Canine Giardia | Giardia in dogs
Giardia in dogs - symptoms and treatment
Giardia in dogs is caused by a protozoan, Giardia spp. Animals are infected when they ingest cysts shed from infected animals, often via water. Organisms are principally found in the small intestine, where they interfere with digestion through uncertain mechanisms. In people, Giardia organisms may occasionally ascend into the bile duct and cause hepatic problems.
Giardia in dogs is a common problem. Signs and symptoms of Giardia vary from mild to severe diarrhea, which may be persistent, intermittent or self-limiting. Typically the diarrhea is "cow-patty"-like, without blood or mucus; however, there is substantial variation. Some dogs with Giardia experience weight loss; others do not.
Giardia in dogs is diagnosed by finding motile trophozoites in fresh feces or duodenal washes, by finding cysts with fecal flotation techniques, or by finding giardial proteins in feces using an ELISA. Zinc sulfate solutions seem to be the best medium for demonstrating cysts (especially when centrifugal flotation is performed) because other solutions may distort them. At least three fecal examinations should be performed over the course of 7 to 10 days before discounting Giardia in dogs. Washes of the duodenal lumen (performed endoscopically or surgically by instilling and then retrieving 5 to 10 ml of physiologic saline solution from the duodenal lumen) or cytologic evaluation of the duodenal mucosa occasionally reveal Giardia organisms when other techniques do not.
Because of the occasional difficulty of finding Giardia in dogs (especially in animals that have had various symptomatic antidiarrheal medications), response to treatment is often the retrospective basis of diagnosis. This approach has limitations. Quinacrine is effective but no longer available. Metronidazole has few adverse effects and seems reasonably effective (approximately 85% cured after 7 days of therapy). However, clinical response to metronidazole therapy may result from the drug's antianaerobic activity and/or its effect on the immune system. Furazolidone (5 days of therapy) is probably as effective as metronidazole and comes as a suspension, making it easier to treat infected animals. Albendazole (3 days of therapy) and fenbendazole (5 days of therapy) are also effective, and recent data suggest that oral neomycin may be useful. However, none of these drugs is 100% effective, meaning that failure to respond to drug therapy doest not rule out Giardia in dogs.
The prognosis for recovery is usually good, although in some cases the organisms are difficult to eradicate. It is uncertain whether people may occasionally be infected with Giardia organisms shed from dogs.
Canine Giardia diagnostic plan:
History
Physical examination
Stool analysis
Analysis of intestinal scrapings collected during endoscopy
Canine Giardia treatment:
Drugs to kill the parasite.
Canine Giardia dietary plan:
A diet based on patient evaluation and dog condition. We also recommend this natural balanced real-meat dog food and natural dietary supplement for recovery.
We would love to hear your pet's story. Please add a comment.
Giardia in dogs is caused by a protozoan, Giardia spp. Animals are infected when they ingest cysts shed from infected animals, often via water. Organisms are principally found in the small intestine, where they interfere with digestion through uncertain mechanisms. In people, Giardia organisms may occasionally ascend into the bile duct and cause hepatic problems.
Giardia in dogs is a common problem. Signs and symptoms of Giardia vary from mild to severe diarrhea, which may be persistent, intermittent or self-limiting. Typically the diarrhea is "cow-patty"-like, without blood or mucus; however, there is substantial variation. Some dogs with Giardia experience weight loss; others do not.
Giardia in dogs is diagnosed by finding motile trophozoites in fresh feces or duodenal washes, by finding cysts with fecal flotation techniques, or by finding giardial proteins in feces using an ELISA. Zinc sulfate solutions seem to be the best medium for demonstrating cysts (especially when centrifugal flotation is performed) because other solutions may distort them. At least three fecal examinations should be performed over the course of 7 to 10 days before discounting Giardia in dogs. Washes of the duodenal lumen (performed endoscopically or surgically by instilling and then retrieving 5 to 10 ml of physiologic saline solution from the duodenal lumen) or cytologic evaluation of the duodenal mucosa occasionally reveal Giardia organisms when other techniques do not.
Because of the occasional difficulty of finding Giardia in dogs (especially in animals that have had various symptomatic antidiarrheal medications), response to treatment is often the retrospective basis of diagnosis. This approach has limitations. Quinacrine is effective but no longer available. Metronidazole has few adverse effects and seems reasonably effective (approximately 85% cured after 7 days of therapy). However, clinical response to metronidazole therapy may result from the drug's antianaerobic activity and/or its effect on the immune system. Furazolidone (5 days of therapy) is probably as effective as metronidazole and comes as a suspension, making it easier to treat infected animals. Albendazole (3 days of therapy) and fenbendazole (5 days of therapy) are also effective, and recent data suggest that oral neomycin may be useful. However, none of these drugs is 100% effective, meaning that failure to respond to drug therapy doest not rule out Giardia in dogs.
The prognosis for recovery is usually good, although in some cases the organisms are difficult to eradicate. It is uncertain whether people may occasionally be infected with Giardia organisms shed from dogs.
Canine Giardia diagnostic plan:
History
Physical examination
Stool analysis
Analysis of intestinal scrapings collected during endoscopy
Canine Giardia treatment:
Drugs to kill the parasite.
Canine Giardia dietary plan:
A diet based on patient evaluation and dog condition. We also recommend this natural balanced real-meat dog food and natural dietary supplement for recovery.
We would love to hear your pet's story. Please add a comment.
