Long-Term Consequences of Giardia in Dogs

Giardia is an infestation of single-celled organisms in the intestines of a canine. There are many things that veterinarians still do not know about giardia; no medication has been shown to be 100 percent effective. According to Syosset Animal Hospital, it is still unknown how common the parasite is, as it can lie dormant in a dog's system for years before making itself known.

  1. Early Stages

    • If caught in the early stages of infection, you can take feces samples to a veterinarian for testing. Once the parasite has been identified, the vet can begin administering treatment to combat and eliminate the parasite.

    Infection

    • A dog can become infected with giardia at a young age and show no apparent signs of the parasite for years. After long term exposure to the parasite, the infection can flare up when the dog becomes stressed or ill.

    First Stage

    • The first stage of giardia after a flareup is called the "swimming" stage. The parasite lives in the canine's intestines, feeding off of valuable nutrients. The dog will begin to experience weight loss, nutrient deficiencies and dehydrating diarrhea. When stage one is left untreated for a long period of time it can cause the dog's health to deteriorate and the immune system to weaken.

    Stage Two

    • The second stage of Giardia is called the "cyst" stage. The cyst stage will only occur after the parasite has infected the dog for an extended period of time; veterinary care will easily avoid it. The parasite will form a floating cyst in the dog's intestine and eventually pass in the feces. The cyst can live in the feces for several months if in the correct conditions. The canine will usually be rid of the active infection after it passes the cyst. However, the parasite can still be in the dog's system, once again lying dormant. The effects of the parasite will take time to recover in order to restore the dog to a healthy condition.

    Reinfection

    • If the canine consumes feces containing the cyst, it can become reinfected with the active parasite. It is difficult to rid an animal of giardia once the infection has begun, due to the possibility of reinfection through feces.