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Giardia are single-celled organisms, or protozoans and are found in
the intestines of many animals, including dogs and cats. Most pets with
a Giardia infection show no symptoms. In the rare cases that do exhibit
symptoms, they are primarily seen in younger pet. It is most often in
younger animals and the usual symptom
is diarrhea. There are many things that veterinarians
do not know about this parasite, for example, like how many species of
it exist, and many vets do not agree on how to
treat the disease.
How does my pet get infected with Giardia?
Dogs and cats become infected with Giardia when they injest a cyst. Once
it reaches the intestine, the cyst breaks open and releases a trophozoite,
which has hairs that allow it to move around. The trophozoite attaches
to the intestinal wall and begins to reproduce by dividing itself into
two. After a few divisions, the trophozoite develops a wall around
itself and then passes in the feces.
What are the symptoms of Giardia?
Most cases of Giardia , pets do not show symptoms, however
in the dogs and cats that do, the most common symptom is diarrhea. While
affected animals typically do not lose their appetite, they may lose
weight depending on the seriousness of the diarrhea. Most often the feces
are abnormal and appear pale in color, have a bad smell and look greasy.
This is because Giardia prevents the absorption of nutrients and interferes
with digestion.
How is Giardia diagnosed?
Because Giardia are so small and do not pass through the body with every
bowl movement, the disease can be difficult to diagnose. Your veterinarian
will take stool samples, most often one each day for three days. However,
that still may not determine the exact cause of your pet’s diarrhea
because there are many other problems that have the same symptom.
How is Giardia treated?
Giardia is often treated with a dewormer, such as SafeGuard or Panacur,
if the infestation is severe, Panacur can be given in prescription strength.
Treatment is given for 5 days and then repeated again in 10 days for
another 5 days. This interrupts the Giardia lifecycle and allows the
infection to be controlled.
How can I prevent Giardia?
The cysts that pass in the feces can infect other animals, and in some
cases even humans. They can live for several weeks to months in wet,
cold environments, so your lawn, parks, kennels and other areas may
be a continuing source of infection for your pet. You should try to
keep your pet away from these areas. Use a disinfectant whenever possible,
such as Trifectant to
try and minimize the transmission of the parasite. However, no disinfectant
is 100% effective against Giardia.
**This article is not meant to provide a diagnosis
for your pet. If your pet is sick or showing unusual symptoms,
please contact your local veterinarian for a diagnosis**
©2009 PetSupplies4Less.com
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