The protozoal parasite giardia in dogs can be a minor nuisance or a royal pain to treat and totally clear. Symptoms of giardia in dogs include diarrhea, maldigestion, and malabsorption. Diarrhea is often intermittent, based on the parasite’s life cycle. Giardia is contagious in dogs as long as giardia cysts remain in the feces. It can be difficult to clear the infection.
Diagnosis of Giardia in Dogs
Stools from dogs with giardia may be soft or watery or appear slightly green. Occasionally, blood or mucus may be noticed. Healthy adult dogs seem to be somewhat naturally resistant, while puppies may fail to thrive.
Diagnosis of giardia is generally by a fresh fecal exam or sending samples off to check for giardia antigens. Due to the intermittent shedding, the diagnosis can be missed, especially by fresh smears only.
Giardia Treatment
There is no FDA-approved treatment for giardia in dogs. Metronidazole and febendazole are often used off-label separately or together.
A dog may need repeated giardia treatments to totally clear the infection as some resistance appears to be developing. Symptomatic treatment for giardia diarrhea includes adding fiber to your dog’s diet until his stools are normal. Follow-up veterinary fecal checks for giardia are critical to ensure you have rid the dog of the giardia parasite.
Giardia Is Contagious
As long as viable giardia cysts are passed in the stools, your dog will remain contagious to other dogs and to a lesser extent to people. Assume that during the time your dog is being treated, he is contagious.
Clean up poop immediately and consider having any dog or puppy who is infected use a separate area for elimination. It can be worthwhile to check all dogs in the household if you are having trouble clearing an infection as some adults will be asymptomatic carriers.
Reinfection with Giardia
One of the problems with gaining control of a giardia infection is cleaning the environment to prevent reinfection. Bleach and Parvasol can be used to clean bedding and floors. Steam clean carpets. Bathe your dog to remove any fecal material or cysts on his coat.
Unfortunately, giardia cysts can survive outdoors for months in a moist environment. Direct sunlight and dry conditions will kill cysts. It can be difficult to clear giardia from shelters and sites like daycares once it gains a foothold.
Also known as “beaver fever,” giardia in dogs has been associated with dogs drinking water out on hikes in the woods, but it is common in urban dogs as well with municipal water systems taking the blame.
FAQs
Symptoms of giardia in dogs include diarrhea, maldigestion, and malabsorption. Diarrhea is often intermittent, based on the parasite's life cycle. Giardia is contagious in dogs as long as giardia cysts remain in the feces. It can be difficult to clear the infection.
What shampoo kills giardia in dogs? ›
Removing Giardia cysts from the dog's fur and environment is critical to speed resolution and help prevent re-infection or spread to other dogs. Bathing dogs with a chlorhexidine-containing shampoo at the beginning and end of the course of treatment removes cysts from the hair coat.
Can dogs live with Giardia forever? ›
Giardia is not a fatal condition, except in very young puppies or very old senior dogs. In these cases, the amount of diarrhea caused by the parasite may lead to dehydration very quickly, which can be fatal for dogs whose immune systems are compromised or have not fully formed yet.
Why is Giardia so hard to get rid of in dogs? ›
It is very easy for dogs to reinfect themselves with Giardia, so successful treatment relies on effective anti-parasitic medications, cleaning and managing the surrounding environment — both indoors and outdoors.
What naturally kills Giardia? ›
Thankfully giardia is quite susceptible to many of our herbal antimicrobials including garlic (11), oregano, and guava leaf (12). Many other herbal antimicrobials are helpful, and in most cases natural treatment for Giardia can be effective in as little as two weeks of herbal treatment.
What foods get rid of Giardia in dogs? ›
Feeding your dog a bland and easily digestible diet can help the intestine heal from giardia. Work with your vet to find ingredients, like boiled chicken and rice, that are still nutritious and tasty for your pup.
Can I get Giardia from my dog licking me? ›
Can I get giardia from my dog licking me? Fortunately, the risk of humans contracting Giardia from dogs is relatively low, but it can happen.
Can I touch my dog if he has giardia? ›
Since your dog can transmit the giardia infection to you and your family, it's important to take precautions. Wash your hands frequently, especially after you handle your dog and their fecal matter. Remove your dog's fecal matter from the environment as soon as possible.
Do I need to disinfect my house if my dog has giardia? ›
Cleaning and disinfecting can help remove Giardia germs from a space where a person or pet was recently sick. Reduce the chances of getting sick, or your pet getting sick again, by cleaning and disinfecting surfaces and items.
Do I need to treat my yard if my dog has giardia? ›
Common household disinfectants and steam-cleaning are the most effective ways for killing Giardia cysts. Remove and dispose of all feces promptly. Giardia cysts on the lawn can only be killed by direct sunlight drying them.
Dogs with Giardia should be bathed 1 – 2 times a week to remove cysts from the fur and prevent re-infection. Any dog beds, bowls, toys, or things the infected dog came into contact with should be washed.
How do I keep my dog from getting reinfected with Giardia? ›
How can you prevent reinfection? If your vet diagnoses your dog or cat with Giardia, there is a chance your pet will get reinfected. It is recommended to bathe your dog regularly and disinfect your pet's water bowls, food bowls and toys to eliminate any remaining Giardia cysts.
Is there a Giardia vaccine for dogs? ›
To help prevent the stomach issues with your dog, consider a giardia vaccine. The vaccine will help fight the parasite and prevent any major problems associated with giardia. You will typically get the vaccine at one of the first vet visits for the dog. Leptospirosis is a bacteria found in soil and water.
Does pumpkin help with giardia? ›
While your companion is being treated for giardia we recommend adding 1 tbsp per 10 pounds body weight of no sugar added canned pumpkin twice a day to your companion's food. Continue feeding the canned pumpkin until we confirm a fecal result with no evidence of giardia.
What foods make giardia worse? ›
Eat slowly and avoid foods that are hard to digest or may irritate your stomach, such as foods with acid (like tomatoes or oranges), spicy or fatty food, meats, and raw vegetables.
How to starve giardia? ›
Nutritional intervention aims to reduce the acute symptoms of Giardia and help clear the infection. This can best be achieved by consuming a whole-food based, high-fiber, diet that is low in fat, lactose, and refined sugars. Additionally, ingestion of probiotics and wheat germ assists in parasite clearance.
What is the best disinfectant for Giardia in dogs? ›
Giardia can be killed & inactivated using 2-5% Lysol or, a 1% chlorine bleach solution. Here is a list of common environmental areas & surfaces to clean: 1. Pet's hind end – bathing pets every day (or at least their hind end) will reduce the risk of re-infection.
How to bathe a dog with Giardia? ›
A dog should be bathed on his last day of treatment to eliminate all giardia cysts from his hair coat. Wearing gloves, you should bathe and rinse his whole body as normal and then focus last on his hind end. Do not touch the rest of his body after you have bathed and rinsed around the anus.
How do I wash my dog's bed with Giardia? ›
Giardial cysts aren't going to remain viable on blankets and sheets for more than a few days. They do remain viable in water, however, for 26 days in water of 21C and 6 days in water at 37C. Washing your blankets and bed sheets in hot water + detergent should suffice.
What do vets use to treat Giardia in dogs? ›
The most common drugs used to kill Giardia are fenbendazole (Panacur®) and metronidazole. These drugs are usually given for three to ten days to treat giardiasis.
