Fenbendazole is used often for Giardia also. Metronidazole, an antibiotic, is most often prescribed. Medications to get rid of Giardia are readily available and affordable. A quick, in-house “snap test” or microscope evaluation.A parvovirus test to eliminate this deadly yet preventable virus as a possible cause.A fecal test for routine intestinal parasites (many veterinarians will also send a fecal sample to the lab for further testing).To check for evidence of Giardia infection, called Giardiasis, your veterinarian will likely recommend: Your veterinarian will gather a complete history and conduct a physical exam to evaluate your dog’s overall health and hydration, as well as check for intestinal pain, gas, and possible Giardia exposure. Ingestion can also happen when your dog sniffs other dogs’ hind ends (the most common greeting between dogs), then licks their nose.Ĭontaminated soil and plants are another source of infection for dogs.ĭogs may also hunt and kill contaminated prey and become infected in this manner. Ingesting feces does not always mean eating poop from the ground. Causes of Giardia in Dogsįound in each corner of the United States and worldwide, Giardia cysts (outer shells that allow the parasite to live outside a host) must be ingested to cause infection.ĭogs are infected by eating food or drinking water that carries the cysts, or from ingesting infected feces directly. The possibility of otherwise healthy dogs carrying Giardia is another reason why hygiene around animal feces is so important beyond the “ick factor” of handling poop. Since the test for Giardia is not routinely run in healthy dogs, we’re not sure how often this is the case. It is also worth noting that dogs (and other animals, for that matter) can have Giardia present in their intestines and be subclinical, which means they are asymptomatic. Beyond diarrhea, Giardia symptoms in dogs can include vomiting, excess foul-smelling gas, decreased appetite, decreased energy, and frequent urges to poop. Giardia in dogs is a disease that causes a lot of watery diarrhea. It is possible for you to catch Giardia from your infected dog, so you must practice safe hygiene habits when caring for an infected pet, such as vigilant handwashing and decontaminating your home and all the areas your dog has access to. Giardia in dogs is spread by fecal-contaminated water, food, or soil. It can live in the intestines of dogs (and other animals, including cats and humans) and cause severe gastrointestinal disease. Giardia is a single-celled microscopic parasite.
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