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Dog Giardia FAQs

Published on February 9, 2017 in Articles About Dog Health

 

 

What’s the deal with Giardia

Throughout the year, many of our patients are diagnosed with giardia. Here is a list of frequently asked questions about giardia that may be pertinent to you!

Q:  How did my pet become infected?

A: Giardia is spread through feces, so most pets become infected by either eating the infected stools directly or drinking water that the stools have washed into.
Q:   What are the common symptoms of giardia?

Q: What are the common carriers of giardia?

A: Giardia is generally carried and transmitted by wildlife

A: Most commonly pets present with mucoid diarrhea +/- vomiting.

Q:  How do we treat giardia?

A: Because giardia is a protozoan, we use medications that target them specifically.

Q:  Can my pet re-infect themselves and/or other animals?

A: Giardia is transmitted fecal-oral so as long as your pet and others do not eat their infected stools they shouldn’t become infected after treatment.

Q:  How long after starting treatment is my pet considered infectious?

A: A pet is considered infectious until they have completed their entire course of medication

Q: How can I prevent my pet from getting giardia?

A: Unfortunately prevention can be difficult so pet owners can take a few steps to limit infection. Owners can restrict their pets from eating poop as well as prevent them from drinking out of natural bodies of water. There was once a vaccination on the market for giardia though it was proven to be ineffective in many cases so it is generally not recommended.