What are Giardia and how can you recognize them in dogs?
Your four-legged friend is suffering from diarrhea and has been diagnosed with Giardia? You're not alone. Giardia are among the most common endoparasites in our furry companions, and many dog owners are battling these little nuisances with their pets. In this article, you'll learn everything you need to know from our Pets Deli veterinarian to get rid of the parasites.
What are Giardia?
In addition to pesky parasites like →fleas and →ticks, there are also those that we cannot see with the naked eye and can only be recognized through corresponding symptoms and tests: Giardia. The Giardia found in our dogs are called Giardia canis. They are microscopic parasites consisting of just a single cell. Affected dogs excrete the parasites in the form of infectious cysts with their feces.
[TRANSLATION ERROR] Giardien beim Hund sind winzige Parasiten, die mit dem bloßen Auge nicht sichtbar sind. Sie vermehren sich im Darm von Tieren und werden als Zysten ausgeschieden.
How do Giardia spread in dogs?
The parasites can be transmitted through direct contact with feces, such as sniffing feces or licking the anus. However, indirect transmission through contaminated food or water is also possible. Contaminated water can be, for example, a puddle outside that has been contaminated with rainwater mixed with infected feces. If an infected dog licks its anus and then drinks or eats from a bowl, that can also be enough to contaminate the water or food.
As few as 10 such Giardia cysts can lead to an infection. For comparison: In one gram of feces from an infected dog, there can be up to 10 million cysts. In cold water, these can remain infectious for up to three months. No wonder the little culprits are so widespread. After ingestion, the parasites settle in the small intestine and continue to develop. After 4-15 days, they are excreted as infectious cysts and can infect other dogs again.
Dogs lose a lot of fluid due to severe diarrhea caused by Giardia. In addition to plenty of fresh water, wet food provides a lot of moisture. Our Pets Deli →VET Stomach & Intestine Fit is the low-fat diet of choice when it comes to grumbling bellies.
Our cans are packed with fresh meat, crunchy vegetables, and sweet fruit!
Symptoms: How dangerous are Giardia?
As you have already learned, Giardia are among the most common endoparasites. The term endoparasites encompasses all parasites that live inside their host, such as Giardia in the intestine.
Most Giardia infections occur without symptoms. This means that while the dogs excrete the parasites, they do not become clinically ill. However, especially in young animals and immunocompromised animals, severe clinical symptoms are possible. The classic main symptom is →recurring diarrhea. This is usually yellowish, watery, slimy, or greasy and sometimes contains blood. It can also happen that sick dogs lose weight despite good food intake due to a disturbance in nutrient absorption. →Vomiting, colicky →abdominal pain, and Vitamin B12 deficiency are among the rarer symptoms of Giardia.
Diagnosis: How do I know if my dog has Giardia?
An examination is conducted either as part of a regular fecal examination or if there is a veterinary suspicion of an infection in your pet. There are various methods to detect the little culprits in the feces. It’s best to bring a bit of feces in a feces bag or a small container to the vet, and if possible, even a sample from multiple piles.
Depending on whether your veterinarian has a rapid test available or sends the sample to a lab, you may have to wait a few minutes or one to two days for the results.
[TRANSLATION ERROR] Zur Diagnose wird der Kot des Hundes untersucht - entweder per Schnelltest oder im Labor.
Treatment: Giardia positive - what now?
The result is in, and your dog is suffering from a Giardia infection. How are dogs treated for Giardia and what should be considered?
The treatment is unfortunately often lengthy, and recurring infections frequently occur. There are various active ingredients of antiparasitics that can be used, such as Fenbendazole.
The medications are administered as tablets that you can give to your pet at home with a treat. Usually, two treatment cycles with a one-week break are conducted. However, there are various treatment protocols that are constantly being developed. Some particularly severely affected animals lose a lot of fluid due to severe diarrhea and are therefore weak and dehydrated. In such cases, a hospital stay with infusions and pain relief may be necessary. In most cases, however, you can treat your four-legged friend at home with the tablets.
If you have multiple pets, it is recommended to treat all dogs, as others can also be affected without clinical symptoms. Even if a Giardia infection is discovered by chance, your dog should be treated to avoid the risk of transmission to you or your children.
Strict hygiene with Giardia infestation
It is very important to also think about the environment of your pet:
- You should change the drinking water several times a day.
- Rinse the drinking and feeding bowls every day with hot water.
- Clean your pet's resting areas thoroughly, preferably with a suitable disinfectant. Consult your veterinarian or a specialist retailer about which products are suitable.
- Clean floors preferably with water over 60 degrees or steam cleaners.
- Keep your pet's anal area clean so that no infected feces can be licked and thus cause a new infection.
- Washing with shampoo removes the cysts from the fur, and trimming the anal region can also be helpful if your pet has long fur.
- Always pay particular attention to hygiene and wash your hands thoroughly after picking up feces or washing your pet.
About one week after the second treatment cycle, you should have a follow-up fecal examination done to ensure that you have defeated the parasites.
[TRANSLATION ERROR] Ein sanftes Bad entfernt die Giardien-Zysten auf dem Fell und vermindert das Risiko einer Übertragung oder Re-Infektion über das Fell.
When washing your dog, use a mild shampoo that is gentle on fur and paws. With Pets Deli Care, we ensure gentle care that is guaranteed vegan and free from frills.
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Can I get infected?
While it doesn't happen very often, the answer is: Yes, humans can also get infected with Giardia. Children are particularly at risk, as they tend to eat sand from sandboxes or put their fingers in their mouths after cuddling with their pet. There are different types of Giardia. In dogs, types C and D are the most common. However, up to 20% of infections are caused by type A, which can also lead to infections in humans.
Hygiene is therefore crucial when dealing with infected feces. Be sure to wash your hands thoroughly after every petting session.
What else can I do?
According to some studies, it is helpful to avoid carbohydrates and excessive fat content during a Giardia infection. So make sure to pamper your pet with grain-free, low-carbohydrate food during this time. Why not try our →low-carbohydrate wet food and →BARF products? Your pet should also avoid dairy products while battling Giardia.
You'll love to try BARF!
Even if you don't get rid of the Giardia on the first try, don't give up. Pay attention to strict hygiene and don't forget about your four-legged friend's environment, and you will definitely succeed.
