What Is Giardia?
Giardia duodenalis infection is the cause of canine giardiasis. This creature is a protozoa that is extremely contagious and resistant to the environment.over the globe. Giardia has many assemblages (or "types") that have been classified as A through H, with kinds C and D infecting dogs the most frequently.Giardiasis is most frequently identified by veterinarians when owners detect a rapid start of diarrhea in their young dog. Infected dogs usually have a history of coming from areas with large dog populations, being around other dogs, or going to locations where other dogs congregate (such as dog parks).
Who Gets It?
Giardia may infect a wide variety of animals and birds, including dogs, cats, and people.With very few exceptions, particular Giardia assemblages tend to affect particular species. For example, Giardia types C and D predominantly affect dogs, types A1 and F affect cats, and types A2 and B affect people.
How Is It Spread?
Giardia cysts, which are Giardia-containing hard shells that are shed in feces and can last months in the environment. Dogs often contract Giardia by consuming contaminated feces, but it can also spread by contact with contaminated objects (such as soil, cages, or toys), combing feces-soiled fur, or drinking polluted water. Because of their extreme toughness and ability to stay contagious in the environment, cysts can continue to spread illness.
Young dogs, particularly pups under six months old, are most at risk for developing clinical illness. Young canines living in areas with high population densities are most at risk of illness.
What the Signs of Disease？
Giardia infections in dogs are typically undetectable clinically. Although they seem like healthy canines and have normal-looking feces, they might be shedding cysts and ability to spread to other canines.Dogs with illness symptoms are often young (less than 6 months old) and develop diarrhea suddenly. Feces frequently contain fat or mucus and are mushy, colorless, and foul-smelling. In extreme circumstances, chronic diarrhea can cause weight loss.
Immunity does not develop following an infection. Dogs might get diseases again from their surroundings.
How Is It Diagnosed?
Giardiasis will be identified by your veterinarian based on the history (such as recent dog-to-dog contact), clinical symptoms (such as diarrhea), and examination results. Your dog's veterinarian will collect fresh feces from him and conduct a fecal test to determine the presence of an illness (e.g. microscopic investigation using a direct smear, saline wet mount, or fecal floatation by centrifugation). PCR, fecal immunofluorescence assay (IFA), and Giardia ELISA are among further fecal tests that could be run. Your veterinarian might suggest that numerous samples be tested (for example, three fecal samples over 5-7 days) since Giardia cysts can be sporadically shed. They could also suggest combining two distinct tests to aid in diagnosis, such as an ELISA test and a fecal direct smear. The study of your dog's feces under a microscope might help find more parasites that may be causing (or making worse) the diarrhea. It's vital to understand that a positive Giardia test does not establish that a dog has the disease (such as diarrhea) or that Giardia alone is to blame; rather, a positive test result in a dog with diarrhea justifies treatment.
What is the Treatment?
If further parasites are seen or suspected, a specialized deworming drug recommended by a veterinarian is used as treatment. If a reinfection arises or a dog doesn't react to deworming treatment, an antibiotic may be recommended. Diarrhea is stopped with the help of treatment, but it's crucial to understand that curing an infection might be challenging.Giardia cysts must be removed from the dog's fur and surroundings to hasten recovery and to stop re-infection or transmission to other dogs. Cysts are removed from the hair coat by giving dogs a bath with a shampoo containing chlorhexidine at the start and conclusion of the course of therapy. All canine waste should be collected quickly, and the environment should be cleaned and disinfected on occasion to get rid of cysts.With the right therapy, the prognosis for recovery is favorable in the majority of dogs. Other causes of diarrhea (such as parasites, inflammatory bowel disease, etc.) should be looked into and other diagnostic procedures should be taken into consideration in dogs whose diarrhea does not respond to proper Giardia medication.
How Can I Stop This from Happening to My Dog and Other Dogs?
Exercise caution and knowledge. All dog owners and anyone working in canine group settings should take precautions since both healthy and ill dogs can shed Giardia in their feces (e.g. doggie daycare, boarding). Clean drinking, swimming, and play water sources, a healthy diet, and uncrowded, low-stress housing are all necessary for infection prevention. To limit spread and reinfection, regular fecal matter removal in conjunction with environmental cleaning and disinfection is essential. Young dogs are most susceptible to contracting Giardia, spreading it, and getting ill. Pups should be socialized with other puppies and older dogs that have had the necessary vaccinations. Socialization or dog group activities should be held as part of well-organized programs that also include other preventative measures, such as adequate environmental cleaning and disinfection and prompt evacuation of dogs exhibiting symptoms of sickness, in order to limit the risk of infection.