reoccuring Giardia in my dog?

[Happiest mommy]

Hi fellow DISers i'm so upset right now and need to vent, well about a month ago I decided to adopt another dog so that my first dog could have a pal, well of course since I adopted her from a shelter she came with all her shots, microchiped etc so I took her to my vet for a checkup and what not and she tested positive for Giardia ok no problem most likely due to where she was at, we decided to treat both dogs no problem $100 plus no problem, ok a month later I take her in to get a lyme vaccine and asked the vet to retest her for Giardia because they both had a bit of diahrea, to my surprise she tested positive again for Giardia so more meds now this is starting to concern me especially with my girls, sorry so long
so now I cant let the dogs go out to the back yard and and must be leashed walked elsewhere, its hard for me to walk 2 dogs a 6 and 2 yr old too by myself since DH works evenings I have NEVER given back a pet and I know the comittment of an animal as you can see from my siggy but I don't know what to do I know I will get flamed but for those of you who have experience with Giardia please advise???

 

[packofjedis]

My last dog I got from a rescue when she was just shy of 8 weeks old. She, like your dog, kept testing positive for giardia. Eventually, we had a vet tell us that she might be a carrier, and therefore would always test positive. We switched her food (well...many times - another story) because of the diarrhea. Eventually settled on salmon and sweet potato food and she's done well ever since. It took a long, long time to get to this point, though. Maybe a year? Dr kept suggesting to try different foods, prescription foods, etc.

So perhaps, don't worry about the giardia test and see if you can't get the symptoms under control. It's possible it's not giardia effecting her after all.

 

[mackeysmom]

Hi fellow DISers i'm so upset right now and need to vent, well about a month ago I decided to adopt another dog so that my first dog could have a pal, well of course since I adopted her from a shelter she came with all her shots, microchiped etc so I took her to my vet for a checkup and what not and she tested positive for Giardia ok no problem most likely due to where she was at, we decided to treat both dogs no problem $100 plus no problem, ok a month later I take her in to get a lyme vaccine and asked the vet to retest her for Giardia because they both had a bit of diahrea, to my surprise she tested positive again for Giardia so more meds now this is starting to concern me especially with my girls, sorry so long
so now I cant let the dogs go out to the back yard and and must be leashed walked elsewhere, its hard for me to walk 2 dogs a 6 and 2 yr old too by myself since DH works evenings I have NEVER given back a pet and I know the comittment of an animal as you can see from my siggy but I don't know what to do I know I will get flamed but for those of you who have experience with Giardia please advise???

I can sympathize.

I adopted my cat Sunny Doodle from a shelter last year and he was diagnosed with Giardia. I didn't want my Blackie to get it and it was very difficult to keep them from sharing a litter-box.

Sunny Doodle had to go through 3 rounds of medication before the Giardia was gone.

Unfortunately, it turns out that he also has Inflammatory Bowel Disease and Irritable Bowel Syndrome. The IBD was treatable, but the IBS is stress related. (He shows some signs of being abused, so the vet thinks that was the main culprit for the IBS.)

I'm happy to say that after about 9 months of different medications, he is responding well to a prescription diet and a daily dose of probiotic sprinkled on his food.

I have since found out that Sunny Doodle had been adopted and returned twice before. I'm sure it had everything to do with his nasty litter-box issues.

Give the medicine another chance - once she is over this hurdle, all of this will be a distant memory and everybody will be happy.

- Laura

 

[LJSquishy]

It is tough to get rid of Giardia. Even in a relatively clean environment, puppies can get it. One of my Maltese came to me with it and luckily we were able to overcome it and she didn't get sick again. I ended up literally pouring boiling water on the lawn on any spots she pooped. We only had her at the time (we now have a 2nd Maltese). It did scorch the lawn but it was important to do it. I would do another round of the antibiotics and see where that gets you. My vet did tell me that Giardia is really tough and can actually reappear through stress, etc so even my dog who had it as a puppy is more succeptible even though she is now 5. Just hang in there, you will get through it. It's not the dog's fault, so try and remember that and love your new baby through it.

 

[Happiest mommy]

thanks guys for your encouragement and for understanding, I've had a VERY stressful day and I guess the Giardia added to it, I will give them the meds this time they are on 2 antibiotics so we will see what happens, I will be bleaching the yard its going to look bad but I don't care I just want the Giardia gone! thanks again you guys rock

 

[RMAMom]

It's not uncommon to have to treat for it two or three times. Keep in mind that it can also cause malabsorption so when puppy is feeling better his appetite may decrease a little.

Have you tried a some canned pumpkin (plain pumpkin not pumpkin pie mix) It may help settle puppy's tummy and firm up the stool.

Another thing I would do is maybe put him on a chicken and rice diet for a few days, the bland diet will also help to settle his stomach and intestines.

Hang in there, I know it isn't easy healthy puppies are a lot of work so I am sure it hasn't been easy.

 

[Happiest mommy]

thank you guys! actually she's not a puppy she is 1 1/2 old they both are the same age, its a bit frustrating and now today my other one woke up with her hind leg up and cant place it down what else!!! waiting for vet to call uhg! prayers please!!!

 

[dakcp2001]

I can sympathize.

I adopted my cat Sunny Doodle from a shelter last year and he was diagnosed with Giardia. I didn't want my Blackie to get it and it was very difficult to keep them from sharing a litter-box.

Sunny Doodle had to go through 3 rounds of medication before the Giardia was gone.

Unfortunately, it turns out that he also has Inflammatory Bowel Disease and Irritable Bowel Syndrome. The IBD was treatable, but the IBS is stress related. (He shows some signs of being abused, so the vet thinks that was the main culprit for the IBS.)

I'm happy to say that after about 9 months of different medications, he is responding well to a prescription diet and a daily dose of probiotic sprinkled on his food.

I have since found out that Sunny Doodle had been adopted and returned twice before. I'm sure it had everything to do with his nasty litter-box issues.

Give the medicine another chance - once she is over this hurdle, all of this will be a distant memory and everybody will be happy.

- Laura

They think my kitty has this! What medication finally worked? He has been on probiotics which help a lot but he still has bouts with diarrhea. Which probiotic do you use? We currently are using Proviable, but have also tried Fortiflora in the past.

Sorry to hijack! Op- Ask your vet if your dogs might need some probiotic. I am guessing their tummy might need it to with all the issues!

 

[mackeysmom]

I can sympathize.

I adopted my cat Sunny Doodle from a shelter last year and he was diagnosed with Giardia. I didn't want my Blackie to get it and it was very difficult to keep them from sharing a litter-box.

Sunny Doodle had to go through 3 rounds of medication before the Giardia was gone.

Unfortunately, it turns out that he also has Inflammatory Bowel Disease and Irritable Bowel Syndrome. The IBD was treatable, but the IBS is stress related. (He shows some signs of being abused, so the vet thinks that was the main culprit for the IBS.)
I'm happy to say that after about 9 months of different medications, he is responding well to a prescription diet and a daily dose of probiotic sprinkled on his food.

I have since found out that Sunny Doodle had been adopted and returned twice before. I'm sure it had everything to do with his nasty litter-box issues.

Give the medicine another chance - once she is over this hurdle, all of this will be a distant memory and everybody will be happy.

- Laura

They think my kitty has this! What medication finally worked? He has been on probiotics which help a lot but he still has bouts with diarrhea. Which probiotic do you use? We currently are using Proviable, but have also tried Fortiflora in the past.

Sorry to hijack! Op- Ask your vet if your dogs might need some probiotic. I am guessing their tummy might need it to with all the issues!

Tylan powder was the medicine that finally did the trick. (He had previously been on Panacur and Flagyl). After two rounds of it, he was much improved.

I've been using FortiFlora since the beginning (fyi - pretty inexpensive through Amazon) and he eats Hills Prescription Feline W/D.

Good luck with your kitty - hope he's better soon.

OP - Amazon sells FortiFlora for dogs as well.

- Laura

 

[dakcp2001]

Thank you I will ask my vet about the Tylan powder. Do you buy that via Amazon? I see a lot of reviews about giving it to dogs, but not cats. One person gave it to their hen. How much does your cat take? I am going to email the vet today! They keep putting him on Flagyl over and over and it isn't helping. It is also hard to get into the cat since it tastes so bad.

I also buy my probiotics on Amazon!

 

[Happiest mommy]

can you tell me more abour this probiotic fortiflora? sounds like something that might help thanks

 

[dakcp2001]

can you tell me more abour this probiotic fortiflora? sounds like something that might help thanks

Probiotics are what is in yogurt that people eat. (Think of Jamie Lee Curtis/Activia) It helps put back the good bacteria that is supposed to be in your digestive tract. My cat started getting the diarrhea after taking antibiotics for an infection and the antibiotics killed all the good bacteria in his digestive system. The vet recommended we try probiotics and they have always helped him get back to normal. But his last tooth infection and an antibiotics made him sick again and even with the probiotics I can't get him back to normal. The vet thinks his digestive system is inflamed and raw from all the troubles he has had an thinks he may have irritable bowel syndrome.

The vet charged me almost 1 dollar per proviable pill, I pay WAY less on Amazon. Fortiflora is another probiotic brand, it has a lot of filler in it but it is flavored and my cat liked the taste so it was easy to get in him. We started with Fortiflora and had good luck, when he got sick again we went tot eh proviable which worked for a long time.

 

[dakcp2001]

Probiotics are what is in yogurt that people eat. (Think of Jamie Lee Curtis/Activia) It helps put back the good bacteria that is supposed to be in your digestive tract. My cat started getting the diarrhea after taking antibiotics for an infection and the antibiotics killed all the good bacteria in his digestive system. The vet recommended we try probiotics and they have always helped him get back to normal. But his last tooth infection and an antibiotics made him sick again and even with the probiotics I can't get him back to normal. The vet thinks his digestive system is inflamed and raw from all the troubles he has had an thinks he may have irritable bowel syndrome.

The vet charged me almost 1 dollar per proviable pill, I pay WAY less on Amazon. Fortiflora is another probiotic brand, it has a lot of filler in it but it is flavored and my cat liked the taste so it was easy to get in him. We started with Fortiflora and had good luck, when he got sick again we went tot eh proviable which worked for a long time.

Just make sure you buy the correct one for dogs. I bought the dog one by mistake once, and I need it for my cat. The dose is different.

 

[Happiest mommy]

do you know if I could just give them plain yogurt? thank you sooo much for your advice.

 

[mackeysmom]

Thank you I will ask my vet about the Tylan powder. Do you buy that via Amazon? I see a lot of reviews about giving it to dogs, but not cats. One person gave it to their hen. How much does your cat take? I am going to email the vet today! They keep putting him on Flagyl over and over and it isn't helping. It is also hard to get into the cat since it tastes so bad.

I also buy my probiotics on Amazon!

I got the Tylan through my vet. I don't remember what the dosage was. I do remember that it had to be mixed into canned food because the taste was strong. (He had been on two rounds of Flagyl previously, and that didn't help).

do you know if I could just give them plain yogurt? thank you sooo much for your advice.

I think the probiotics specific for dogs/cats like FortiFlora contain a more concentrated amount of the "good stuff". I'm not sure how you would figure out how much "people yogurt" would give them the proper dosage meant for dogs.

 

[Happiest mommy]

mackeysmom thank you so much!!!!

 

[grumpyvet]

OP--you are getting lots of good advice to deal with diarrhea and the like with your dog, but much of this will not deal with killing the protozoa Giardia.

Giardia is a protozoal parasite that is commonly found in contaminated standing water. It is zoonotic, so people can get it from their pets and visa versa.

It is diagnosed various ways. The two most common are 1) finding the protozoal cysts on fecal float....stupid little buggers are often hard to find. They will be there and not seen.

2). A SNAP test is done that color changes in the presence of antigen to giardia.


This test can remain postitive for an unknown and varied length of time following infection. I usually find my cases are negative within 3-ish weeks of treating, but it is reported that a positive antigen test can persist for a couple months.

So, what does this mean? Sometimes nothing. Your dog may or may not have giardia the second time if an antigen test was run. If she was showing signs, I would certainly treated for it.

Another point. In my part of the country, a large percentage of giardia are considered to be resistant to Flagyl/metronidazole. I still use metronidazole to control the diarrhea since it is awesome for that, but treat the giardia with fenbendazole/panacur.

Final helpful hint about giardia? Bathe the pets on the second to last or last day of treatment so they do not reinfect themselves by licking their own butts!!!

Too much information? Sorry. Long work day, think I am still in lecture mode.

Oh, and I love Forteflora. It is super yummy to the beasties, make an anorectic cat try some food on a good day!!!

 

[dakcp2001]

Tylan powder was the medicine that finally did the trick. (He had previously been on Panacur and Flagyl). After two rounds of it, he was much improved.

I've been using FortiFlora since the beginning (fyi - pretty inexpensive through Amazon) and he eats Hills Prescription Feline W/D.

Good luck with your kitty - hope he's better soon.

OP - Amazon sells FortiFlora for dogs as well.

- Laura

Please please tell me how you got the Tylan powder into your cat! My vet gave me the go ahead but the stuff tastes terrible and my kitty won't eat it. Honestly he took a bite of his food and gave me the dirtiest look ever. lol, if you think a cat can't give you a dirty look, I beg to differ. I have tried just a tiny sprinkle. I tried cream cheese, I ordered some "flavordoh" to try next. I tasted the Tylan it is gross. I tried diluting it and squirting it in his mouth, but he just foamed at the mouth until he got it all out. Then he barfed. Poor kitty!!

 

[Audrey Hackney]

Activia and diatomaceous earth will clear up the giardia pronto and pumpkin, rice and chicken diet will clear up the diarrhea.... let me know how it goes ! Audrey @ k9cutie60.ah@gmail.com I am a dog breeder of 25 years

 

[SharonZ]

I've had good results with Proviable for my cat, I just pill her with the whole capsule. She will only eat dry food, no canned, won't touch people food and isn't treat motivated, so giving her the capsule works fine. She does occasionally need to take 1/4 of allergy pill which is quite bitter. I buy empty pill capsules for that on Amazon, maybe you could use them for the Tylan?