Giardiasis - YorkieTalk.com Forums

Zoejane · 06-14-2012, 04:54 PM

My baby was diagnosed with giardiasis for the second time. When she was 4 months old they did a stool sample at her regular check up and it showed positive. She didn't have any signs or symptoms but I did the antibiotic for 5 days anyway and then a follow up where it was clear. Then 2 days ago she started acting a little listless and had very loose stools, yesterday she vomited and did nothing but lay around so I took her to the vet. She didn't find anything wrong with her at all and then did another giardiasis test and sure enough it came back positive. Along with the antiobiotic she put her on pepcid AC and a bland diet Today she is totally acting like herself, playing and just being crazy. She nevers drinks out of standing water, she never goes outside without me on a leash so I know exactly what she is doing every minute. Do any of you have experience with giardiasis? How is she getting it and what am I doing wrong? I love her so much and want to ensure she has the best care possible.

gracielove · 06-14-2012, 05:01 PM

Does she ever come in contact with other animals or could she have gotten close to another animal's stool? It is very contagious. She can even recontaminate herself if she were to get near her own stool. Keeping her and her potty area clean are very important during treatment. There has to be some way she is picking it up.

Zoejane · 06-14-2012, 05:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by gracielove

Does she ever come in contact with other animals or could she have gotten close to another animal's stool? It is very contagious. She can even recontaminate herself if she were to get near her own stool. Keeping her and her potty area clean are very important during treatment. There has to be some way she is picking it up.

She uses pee pads, but I always pick up her poo right away and use baby wipes on her bum. I just can't figure it out.

tjdmom · 06-14-2012, 05:56 PM

It's probably outside in your environment. Maybe from birds flying over or mice running around.... I'm now sure if there is any way to get rid of it completely. I would look at ways to boost her immune system so that she is able to fight it off herself....

MikaTallulah · 06-16-2012, 06:27 PM

My friend 's holistic vet recommended plain Greek yogurt in addition to antiboitic treatment and for at least 6 months after. It works great

Zoejane · 06-17-2012, 06:38 AM

Thank you. I will try the Greek yogurt. She has been getting yogurt every morning with breakfast for the past 2 months anyway, that's the only way I can get her to eat breakfast.

gracielove · 06-17-2012, 11:18 AM

Just be really careful when you walk her and don't let her sniff things she finds interesting out there. Try cleaning her paws off when you bring her in. Is she a picky eater? I wonder if her stomach has been bothering her right along because of this? Hope you get your answers soon. It has to be difficult for both of you to be going through this.

Zoejane · 06-17-2012, 11:48 AM

She is extremely picky on her food! Always has been, I finally started mixing yogurt in with her breakfast to get her to eat it and she still isn't overly excited. When she got sick the vet put her on moist ID and she ate it for about 1 1/2 days and then turned her nose up at that. Sometimes I despair at getting her to eat, but she isn't skinny so I guess she is doing okay. Thanks for the advice, I will try to keep her nose off of the sidewalk

.

gracielove · 06-17-2012, 12:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Zoejane

She is extremely picky on her food! Always has been, I finally started mixing yogurt in with her breakfast to get her to eat it and she still isn't overly excited. When she got sick the vet put her on moist ID and she ate it for about 1 1/2 days and then turned her nose up at that. Sometimes I despair at getting her to eat, but she isn't skinny so I guess she is doing okay. Thanks for the advice, I will try to keep her nose off of the sidewalk

.

I know how you feel about the eating issue. Gracie was like that as a puppy. She hated kibble not matter what I did to it. I finally started cooking for her. I found some recipes in the diet and health area of YT. She would eat what I made the first time but when I would warm up leftovers she would refuse it! Finally read about grain free and decided to give it a try. When I changed from using grain to sweet potato she loved it! I now feed her a grain free raw commercial diet. She loves it and I am happy because I know she is getting the proper nutrition. It was a scary first year though. It's so important for them to get proper nutrition when their little bones and organs are forming.

Zoejane · 06-17-2012, 03:01 PM

Zoe is on a grain free kibble, in fact I offered her both the canned and kibble today and she turned her nose up at the canned and ate her kibble. I am afraid to cook for her as I worry about her getting everything she needs. And the raw worries me just a little too. I think I need to investigate that option a little more.

gracielove · 06-17-2012, 06:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Zoejane

Zoe is on a grain free kibble, in fact I offered her both the canned and kibble today and she turned her nose up at the canned and ate her kibble. I am afraid to cook for her as I worry about her getting everything she needs. And the raw worries me just a little too. I think I need to investigate that option a little more.

If you use a good quality grain free raw it works great. You do have to be careful with handeling it just as with any raw product. Gracie would walk away from canned food, too. I had to hand feed her. It was very frustrating. I hope you find something that will get her eating better. I used to add a supplement to the food I made for Gracie but I feel better feeding her a quality commercial brand of frozen raw. If they don't eat enough to get proper nutrition they are not going to do well on anything we feed.

Teegy · 06-18-2012, 05:01 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MikaTallulah

My friend 's holistic vet recommended plain Greek yogurt in addition to antiboitic treatment and for at least 6 months after. It works great

I also have an holistic vet and they recommend as natural a diet for your dog as possible to maintain a good immune system with the support of a probiotic. Not all dogs are good with dairy but haven't heard to many adverse reactions to a bit of yoghurt

Zoejane · 06-18-2012, 06:55 PM

I bought her some Greek yogurt and she loves it. Since she was sick she is also enjoying her kibble much more. I use Orijen and she ate more today then she has eaten in awhile. Maybe she hasn't been feeling real well for awhile.

Teegy · 06-18-2012, 10:53 PM

you can also buy canned tripe "tripett" is the brand name, just don't smell it. Haven't seen a dog who doesn't like it.
I used to have Teegy on Orijen before raw and my friend has her two on it. I gave her a couple of cans of the tripe because she wanted to change their mealtimes from free feeding to twice a day and they go nuts.
It contains omega 3 & 6, natural digestive enzymes as well as glucosomine and chondroitin.
So between that and the yoghurt you could get her little system flourishing

ilovejoel · 06-18-2012, 11:08 PM

I hope your baby feels better

, my Joel had that and it wasn't fun and it really made him not feel well.

06-14-2012, 04:54 PM	#1
Zoejane Senior Yorkie Talker Join Date: Mar 2012 Location: Louisville! Ky Posts: 178	Giardiasis My baby was diagnosed with giardiasis for the second time. When she was 4 months old they did a stool sample at her regular check up and it showed positive. She didn't have any signs or symptoms but I did the antibiotic for 5 days anyway and then a follow up where it was clear. Then 2 days ago she started acting a little listless and had very loose stools, yesterday she vomited and did nothing but lay around so I took her to the vet. She didn't find anything wrong with her at all and then did another giardiasis test and sure enough it came back positive. Along with the antiobiotic she put her on pepcid AC and a bland diet Today she is totally acting like herself, playing and just being crazy. She nevers drinks out of standing water, she never goes outside without me on a leash so I know exactly what she is doing every minute. Do any of you have experience with giardiasis? How is she getting it and what am I doing wrong? I love her so much and want to ensure she has the best care possible.

06-16-2012, 06:27 PM	#5
MikaTallulah YT 1000 Club Member Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: NJ Posts: 1,812	My friend 's holistic vet recommended plain Greek yogurt in addition to antiboitic treatment and for at least 6 months after. It works great __________________ Beware of Nestle Purina Cozy (4/06), Roxy & Zoey (2/08), Lucy (4/09); Buddy 4/09- Rescued 12/11); Mika ('98) & Tallulah ('00) RIP Harley 4/2009; Lucky 11/2010; Zoey 4/2012

06-17-2012, 11:48 AM	#8
Zoejane Senior Yorkie Talker Join Date: Mar 2012 Location: Louisville! Ky Posts: 178	She is extremely picky on her food! Always has been, I finally started mixing yogurt in with her breakfast to get her to eat it and she still isn't overly excited. When she got sick the vet put her on moist ID and she ate it for about 1 1/2 days and then turned her nose up at that. Sometimes I despair at getting her to eat, but she isn't skinny so I guess she is doing okay. Thanks for the advice, I will try to keep her nose off of the sidewalk.

06-18-2012, 11:08 PM	#15
ilovejoel Donating YT 1000 Club Member Join Date: Dec 2011 Location: Alaska Posts: 3,299	I hope your baby feels better, my Joel had that and it wasn't fun and it really made him not feel well.

06-14-2012, 05:01 PM	#2
gracielove YT 3000 Club Member Join Date: Apr 2011 Location: NY Posts: 6,582	Does she ever come in contact with other animals or could she have gotten close to another animal's stool? It is very contagious. She can even recontaminate herself if she were to get near her own stool. Keeping her and her potty area clean are very important during treatment. There has to be some way she is picking it up.

06-14-2012, 05:56 PM	#4
tjdmom Donating YT 500 Club Member Join Date: May 2007 Location: upstate ny Posts: 5,847	It's probably outside in your environment. Maybe from birds flying over or mice running around.... I'm now sure if there is any way to get rid of it completely. I would look at ways to boost her immune system so that she is able to fight it off herself....

06-17-2012, 06:38 AM	#6
Zoejane Senior Yorkie Talker Join Date: Mar 2012 Location: Louisville! Ky Posts: 178	Thank you. I will try the Greek yogurt. She has been getting yogurt every morning with breakfast for the past 2 months anyway, that's the only way I can get her to eat breakfast.

06-17-2012, 11:18 AM	#7
gracielove YT 3000 Club Member Join Date: Apr 2011 Location: NY Posts: 6,582	Just be really careful when you walk her and don't let her sniff things she finds interesting out there. Try cleaning her paws off when you bring her in. Is she a picky eater? I wonder if her stomach has been bothering her right along because of this? Hope you get your answers soon. It has to be difficult for both of you to be going through this.

06-17-2012, 03:01 PM	#10
Zoejane Senior Yorkie Talker Join Date: Mar 2012 Location: Louisville! Ky Posts: 178	Zoe is on a grain free kibble, in fact I offered her both the canned and kibble today and she turned her nose up at the canned and ate her kibble. I am afraid to cook for her as I worry about her getting everything she needs. And the raw worries me just a little too. I think I need to investigate that option a little more.

06-18-2012, 06:55 PM	#13
Zoejane Senior Yorkie Talker Join Date: Mar 2012 Location: Louisville! Ky Posts: 178	I bought her some Greek yogurt and she loves it. Since she was sick she is also enjoying her kibble much more. I use Orijen and she ate more today then she has eaten in awhile. Maybe she hasn't been feeling real well for awhile.

06-18-2012, 10:53 PM	#14
Teegy Donating YT 1000 Club Member Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: Toronto, Canada Posts: 2,631	you can also buy canned tripe "tripett" is the brand name, just don't smell it. Haven't seen a dog who doesn't like it. I used to have Teegy on Orijen before raw and my friend has her two on it. I gave her a couple of cans of the tripe because she wanted to change their mealtimes from free feeding to twice a day and they go nuts. It contains omega 3 & 6, natural digestive enzymes as well as glucosomine and chondroitin. So between that and the yoghurt you could get her little system flourishing