Giardiasis has increasingly become a health concern, and is one of the most common parasites found in North America. You can have this parasite and not even know it. It is most often found in canines through a fecal sample taken to your vet but on occasion needs to be retested since the giardia oocysts are shed intermittently. Giardia is acquired by dogs from drinking water contaminated with oocysts (usually from water puddles, ponds, and streams that are contaminated).

The symptom is usually diarrhea which can cause weight loss and dehydration. In small breed puppies this can be fatal as they can become lethargic which leads to hypoglycemia, when the outbreak is severe.

It is contagious to humans and can be spread through unsanitary conditions. This flagellated protozoan parasite colonizes, attaches to the small intestine, and reproduces while stealing nutrients from its host. When it is done inside it is expelled in the form of a cyst through the feces which can survive almost a month in extreme weather.

This can be treated in a couple ways. Panicure for 5 days seems to be the most successful but you can also use high doses of flagyl for 7 days as a secondary option. Flagyl can cause nausea, upset stomach, neurological problems and panicure is fatal if dosed incorrectly so seek veterinary assistance when caring for your pet. Because the cysts are hardy and are expelled from the body it is important to wash your pet a few days into the treatment.

Also, be very careful to sanitize with boiled water and bleach any place the animal defecates. Washing bedding can’t hurt anything either. Make sure to was your hands thoroughly every time after handling your pet to protect yourself from being contaminated. You need to be concerned about dog health, and your own health.

Fort Dogde does provide a giardia vaccine that has been around 8 years but because treatment is uncomplicated and giardia is not usually life threatening not many vets carry this. The vaccine does not prevent giardia but it is used to decrease the amount of cysts shed from the host.

When trying to rid giardia from a kennel environment the vaccine is more effective than if you are just trying to treat a couple dogs.

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