Giardia

[TicketyBoo83]

My 1 year old mixed breed developed an upset tummy a few weeks ago. He’s perfectly ok in himself but he’s been having runny stools, no other symptoms. Tests showed a parasite called giardia and he’s had a course of metronidazole antibiotics plus a course of anti-parasitic drugs. The meds finished about 10 dayscago and things don’t seem to be improving much ☹️

Another stool sample has been sent off today to see if he needs more treatment but the vet did also say that his stomach might just need time to heal and settle down.

So I’m just wondering has anyone else’s dog suffered from this? How long did it take for your dog to recover? I find myself longing to pick up a solid poo! 💩

[FermatsTheorem]

I don't know what it's like in dogs, but having had it myself, it is a bastard (two months of shitting myself inside out!) - and in humans, it can leave you with a badly upset digestive tract for some months afterwards. (Sorry, that's probably not what you wanted to hear).

Fingers crossed that the sample comes back clear. On the bright side, at least with a dog, you don't have to worry about metranidazole and alcohol. Also, do be scrupulous about hygiene (I'm sure you are) because there's a massive risk of cross-contamination. So much so that my GP had to inform public health, and I had to fill out a questionnaire for them so they could try to track down the source of the infection.

[SilverHairedCat]

Ours had this. Took a good month before she was 100%. She got out from chomping a rotten crab carcass on the beach. 🙄

We put her on very bland food with the probiotic stuff for a week after the antibiotics, then had to build her weight back up as she'd lost several kilos, the poor thing. She was allowed a small amount of tinned dog food (McDonalds in a can the vet called it!) with her high quality dried food to build her up again for a few weeks.

The better the food, the better the poo was as well. Low grain, high quality stuff.

[SilverHairedCat]

And yes to hygiene. We boil washed everything we could, then steam cleaned the whole house, every surface and the sofas.

[TicketyBoo83]

We’re being religious about hand washing etc but I had also read about steam cleaning floors, couches etc. Should I be doing this before or after his next round of treatment?

[MossyOilTank]

Hygiene hygiene hygiene. Reinfection is a big problem. I would be steam cleaning before, during and after treatment!

[SilverHairedCat]

Yes, we did it before, during and after. The house has never looked so good!

[CMOTDibbler]

I've had foster puppies with it. They get treated with panacur for 7 days and then super bland food (like Chappie) from then on. Sometimes they get two courses of Panacur if the super runny mucousy poo doesn't clear.

[SilverHairedCat]

Oh, and dog had several baths, much to her horror. Vet said she could have reinfected from herself, as the house was basically as sterile as we could get it (wood floors). Also, she barely wore her collar, bigger source for infection control. We treated the house like a hospital ward.

[SilverHairedCat]

She barely moved from this position for weeks. She was clearly in pain with her stomach the whole time, poor thing. Only improved with her meds, but still not herself at all.

[TicketyBoo83]

Poor wee soul ☹️ I suppose we’re lucky, our boy is his usual hyper self. His only symptom is runny poop. My next day off is Saturday so I’ve made a list:
-wash dog bed and our bedding at high temp
-steam clean hard floors and couches downstairs
-steam clean carpet on stairs and upstairs bedrooms
-disinfect all dog toys and bowls
-disinfect dog crate/change blanket every day
-keep dog crated at night and when we’re out until infection clears
-bathe dog (the worst bit as he’s terrified of water)
-clean dogs paws and rear end with baby wipes after every walk

Am I missing anything? What a SUPERFUN day off 😑

[AdoraBell]

One of ours had it and the vet said it’s very difficult to get rid of. Took our boy about six weeks to recover after treatme.

[Catdogmum]

Our cocker spaniel had it in Feb this year. Lost 2 kilos and was really poorly for nearly 2 months. Panacur cleared it up but it was another month until he was fully back to normal and his tummy is still very sensitive (think this might just be his way though!)

[Catdogmum]

P.S. You have all my sympathy - I remember the clear ups and how poorly our doggy was - hope you can get it cleared up soon