Giardia in Dogs: What You Need to Know as a Dog Owner

Giardia is an intestinal infection caused by an organism that can be potentially serious for household dogs if they are young, malnourished or debilitated. As part of a Paw Nation series providing background about the medical problems your pet may suffer, we spoke to Dr. Jon M. Fletcher from the department of internal medicine at Southeast Veterinary Specialists in Metairie, La., to get some insights about the condition. You should always consult your veterinarian before giving medication or supplements to your pet.

What are the signs that my dog has giardia?
Soft, frothy diarrhea is the primary clinical sign.

How common is giardia in dogs?
Giardiasis has a reported prevalence of 4.7-10 percent in the general population, but possibly up to 100 percent in kennel settings...[It] is not a common cause of acute diarrhea in family dogs. Most infections are asymptomatic. If clinical disease occurs, it is most commonly acute and often self-limiting [where the disease runs its course without need of external interference] small bowel diarrhea. Severe and prolonged diarrhea may result in dehydration and critical illness. giardiasis less commonly causes intermittent or chronic diarrhea, weight loss or vomiting. Persistent diarrhea may lead to chronic debilitation.

How serious is giardia in dogs?
Most dogs with giardiasis have short-term, self-limiting diarrhea. In young, malnourished or debilitated animals, the diarrhea may result in more clinically significant illness. Animals with chronic diarrhea may have weight loss and debilitation.

What are the standard treatments for giardia in dogs? Please include any treatments that the pet owner can do at home.
There are numerous efficacious treatments for giardiasis. The most commonly utilized medications are: Fenbendazole, a benzimidazole anthelmintic, and Metronidazole, a nitroimidazole antibiotic. There are no safe or efficacious home remedies or treatments for giardiasis.

What can I do to ease my dog's discomfort from giardia immediately?
A veterinarian should evaluate your dog if he or she develops diarrhea.

Does my dog's giardia pose a threat to other animals in the home?
Yes, cysts and trophozoites are passed through the feces of infected animals and are infective to other animals. Infected and shedding animals should be bathed to remove the parasite. Environmental management involves disinfection of the premises by removing infected feces with steam cleaning or quaternary ammonium compounds. Despite appropriate disinfection, reinfection is fairly common. Research suggests that there are specific types of giardia that commonly infect dogs and cats, but are rarely found in the feces of people.

Are some dog breeds more vulnerable to giardia?
There are no breeds that are more vulnerable to giardia than others.

Dr. Jon M. Fletcher is with the Internal Medicine Department of Southeast Veterinary Specialists. He received his DVM from Louisiana State University School of Veterinary Medicine with an internship at Auburn University and residency in internal medicine at LSU. SVS (Southeast Veterinary Specialists) was created to respond with specialty disciplines for veterinarians and their clients in the Gulf Coast region.

Tags: diarrhea in dogs, dogs, Giardia, giardia in dogs, giardia signs, householdpets