PLEASE HELP!!! My dogs have Giardia!!!!!!!

[shionpower]

My two puppies were diagnosed with Giardia at approximately 3 months of age. We have already received Metronidazole, and resubmitted fecal samples again. And at 4 months they still have the same diagnosis. Im so concerned, and would like to know how to get rid of this once n for all. Online chats have said there is an injection that they can receive to help cure this. Is this true? Please let me know what other options i can bring up to my vet. THank you so much for your time.

[Dara311]

Originally Posted by shionpower

My two puppies were diagnosed with Giardia at approximately 3 months of age. We have already received Metronidazole, and resubmitted fecal samples again. And at 4 months they still have the same diagnosis. Im so concerned, and would like to know how to get rid of this once n for all. Online chats have said there is an injection that they can receive to help cure this. Is this true? Please let me know what other options i can bring up to my vet. THank you so much for your time.

okay! okay! they will be FINE! LOTS OF PUPPIES get this!

First, are you cleaning up their poopy after they go? Many people forget to do this, and they can actually re-infect themselves! metronidazole does work as well, did they give you any powered medication to put in their food!? I used to work for a vet, and i've never heard about an injection to cure this...you basically gotta be real careful and cautious- im sure they will be otay!

[Wylie's Mom]

When dogs have giardia, they are constantly shedding "cysts" all over their environment - so while you're treating them, you should try to keep them in a smaller area if possible. AND, you need to clean everywhere they've been (as much as possible) with bleach water/disinfectant to kill the cysts - otherwise, they will be reinfected as soon as they are well. Reinfection happens VERY easily, so it's very important to clean them and clean their areas. I have never heard of any injection for Giardia. There is a vaccine for it, but I would NOT recommend it - and it would NOT work now since your pups already have it anyway.

Also, I want to warn you that since they are puppies, their intestines may have some short-term issues with digestion (soft, grainy, mucousy stools) bc the giardia can actually damage the intestines in puppies - and then they're diagnosed (incorrectly) w/ ibs/ibd. So, after the giardia is gone - if they are still having stool issues months later, please get in touch.

[shionpower]

Originally Posted by Dara311

okay! okay! they will be FINE! LOTS OF PUPPIES get this!

First, are you cleaning up their poopy after they go? Many people forget to do this, and they can actually re-infect themselves! metronidazole does work as well, did they give you any powered medication to put in their food!? I used to work for a vet, and i've never heard about an injection to cure this...you basically gotta be real careful and cautious- im sure they will be otay!

Thanks a bunch. I did get a powered medication to help with their food in addition to the metronidazole (which was a white syrup). Ive been adding rice to their food n that seems to help a lil bit but of course it hasnt solved the issue. I just bought a gallon of dog safe disinfectant. i have odor cleaner, etc n thats what ive been using to clean up after them if they make a "oopsie" on the carpet. this probably means im going to have to disinfect the entire apt with the solutions right? also.. they are still potty training so when they go to the pad n if the poop has been solid i have been picking it up n throwing it on the toilet but if its mushy then i toss the entire pad. However, because i work... they are home for a period of 3-4 hrs alone (given that daddy comes home to take care n clean up at lunch time)... so there is always one poop in the spacious bathroom where we keep them while we are gone. Is that bad? should i hire a pet sitter to take them outside? when were home they are taken outside to go potty every 3 hrs. Should i confine to pee pads because they most likely caught it outside in the grass. theres quite a few dogs in our bldg.
THANK YOU SOOO MUCH FOR RESPONSE BTW. =) REALLY HELPFUL.
so lost,
shion

[shionpower]

Originally Posted by Wylie's Mom

When dogs have giardia, they are constantly shedding "cysts" all over their environment - so while you're treating them, you should try to keep them in a smaller area if possible. AND, you need to clean everywhere they've been (as much as possible) with bleach water/disinfectant to kill the cysts - otherwise, they will be reinfected as soon as they are well. Reinfection happens VERY easily, so it's very important to clean them and clean their areas. I have never heard of any injection for Giardia. There is a vaccine for it, but I would NOT recommend it - and it would NOT work now since your pups already have it anyway.

Also, I want to warn you that since they are puppies, their intestines may have some short-term issues with digestion (soft, grainy, mucousy stools) bc the giardia can actually damage the intestines in puppies - and then they're diagnosed (incorrectly) w/ ibs/ibd. So, after the giardia is gone - if they are still having stool issues months later, please get in touch.

holey! i will be disinfecting EVERYTHING in the house. down to their toys. i bought a gallon of pet safe disinfectant! hipe this works!! its scary because this parasite can be transmitted to humans if i am correct. I wonder how contagious it is? i do kiss my dogs n cuddle them like crazy.

[mscat]

Originally Posted by shionpower

holey! i will be disinfecting EVERYTHING in the house. down to their toys. i bought a gallon of pet safe disinfectant! hipe this works!! its scary because this parasite can be transmitted to humans if i am correct. I wonder how contagious it is? i do kiss my dogs n cuddle them like crazy.

I would not be allowing them to kiss you near your face untill this clears up ! puppies are naturally loving, however, right now please be careful.

[Dara311]

I would HIGHLY reccommend that you THROW OUT THE ENTIRE PEE PEE PAD at all times! Don't just throw the poopy down the toilet and re use it, that will just spread more of those cysts...but you should be on your way to a healthy recovery!!!!

[shionpower]

Originally Posted by Dara311

I would HIGHLY reccommend that you THROW OUT THE ENTIRE PEE PEE PAD at all times! Don't just throw the poopy down the toilet and re use it, that will just spread more of those cysts...but you should be on your way to a healthy recovery!!!!

sounds good. will do. but even if its only pee on it?

[LuvMySissy]

We've had the giardia experience twice with Sissy (a year apart). There was just a thread a few days ago with information on giardia. Please do a search - it was great information.

You really need to disinfect everything and continue to disinfect. Even if you are using pee pads, change them daily and wipe your baby after going with baby wipes, then flush away!!!! Make sure to wipe their paws with a fresh wipe also to keep their little feet from spreading the cysts.

It can be a real bugger to get a clean stool sample. Were you given the Metronidazole in liquid form? I would highly recommend it to ensure your pup is getting all the meds they should. The powered stuff just doesn't work very well.

Watch your pup closely to make sure they continue eating/drinking as they can become anorexic with Giardia. It is also a good idea to keep them inwide until completely recovered. We started giving a quality yogurt for breakfast as a result of all the meds and the nasty parasites. Sissy has been health every since!!!!

Good luck!!!!!!!

[Dara311]

Originally Posted by shionpower

Sounds good. Will do. But even if its only pee on it?

yes yes yes!!!!!! :d

[red98vett]

Originally Posted by Wylie's Mom

When dogs have giardia, they are constantly shedding "cysts" all over their environment - so while you're treating them, you should try to keep them in a smaller area if possible. AND, you need to clean everywhere they've been (as much as possible) with bleach water/disinfectant to kill the cysts - otherwise, they will be reinfected as soon as they are well. Reinfection happens VERY easily, so it's very important to clean them and clean their areas. I have never heard of any injection for Giardia. There is a vaccine for it, but I would NOT recommend it - and it would NOT work now since your pups already have it anyway.

Also, I want to warn you that since they are puppies, their intestines may have some short-term issues with digestion (soft, grainy, mucousy stools) bc the giardia can actually damage the intestines in puppies - and then they're diagnosed (incorrectly) w/ ibs/ibd. So, after the giardia is gone - if they are still having stool issues months later, please get in touch.

Wylie's Mom.....Will you be my vet ?

Great wording ...

shionpower - - you got some really good advise.... good luck getting them better.

[LuvMySissy]

I forgot to add the Giardia vaccine WILL NOT prevent giardia, WILL NOT cure giardia and is NOT recommended on any of the current vaccination protocol.

[PrestigeousYT]

We bought a pup once and she had this really bad, this was years and years ago.
I had to bath her everytime she went to potty that was the ONLY way I got a handle on it. When I started doing that is when I saw there was a light at the end of the tunnel.
And of course you need to keep them in an area with that is easy to clean like vinyl flooring that can be easily cleaned not on carpet until you get this in check.
Clean all the toys/bowls etc like everyone said. Clean Clean Clean is all you are going to get done for a while.

Best of luck
Deana
Prestigeous Yorkies-

[luv my pet]

Originally Posted by Wylie's Mom

When dogs have giardia, they are constantly shedding "cysts" all over their environment - so while you're treating them, you should try to keep them in a smaller area if possible. AND, you need to clean everywhere they've been (as much as possible) with bleach water/disinfectant to kill the cysts - otherwise, they will be reinfected as soon as they are well. Reinfection happens VERY easily, so it's very important to clean them and clean their areas. I have never heard of any injection for Giardia. There is a vaccine for it, but I would NOT recommend it - and it would NOT work now since your pups already have it anyway.

Also, I want to warn you that since they are puppies, their intestines may have some short-term issues with digestion (soft, grainy, mucousy stools) bc the giardia can actually damage the intestines in puppies - and then they're diagnosed (incorrectly) w/ ibs/ibd. So, after the giardia is gone - if they are still having stool issues months later, please get in touch.

Hello I have never heard of this what is it and how do you know if your yorkie has it? How do they catch this? Thanks

[LouieLouie]

Louie had Giardia when we first got him. We used the same antibiotic, but the vet recommended we also use FortiFlora. From what I can remember, it is a powder that acts as a probiotic so that the intestines can remain strong and the antibiotic and parasite don't damage or inhibit the intestines from "working" properly. I would ask your vet his/her opinion about it since that is where you can purchase it. Louie actually enjoyed the taste- you mix it with their dog food and we actually only gave him half of what is normal since he is only 5 lbs.