Giardia commonly infects dogs and cats. The condition, giardiasis, occurs when a dog or cat ingests water or other substances infected with giardia cysts. It often causes diarrhea and can be a dangerous parasite. Humans can suffer from giardiasis as well if they drink contaminated water or ingest giardia cysts by ingesting contaminated food or fail to practice good sanitary habits.
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What is Giardia?
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Giardia is a protozoan or single celled organism that inhabits streams in the United States and in some parts of the world. Called "beaver fever," it is believed that beavers may have caused the widespread transmission of this parasite. There are several strains of giardia, but according to Dr. Holly Nash, DVM, MS, no one knows how many strains and whether or not the kind that infects dogs and cats can infect humans.
Giardiasis Symptoms
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Oddly, many dogs and cats do not show symptoms of giardiasis, even though they may be infected. Younger pets or pets with lowered immune systems infected with giardia may show symptoms. Giardiasis can cause severe diarrhea, weight loss, dehydration and vomiting. Other symptoms include malodorous and soft diarrhea with mucus in it. Sometimes chronic giardiasis may appear and disappear over time.
Time Frame
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The incubation period for giardia is about five to 14 days. Once ingested, giardia attaches itself to the small intestine, absorbs nutrients and multiplies.
Diagnosis
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Your veterinarian will look for giardia or its cysts under the microscope from a sample. Giardia is difficult to diagnose because it isn't always shed in the dog's or cat's feces. Your veterinarian may need a series of stool samples to test to determine if indeed it is giardia.
Treatment
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Your veterinarian may prescribe fenbendazole or metronidazole to treat giardiasis. There is a vaccination for giardiasis which shortens the duration of the infection and also will help prevent future infections.
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