He Has Giardia!!!!

**DoberDukes** · 04-08-2008, 10:48 PM

hey guys, so zeus went into the vet for his second round of shots yesterday. i brought in a stool sample fo rthem to analize at the lab. they called me back today and told me he has GIARDIA!!! i freaked out at first. but i was just wondering if anyone has dealt with this problem themselves. i'm going back to the vet tomorrow to get the antibiotic pills or whatever they treat it with. and i know it can go from dogs to humans. they told me to pick up all of his old "kaka" cause he can get it again. anyway, just wondering if there is anything to worry about and what other peopl ehad done when their dog had the same thing. can i take him places? is he gonna give it to other dogs? or am i just paranoid?

**Colorado Dobes** · 04-08-2008, 10:57 PM

My dog had that a couple of times when she was a puppy. I never had issues with the other dogs getting it, but she apparently kept reinfecting herself. Pick up all the poop that you can and get him on the antibiotics. It obviously isn't a bad case of it yet, or you would have seen symptoms before you took him in and had a routine stool sample analysis.

NewDobieMom · 04-08-2008, 11:03 PM

Domino had Giradia when I got him. They treated him and now hes doing great!

**DoberDukes** · 04-08-2008, 11:08 PM

yeah on all the websites it says they he'll have really bad diarrhea but he seems fine, looks like he feels fine. kinda came as a supprise to me. i know it's not a big deal just thought i would see what you guys had to say about it. any tips or anything.

**Colorado Dobes** · 04-08-2008, 11:12 PM

I didn't catch mine until really horrible diarrhea came along. You're lucky! :-)

**greenkouki** · 04-08-2008, 11:15 PM

Has he been drinking any lake or stream water? that could be another source. Hope he feels better soon

momtoarmani · 04-08-2008, 11:20 PM

Giardia is really hard to get rid of, so try and find it's source if possible. It could be something as simple as a rain puddle that's collected on the edge of something in your yard. They drink the standing water and that's all it takes. It is recurring and hard to find in a stool sample.
Make sure that you pick up poo immediately so you can decrease the chances of them reinfecting themselves. Here's a website that helped me understand it a bit better when our canine kids had it. Or, just google canine giardia and you'll find lots.
Dog Diarreha, Vomiting and Weight Loss | Giardia Protozoa in your Pet | GREATDANELADY.COM

**DoberDukes** · 04-08-2008, 11:21 PM

we do have a natural spring in my front yard. which runs like a tiny little steam through my front yard. i guess that could be the source of it. but my last dog drank from the spring for years. i dunno. we have a little pipe that runs from the source of the spring to the driveway for drainage. and i do remember seeing him drink from if when i first got him at about 7 1/2 weeks old. lemme know what you think.

**Colorado Dobes** · 04-08-2008, 11:22 PM

I think puppies are more succeptable than adults...

momtoarmani · 04-08-2008, 11:23 PM

Another thing that we found too, is that they seem fine, and then when they get stressed or irritated over a move, or some type of change, then you see evidence of the giardia again. YUCK..... But I hope he gets to feeling better soon!