What is dog Giardia?

Giardia is a single-celled parasite that lives in your dog's intestine. It infects older dogs but more frequently infects puppies. Dogs become infected when they swallow Giardia that may be present in water or other substances that have been soiled with feces.

What are the symptoms of Giardia in dogs?

Giardia infection in dogs may lead to weight loss, chronic intermittent diarrhea, and fatty stool. The stool may range from soft to watery, often has a greenish tinge to it, and occasionally contains blood. Infected dogs tend to have excess mucus in the feces. Vomiting may occur in some cases.

How serious is Giardia in dogs?

Giardia is not a fatal condition, except in very young puppies or very old senior dogs. In these cases, the amount of diarrhea caused by the parasite may lead to dehydration very quickly, which can be fatal for dogs whose immune systems are compromised or have not fully formed yet.

Can Giardia be passed from dog to human?

The chances of people getting Giardia infection from dogs or cats are low. The type of Giardia that infects humans is not usually the same type that infects dogs and cats. If you own other household or exotic pets, contact your veterinarian for more information.

How do you get rid of Giardia in dogs?

Giardia in the dog and cat. Dr. Dan- what giardia is, giardia symptoms, diagnosis, and treatment

How long does it take a dog to recover from Giardia?

Once treatment is initiated, your pet should see some relief of their symptoms within 24 to 48 hours. If their symptoms are not improving, you should let your veterinarian know. Within 1 to 2 weeks, your dog will likely be fully recovered from their giardia infection as long as they don't become reinfected.

What naturally kills Giardia in dogs?

No natural methods are proven to effectively cure Giardia. Metronidazole is a prescription medicine your vet can dispense which should work quickly and effectively. It is important to get on top of the infection as soon as we can.

What does Giardia poop look like?

Giardia infection (giardiasis) can cause a variety of intestinal symptoms, which include: Diarrhea. Gas. Foul-smelling, greasy poop that can float.

How do I get rid of Giardia in my yard?

The most readily available disinfectant is bleach diluted 1:32 in water. Studies have shown this dilution to require less than one minute of contact time to effectively kill giardia cysts. As for areas with lawn or plants, decontamination may not be possible without the risk of killing the foliage.

How did my puppy get Giardia?

How Is Giardia in Dogs Spread? Giardia has to be ingested by your dog in order for him to get the parasite. Your dog can get Giardia by drinking water that has been contaminated by feces or by eating something that has been contaminated by feces, like grass.

What do you feed a dog with Giardia?

The vet will likely recommend feeding your dog a bland food that's easy to digest and that promotes intestinal healing. It's generally recommended that you feed your dog bland food until their stool returns to normal consistency; this typically takes anywhere from three to 10 days.

Is Giardia in dogs contagious?

Canine giardiasis is a highly contagious protozoal infection that occurs globally. Infectious Giardia cysts can be shed by sick and healthy dogs and can survive in the environment for months.

Can a dog with Giardia play with other dogs?

If Your Dog Is Infected With Giardia …

Keep other dogs out of the area where the infected dog poops. Since there are probably cysts on the hair around the anal area, keep your pooch's rear end clean and bath him weekly until he is parasite-free.

How long does Giardia live in the yard?

For giardia: If the weather is below 77 degrees, then the yard will have giardia cysts present for at least a month. If the weather is consistently hotter than 77 degrees, then the giardia cysts will have all died off after one week.

How long does it take for Giardia to go away?

People with giardiasis will usually feel better and no longer have symptoms within 2 to 6 weeks. However, in some cases, symptoms may seem to be gone but will return after several days or weeks.

How often should you bathe a dog with Giardia?

Dogs with Giardia should be bathed 1 – 2 times a week to remove cysts from the fur and prevent re-infection. Any dog beds, bowls, toys, or things the infected dog came into contact with should be washed. Wash your hands thoroughly after picking up poop (always!) Don't allow your dog to lick your face (always!)

Should dogs with Giardia be quarantined?

– Quarantine a section of your yard for infected pets to urinate and defecate to prevent the spread of the parasite to healthy pets and family members. REMEMBER: Giardia can survive in 39.2ºF soil for up to 7 weeks and in 77ºF soil for a week!

What kills Giardia on carpet?

Steam clean the area at 158°F for 5 minutes or 212°F for 1 minute. Quaternary ammonium compound products (QATS) are found in some carpet cleaning products and can also be used after cleaning to disinfect. Read the product labels for specifications, and follow all instructions.

Can you see Giardia in dog poop?

Occasionally, the parasites may be seen on a direct smear of the feces. If your veterinarian suspects giardiasis, a sample of stool may be analyzed for the presence of Giardia specific antigens (cell proteins).

How much is a Giardia Test for dogs?

This type of Giardia testing checks for presence of Giardia proteins and results are often available in minutes. Th cost for a giardia fecal test is usually around $40.

Is Giardia contagious to humans?

Person-to-person contact

You can get infected with giardia if your hands become dirty with feces — parents changing a child's diapers are especially at risk. So are child care workers and children in child care centers, where outbreaks are increasingly common. The giardia parasite can also spread through anal sex.

How do you clean your house from a puppy with Giardia?

How do I disinfect my house? -Always clean surfaces with soap or other disinfectant until visible contamination is gone. -Use a bleach solution of ¾ cup bleach to 1 gal of water. Allow solution to stay in contact with the surface for AT LEAST 1-3 minutes before rinsing with clean water.

Is there a vaccine for Giardia in dogs?

Recently, a Giardia vaccine has become commercially available in the USA for prevention of clinical signs of giardiasis and reduction of cyst shedding in dogs and cats. The vaccine is based upon the current state of knowledge of Giardia antigenicity and immunology.

Can you cure Giardia without antibiotics?

Children and adults who have giardia infection without symptoms usually don't need treatment unless they're likely to spread the parasites. Many people who do have problems often get better on their own in a few weeks.