Giardia in Cats: Info, Symptoms & Treatment

Giardia in cats is now one of the most common parasitic diseases after worms. Adult cats with a healthy immune system usually show no signs of the disease, but the parasites pose a risk to young cats up to 12 months old. Find out more about the symptoms and treatment of Giardia in cats and what the parasites are here.

To diagnose giardiasis – as the disease caused by Giardia in cats is called – some veterinarians have rapid tests available. Otherwise, fecal samples are examined to diagnose the parasites, and multiple samples are usually necessary.

What is Giardia?

Giardia is so-called protozoa, i.e. single-celled organisms belonging to the flagellate genus. Giardia makes themselves comfortable in the small intestine of vertebrates and eats the intestinal contents. In cats and other hosts, the Giardia attach themselves to the intestinal wall with a suction cup, damaging it. If Giardia is not treated in time, it can lead to dehydration and, in the worst case, to death, especially in young, weak, or sick animals.

There are two stages of Giardia: in the growth stage (vegetative stage) they eat in the cat’s intestines and in the cyst stage – the permanent form – they attach to the intestinal wall and can be excreted with the feces. The cysts are extremely resilient and, even if excreted in the feces, are contagious for up to four weeks—or longer if conditions are favorable to them. The parasites usually survive most environmental influences without any problems.

Contagion: Giardiasis is a Zoonosis

Giardia can be contracted in a number of ways, such as through contact with the feces of infected cats or birds, through smear infection, or through ingestion of contaminated water or food. Giardiasis is a so-called zoonosis, which means that the disease can also be transmitted from person to animal and from animal to person.

If cats suffer from Giardia, the typical symptoms are acute or chronic diarrhea, which is often accompanied by slimy and occasionally bloody feces. Emaciation of the diseased animals is characteristic. Otherwise, most of the velvet paws are lively despite their illness and also have an appetite. Occasionally, however, vomiting, fever, and nausea can also occur. Young animals, as well as old and sick fur noses, are particularly affected. It is possible that adult animals act as hosts and transmit the Giardia to other animals or humans unnoticed, but do not show any symptoms of giardiasis themselves.

Treatment of Giardia in Cats

Conventional medicine uses two agents to treat Giardia in cats: antibiotics containing metronidazole and anthelmintics containing fenbendazole. Therapy is often started with a wormer containing fenbendazole since fewer side effects are to be expected here than with antibiotics. In the best case, the ingredient fenbendazole kills the parasite eggs and inhibits the development of the protozoa.

Antibiotics with the active ingredient metronidazole also attack Giardia. The cell metabolism of the parasites is inhibited so that they cannot spread further. Unfortunately, the drug or the tablets are not easy to administer because they do not taste good and the cats often salivate heavily after taking them.

Be sure to follow your veterinarian’s instructions carefully when it comes to treating your kitty with medication for Giardia. Most veterinarians recommend feeding diet food during and after therapy. The general rule is: All other cats and possibly other animal household members such as dogs must also be treated to ensure that Giardia really disappears from the household.

Does Colloidal Silver Help Against Giardiasis?

An alternative to conventional medicine is so-called colloidal silver. This is intended to kill unicellular parasites such as viruses, bacteria, fungi, and also protozoa such as giardia. The silver molecules are supposed to penetrate the parasites, block them and consequently kill them. Whether the effect of the silver bear’s fruit cannot be answered at this point. It is best to find out more about this from your veterinarian, who can recommend a reputable animal naturopath if necessary.