As a dog owner, you know that disposing of your pet’s stool is important for preventing diseases and parasites from spreading. But, did you know that your dog’s feces may contain one certain parasite that can be incredibly difficult to eradicate from your yard and to prevent from infecting your pet? Learn everything you need to know about Giardia in your dog with our Williamsburg Animal Clinic team’s list of canine giardiasis facts.
#1: Giardia is not an intestinal worm
When dog owners hear the term “Giardia,” they likely think of an intestinal parasite similar to roundworms or tapeworms. Giardia causes intestinal infections in animals and people, but is not a worm like other common intestinal parasites—Giardia is a microscopic, single-celled protozoan that can cause gastrointestinal (GI) issues, like coccidia and toxoplasma.
#2: Giardia has two forms
The Giardia organism has two forms—the trophozoite stage and the cyst stage.
- Trophozoites are the stage that attach and feed on the intestinal walls.
- The cyst form is shed in feces, is exceptionally hardy, and can survive in the environment for months. The cyst also is immediately infectious, so eradication from your yard and preventing reinfection are exceptionally difficult.
#3: Your dog can get Giardia directly from an infected dog
If your dog is a friendly pooch who enjoys playing with other dogs, they can easily contract Giardia when they roughhouse, greet, or lick an infected dog. Cysts can become stuck to the infected dog’s fur, and your dog can accidentally ingest the cysts as they interact. Avoid close contact with infected dogs until they have completed their treatment.
#4: Your dog can get Giardia from a contaminated environment
Since Giardia cysts can thrive in a damp, cool environment for months, your dog can easily pick up this parasite as they stroll through a local park or along a sidewalk. Other dog owners may stay on top of cleaning up after their pets, but Giardia cysts can remain in the environment until the sun has dried them out, or the area has been cleaned with an appropriate disinfectant. Your dog can become infected as they walk through contaminated areas if they lick their paws or eat a treat on the ground.
#5: Infected dogs do not always show clinical signs
Giardia most commonly causes foul-smelling, pale, formless diarrhea in dogs, and can also lead to abdominal cramping, excessive flatulence, inappetence, and weight loss. However, many infected dogs show no giardiasis signs, or their diarrhea may wax and wane.
#6: Diagnosing Giardia can be challenging
Giardia not only does not always cause clinical signs, but also may not always appear in fecal samples. An infected dog may not shed Giardia cysts or trophozoites, which can be identified on a fecal exam, with every bowel movement. If a standard fecal exam yields no identifiable parasites, but clinical signs point to giardiasis, a more specialized test that checks for Giardia antigens can be performed. Antigens are proteins produced by the parasite that can identify an infection, despite a lack of cysts.
#7: Treating Giardia can require multiple medication rounds
A Giardia infection can be tough to treat, and multiple rounds of deworming and anti-diarrheal medication may be required. Also, a bland prescription diet and probiotics are often recommended for dogs with Giardia-induced diarrhea.
#8: Your dog can easily become reinfected with Giardia
Dogs who develop giardiasis can continually reinfect themselves, because the Giardia cysts are infectious as soon as they are eliminated in the feces. Your dog can ingest cysts that are hanging on their fur when they groom, thus continuing the parasite’s life cycle. Or, your dog can pick up the cysts from feces piles in the yard that were not cleaned up before being dried out by the sun. Excellent hygiene is key to managing infection and preventing future reinfections.
#9: Standard parasite preventives do not protect against Giardia
Your dog’s monthly parasite prevention will not defend them against Giardia, which is a protozoal parasite in a completely different parasite class that is not affected by standard deworming products.
#10: People generally cannot get Giardia from their dog
Although certain intestinal parasites can be easily passed from pets to people, Giardia generally stays with its specific host. Most strains of dog Giardia are not infectious to people. However, there are a few strains that can affect both dogs and people. Young children and any immuno-compromised person are most at risk.
Although you most likely won’t get Giardia from your dog, you must still take precautionary hygiene measures. If your dog has Giardia, wash your hands after handling and cleaning up after them, and do not allow them to lick you on the face.
If your dog develops sudden diarrhea, or has chronic issues that seem to resolve, only to reappear, Giardia may be the culprit. Schedule an appointment with our Williamsburg Animal Clinic team, so we can get to the “bottom” of your dog’s diarrhea.
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