Mary Allen
Canine giardiasis (syn. giardiasis, lambliasis) is a common diarrheal disease in dogs caused by the protozoan Giardia intestinalis.
As tragic as it is that dogs hardly enjoy animal protection in other countries, the risk of infection with Giardia, which is increasingly being introduced to Germany by animals that do not come to Germany from Eastern Europe and the Mediterranean countries in accordance with EU guidelines, is now just as dangerous.
What is Giardia?
Giardia are a genus of microscopic small intestinal parasites. which can cause severe, bloody diarrhea and pose a risk of infection for humans and animals. The intestinal parasites have a pear-shaped shape. Giardia (Giardia lamblia) are unicellular parasites that infect the gastrointestinal tract and, above all, can also cause bloody diarrhea in dogs.
How is Giardia transmitted?
The most common way of transmission is drinking polluted water infected with Giardia. These small worms are ingested through food in a cyst, and the cyst then empties into the intestines. The unicellular giardia attach themselves to the wall of the small intestine and may multiply very quickly. There they damage the intestinal villi, which leads to a disruption in the absorption of nutrients. After some time, the giardia migrate to the rectum, where they encapsulate again and are excreted as a cyst, infecting other animals or humans.
What symptoms can occur?
These other symptoms can also occur in addition to diarrhea. Weight loss, nausea, bloating, abdominal pain, poor hair coat, and lack of appetite.
How can Giardia be diagnosed?
Giardia can only be detected by a microscopic examination or a so-called ELISA test. To do this, you should collect small fecal samples over 2-3 days, because the dog does not necessarily excrete Giardia cysts with every stool.
Treatment
Giardia is easy to treat. Metronidazole, fenbendazole or albendazole or other anthelmintics are used in the treatment. Spatrix, a drug approved for pigeons, is also used for treatment. Veterinarians confirm that Spartrix is usually the last try if nothing else works. The disadvantage is that you have to give a lot of tablets at once. One tablet per 0.5 kg body weight.
The alternative treatment of giardiasis is a multi-pronged approach. The immune system is supported, the intestinal flora is built up. If the giardiasis is treated naturopathically, the dog gets rid of the giardia and the function of the pancreas remains intact.
The diet should be changed to fresh food. Giardia uses glucose from carbohydrates for energy, so it is very important to feed them a low-carb diet, i.e. no grain, no potatoes, no rice, etc. This weakens the giardia and makes them reproduce much more slowly. A flavonoid-rich diet with e.g. B. apples, savoy cabbage, cranberries, broccoli, parsley, nuts, berries, celery, and herbs such as lemon balm, sage, and mint are also successful.
One often reads about herbal buttermilk, which can be effective for Giardia infestations.
3-4 tablespoons oregano
3-4 tablespoons thyme
3-4 tablespoons marjoram
(dried herbs) in half a liter of buttermilk, stir, and leave in the fridge for a few hours – or better overnight. (then store in the fridge)
Prophylaxis
Since dogs often ingest Giardia through contaminated drinking water, it makes sense to dispose of all water containers with stale water. Passed giardia cysts can survive for several months in warm water, so one should keep the dog’s environment very clean. Remove feces immediately, change water daily, rinse bowls daily with boiling water, wash bedding regularly.
Re-infection cannot be completely ruled out. Dogs can become infected again, be it through sniffing at other animals or piles of excrement.
Giardia symptoms in dogs
Typical Giardia symptoms are flatulence and diarrhea. The consistency of the diarrhea is then slimy, greasy, and also mushy to watery. Its color is often yellow to yellow-green. Affected dogs suffer from regularly recurring diarrhea, which is sometimes severe and sometimes watery.
Giardia parasite and Treatment in dogs – FAQs
How does a dog with giardia behave?
Often adult dogs with Giardia show no symptoms. Especially if they are otherwise healthy, the disease has no effect. The situation is different for puppies, young dogs, and sick animals. Not only do they often have diarrhea, they also vomit and eat poorly.
Can a dog live with Giardia?
Fortunately, the stubborn little parasites are usually not dangerous. However, since they can become uncomfortable for weakened animals and humans, you should definitely go to the vet if you suspect Giardia in your dog.
How dangerous is Giardia for dogs?
Giardia are unicellular parasites that lodge in the small intestines of dogs and cats, where they multiply rapidly. The intestinal parasites are the causative agents of giardiasis, a serious disease that is particularly dangerous for puppies and young animals and can lead to serious developmental disorders.
How long does Giardia treatment in dogs take?
Drug treatment usually lasts three to five days. As a rule, your dog should have overcome the Giardia after three to four weeks. Unfortunately, the protozoa sometimes show resistance to the active ingredients in the drugs.
How long are dogs contagious with Giardia?
After infection and colonization of the intestine, contagious Giardia cysts are excreted in large numbers in the animal’s faeces and can continue to cause infection in the environment for a long time (in water and a moist environment, the cysts can remain contagious for three months, in the faeces for about a week).
Can Giardia in Dogs Be Cured?
The chances of a cure for Giardia are very good. With consistent treatment and strict hygiene, your dog will usually get rid of the parasites quickly. However, there are always very stubborn cases that have to be treated at several intervals.
What does dog feces look like in Giardia?
The typical symptoms of Giardia infestation, especially in puppies and dogs with a weak immune system, are: severe diarrhoea. yellowish-green, extremely foul-smelling feces. Emaciation despite food intake.
Can you see giardia in feces?
Some worms can be seen in the animal’s droppings with the naked eye. In some animals, they also stick to the fur. However, giardia are not visible to the naked eye. Special laboratory techniques are used for this, with which a Giardia infestation can be detected.
How do I recognize Giardia in humans?
Giardiasis is an infection of the small intestine caused by the protozoan parasite Giardia. The main symptoms are abdominal cramps and diarrhea. Sufferers may have abdominal cramps, bloating, belching, diarrhea, nausea, and feel tired.
Can My Dog Die From Giardia?
Young animals, sick and old animals as well as stressed animals from abroad are particularly affected. If these animals are not treated early, Giardia can lead to dehydration and, in the worst case, to death, especially in young and weak animals.
What can dogs eat if they have giardia?
Coconut oil against Giardia in dogs has been proven to be effective, even when the dog is still a puppy. Therefore, if the puppy is infected with Giardia, it can be given a diet containing coconut oil. Coconut oil is partially made up of lauric acid, which can be converted into monolaurin in the body.
How long no contact with other dogs with Giardia?
Since Giardia is highly contagious, the puppy must be kept away from other dogs and people for an hour. Especially by children, the elderly and people with previous illnesses whose immune system is weakened.
Is Giardia Deadly?
The Course: Can Giardia Kill Cats? Giardia infection can be fatal to a cat. The cause is the severe loss of water, usually associated with a reduced intake of liquid. This leads to electrolyte shifts and derailment of the salt metabolism.
How long does Giardia last?
The excreted cysts remain infectious for up to 3 months in cool water (4°C) and up to 7 weeks in moist soil. Under optimal conditions, these can remain viable for several months.
Can a person get Giardia from dogs?
A risk of infection from dogs to humans is therefore possible, but unlikely. Rather, dogs become infected through the reproductive stages of the parasite (cysts) ingested through contaminated water, such as puddles, or food.