multiple bouts of treatment to eliminate it. In addition to medication, things like a good digestible diet and probiotics are also effective in controlling the parasite. Some dogs may require follow-up tests and treatments based on their condition and severity of the infection. All infected pets should be re-tested two to four weeks after completion of treatment.
Can I get Giardia from my dog licking me?
Luckily, the odds of humans being infected with Giardia from dogs is relatively low. This is because there are seven types of this parasite, A through G. Dogs are most commonly infected with types C and D, cats with F, and humans most commonly infected with A and B. Even so, it can happen! So to minimize the risk we recommend washing your hands after handling dog poop and keeping your pet’s toys, water and food bowl clean as a whistle!
It Can Cause Digestive Issues
The most common symptom of an active giardia infection is watery diarrhea. The diarrhea may be greenish or yellow in color, or it might be brown, but it is always going to be liquid. There may sometimes be blood present in a dog’s stool as a result of giardia as well.
Some dogs who are carriers of giardia do not show symptoms at all. If a dog is infected as a puppy, he may remain sick periodically with diarrhea until he is fully grown, at which time his immune system can more easily fight off the giardia.
Giardia in the dog and cat. Dr. Dan- what giardia is, giardia symptoms, diagnosis, and treatment
Has your dog been diagnosed with giardia, or do you think he might have this condition? If so, you may have many questions about giardia and want to know more about what this means for your pet.
In the article below, you’ll find information about what giardia is and what it can cause in terms of symptoms for your pet. You can also learn more about how serious this problem is and what to expect if your pet comes down with an infection.
Giardia is a type of parasite, and the actual infection from the parasite is known as giardiasis scientifically. The parasite that causes this condition is shed in cysts through an infected animal’s feces, which allows the cysts to come into contact with the surrounding environment.
Giardia cysts can be transmitted to animals who simply sniff the dirt or feces where the parasite is present. It can also be transmitted through drinking infected water. Because of the prevalence of these cysts, most adult dogs are considered carriers of giardia, even if they do not show symptoms.
Giardia is extremely contagious. Since it is able to be transmitted to healthy animals from the moment it leaves an infected animal’s body through feces, it is widely present in situations where many dogs can be found at once. Dog parks, kennels, and vet offices are common places where giardia may be picked up.
Giardia can also be spread easily between pets living in the same household. If you have one dog who becomes infected, chances are good your other dogs will quickly pick up this parasite as well. It can be spread through licking, playing, sharing food bowls, sharing water, and even just walking in the same areas.