Giardia

Giardia is a protozoan parasite that lives in the intestine of affected animals. It is unclear whether there are several species of this parasite or whether there is one species that affects several different animals, including people. These small parasites are easy to miss on a fecal exam and may not be present in the stool of animals infected with the organism. Repeated fecal exams may be necessary to identify this parasite. Not all infected animals demonstrate clinical signs. This leads some people to believe that the parasite may not cause disease. Most vets think that there may just be other factors, like the animal’s immune response to the parasite that cause some animals to develop disease and not others.

•        Symptoms

o       weight loss

o       inability to gain weight appropriately during growth

o       diarrhea

o       vomiting

o       lack of appetite

o       greasy appearing stool

•        Prevention

o       Organisms come from the environment and live in moist/wet areas.

o       Susceptible to quaternary ammonium disinfectants, Lysol and dilute chlorine bleach.

o       Keeping the dog’s environment dry helps a lot.

o       Disease may be contagious to people from infected dogs, so good sanitary practices, like washing your hands, are very important.

•        Treatment

o       Metronidazole (Flagyl) most common medication