Angel has Giardia
 

I picked up Angel from the breeders on Sat. and had her vet checked on Mon. I gave a stool sample, and the results came in today. I spoke to the nurse on the phone, and she said the results show she has giardia. The doc prescribed Metronidazole, but I told her I'd call the breeder and call her back. The breeder said this medication is useless, and I should use Panacur or Safeguard. The breeder has dewormed Angel many times, but she said that since she has so many dogs, she can't control if Angel ate their feces or her own. I asked her if this is covered under the guarantee and she said no. She said the meds are only about $20 Cdn. I do trust the breeders, but what do you think?

I had to have Angel checked within 72 hours of picking her up. Her assessment was "excellent" as written by the vet on her exam. The contract of the breeders I signed says, "Seller guarantees that the puppy is in good health and free of communicable diseases at the time of sale." I know it's past 72 hours, but I did tell the breeder that the stool results would be back in 1-2 business days. Is this type of parasite not usually covered in guarantees? I called the nurse back and told her the breeder said to use Panacur or Safeguard. She said the vet agreed to Panacur. The nurse said they treat the same thing but Panacur is powder form. I'm following the breeder's advice. I don't mind spending $20 if that's what it really costs. I'll find out after I pick up the meds.

Here's a list of Angel's deworming from the breeder:

March 7 Strongid T
March 21, 22, 23 Panacur
April 11,12, 13 Panacur
May 9 Strongid T
May 22 , 23 , 24 Panacur

Any advice/opinions would be greatly appreciated. Thanks!

Some of Angel's stool has been firm and soft. I had seen 2 spots of watery stool but it wasn't much. How can I prevent giardia from passing on to me and other people? Should I be doing anything specific to clean her bedding, bed, water and food bowls,etc.? Do humans need to be treated for it when in contact with a dog with giardia? Thanks!

I would think you would want to clean with bleach and water. I dont know how contagious giardia is form dog to human so I am bumping this up so maybe you get an answer

I have had many dogs come into rescue with giardia and I just had to made sure that I use gloves when I am cleaning up after the dog. Here are 3 websites that you can read about this disease. I would not get to concerned about it passing to you unless you touched the feces and didn't use soap and water afterwards.

http://www.peteducation.com/article....&articleid=739

http://www.cdc.gov/Ncidod/dpd/parasi...m#transmission

http://www.priory.com/vet/giardia.htm

I will leave it up to the breeders to respond to your question regarding the breeders responsibility here.

From what I know, I don't think it would be covered by the breeder unless it is in the contract or you just have a really nice breeder! Wouldn't hurt to ask if he/she wouldn't mind picking up the cost.
But that type of think is quite common in litters because it truely is difficult to keep track of puppies eating things they shouldn't be. I just finished a book called Yorkshire Terriers by Janet Jackson and there was a complete section about this. The author was saying that in many cases, breeders have to continuously deworm the pups because they keep passing it around.

Thank you so much for the info. I'll be reading it. My bf, TCC on this forum, is coming to pick me up so we can go to the vet's and get the meds. Do I need to give another stool sample of Angel's to the vet's after the meds are finished to make sure the giardia is gone?

Check with your vet but I did bring in a sample so I knew the dog would not go to his new home with any problems or infect any other animals.

Hi there. Sissy has been dealing with giardia for about 6 weeks now. Her 6 month stool sample showed traces, but the one month follow-up was full. The vet said there are many sources of transmission - outside standing water can contain it.

The information the vet gave me says to use bleach to completely clean the dog's area. Any use the washer/dryer (on high heat) to clean toys/bedding. Giardia can be transmitted to humans - so no doggie mouth kisses for a while. Both metronidzole and pancur are used to treat - the metro has a broader spectrum in it. The vet will usually do a repeat stool sample in four weeks and then if the puppy needs to be re-treated it is for a longer time frame and then re-tested again after 60 days.

Hope this helps. Feel like I've become an expert!

We were told to bring a sample after Angel finishes the meds. She's to take 1/4 tsp. of Panacur twice a day for 5 days. I hope it clears up!

I'm sorry to hear that. Which meds is she on? Thanks for the tips on cleaning.

I have two pens and tarps for Angel. One is upstairs in her room and one is downstairs. I put the one that was downstairs in her room and washed the tarp and pen that was originally in her room w/ bleach so those are drying. I also cleaned her toys and bedding.

Do you wash Sissy's bum w/ shampoo every time after she poos? I've been doing it w/ water only. Is that good enough?

I haven't washed her bum at all, other than her weekly bath. That was not in the information the vet gave me. This last treatment she was on the Metronidazole in a liquid form that the pharmacy specially made for her, twice a day for 10 days. The 1st time she was treated with Pancur for 3 days, just once per day, sprinkled over her food. Since she was eating dry food, I would roll the powder into cheese and she would gobble it down.

She doesn't get her stool re-tested now for another 6 weeks. We also treated our other dog this time with Pancur in a pill form, twice a day for 5 days. Hopefully, we will get good news when it is time for the stool sample.

There isn't really any standing water in our yard, though it did rain very heavily for three weeks in May. Our flower beds in the yard are lined with cedar bark and Sissy likes to grab pieces of the bark and chew them. I'm thinking that was the culprit, but I guess we'll never know for sure!

It's not in my vet info, but I prefer her to have a clean bum and especially since I found out she has giardia. Are there any side effects to Panacur that you're aware of?

I didn't get any medication information, but there was nothing mentioned about side effects. Hope you're not having any problems.