Overview
Giardiais a common intestinal parasite of pawl that causesdiarrheaas its master symptom , though many wiener with this condition do n’t go through any symptom .
Giardiain dogs is generally not life-threatening , though some untested dogs may become severely infected and can experiencedehydrationdue to diarrhea . Fortunately , treatingGiardiain dog is comparatively inexpensive , although multiple courses of treatment may be needed . Read on to pick up more about this bloodsucking contagion in dogs and what you could do if your wienerwurst is infect .
What is Giardia?
Giardiais a protozoan leech , base worldwide , that infect many mammalian species . The parasite is found in dirt , water , or food contaminated with infected feces . Infection in cad is rough-cut , especially in crowded environments such as shelter , breeding facilities , and kennels . Several study have also found an increased preponderance ofGiardiain dogs that natter dog parks . Young brute are more normally infected than old animals , and infection is typically more grievous in younger animals .
Giardiaparasites attach to the small intestines and damage the cells lining the diminished intestine , get malabsorption and hypersecretion that leads to diarrhoea . Within about 5 - 12 24-hour interval of contagion , the septic dog will get sheddingGiardiacysts in its ordure , posing an infection risk to other animals and potentially even re - infecting itself .
How Do Dogs Get Giardia?
Giardiais not contractable directly between frump , but exposure to an infected dog ’s faeces can cause your detent to become infected . likewise , dogs can not directly transmitGiardiato human race . However , mankind can become infected withGiardiaby the same faecal - oral route that affects dogs . take in contaminated water is a common route for exposure toGiardiain humans .
GiardiaSymptomsin Dogs
Many dogs withGiardiahave no symptoms . However , it ’s still important for theGiardiato be name and handle , because symptomless dogs are still throw away infectiveGiardiacysts into the environment , increasing the risk of infecting other dogs and people .
When dogs have symptoms ofGiardia , they may let in :
What doesGiardiapoop look like ? quarter from a hot dog withGiardiamay be liquid to semi - formed , and is often pallid and mucous - similar in coming into court . The quantity of potty is typically normal .
How to DiagnoseGiardia in Dogs
Giardiacan be difficult to name because the desquamation of cysts occurs intermittently . To identifyGiardiain the stool , your veterinarian may commend some or all of the following tests :
BecauseGiardiacan be hard to name , a negative test issue does not needfully rule outGiardiaas the cause of your dog ’s symptom . Your veterinarian may recommend repeating the test(s ) , sometimes as frequently as every other day , over several days to increase the luck of diagnosingGiardia .
Giardia in Dogs:Treatment
The main finish of discussion is to lay off the symptoms ofGiardia , such as diarrhea . The secondary goal of discourse is to eliminate the infection , which can be difficult due to the resistance of someGiardiastrains to treatment .
Medications for Giardia in Dogs
Medications used to treatGiardiain dogs includeMetronidazole , Fenbendazole , or a combining of febantel , pyrantel pamoate , andpraziquantel(DrontalPlus ) . The dose and length of these treatments will depend on the discourse used , your dog ’s exercising weight , and the severity of your hound ’s infection .
Be sure to follow your veterinarian ’s dosing book of instructions and give the entire course of action of medication , even if your hound ’s symptoms resolve before the course is finished . In some sheath , your veterinarian may urge giving a 2nd course of instruction of medicament to check that the infection is amply gain .
Probiotics for Dog Giardia
Probioticswork by populating your dog ’s gut with respectable bacterium . Probiotics do not treatGiardia , but they are not harmful and may be helpful in the handling of looseness . Your veterinary may prescribe a probiotic to help resolve your dog ’s diarrhoea after treatment forGiardia . probiotic are in general give in the figure of a ejection seat or pulverisation sparge on your dog ’s food .
General Cost to Treat Giardia in Dogs
Giardiais generally cheap to treat and pet owner should look to spend $ 50-$150 dollar treating this stipulation in most cases , reckon on the size of the blackguard and the badness of the condition .
In some case , multiple row of discussion may be needed to empty the infection , and this can incur an additional cost .
How to PreventGiardia in Dogs
There are a few things that preferent parents can do to help prevent their dogs from contractingGiardia .
do dependable hygiene . make clean up feces day by day to preventGiardiafrom spreading from one animal to another . Dispose of feces immediately . Wear gloves and wash hands after inter-group communication with feces .
Avoid tangency with contaminated water sources . These let in area where wildlife or other andiron may shit .
Sanitize areas where infected wiener have been . Giardiacysts can endure in the environment for long periods of time . Use disinfectants that are effective againstGiardiaor steam strip the arena to inactivate the cyst .
