Diarrhea in puppies in kennels or in another situation where a relatively large number of animals are kept together is a regular problem. Especially if it is not properly disinfected. A possible cause could be a Giardia infection.

What exactly is Giarda and how harmful is it?

Giardia is a common infection. Dogs that become infected with Giardia do not always get sick. In particular, young dogs and dogs with a reduced resistance get complaints in the form of diarrhea and vomiting. With treatment, the prognosis is favorable but reinfection can occur. It is important to realize that people can also get sick from Giardia.

Giardia infection in dogs.

The Giardia parasite that lives in the intestines is called a trophozoite. These trophozoites are excreted in the feces. After a short period of being in the outside world as such, this trophozoite will form a wall around itself and form an oocyst. These are a type of eggs that contain two (not yet fully complete) trophozoites. In this form, the oocyst can survive for a long time (several months).

If a dog ingests such an oocyst, the wall of the oocyst will digest and the two trophozoites will be released, after which an infection can take place. Dogs can therefore become infected with Giardia, especially through indirect contact with faeces of other animals, for example on lawns and roads.

Symptoms of Giardia in the Dog.

Especially young animals or animals with a reduced resistance become ill from Giardia. On average, it takes about 1-2 weeks before symptoms appear. These are:

• Diarrhea
• Stomach ache
• Flatulence
• Mucus in the stool
• Generally ill and lethargic

Not every animal infected with Giardia will get sick.

Treatment of Giardia in the dog.

Giardia can be treated well with medication. In addition, there are a few other tips to get rid of Giardia as soon as possible:

• Reducing infection pressure by removing stools daily and keeping the environment as dry as possible.
• Washing an infected animal. Because the eggs of the Giardia can survive for a long time and can be attached to the fur, it is wise to wash an animal after treatment.

In addition to antiparasitics, we give the extra advice to wash the hindquarters of the animal on day 3 and on day 5. When an additional bacterial infection is suspected, the animal is generally ill or has a lot of blood in the stool, we add 5 days of antibiotics to the treatment.

After the treatment, it can take up to 7 days for the stool to return to the way it was before.

Do you suspect that your dog has Giardia?

Then go to your vet as soon as possible! Also contact the breeder. It is possible that the other puppies from the same litter are also infected.

source: Dierenziekenhuizen.nl