Scary Giardia Incident
 

Hello;
I took my little dog to Petco to buy a coat and needed him for sizing. I usually do not take him to pets stores especially Petsmart as they have a Vet there and sick dogs wander around. This time I was going to put him in a cart and not walk him in the Petco store (even though no Vet inside).
Outside I had my dog on a leash and was walking to the carts outside the door. I saw a lady with a cute (and healthy looking!!!) small dog on a leash on the ground outside the door just 'hanging around', and I asked the owner if her dog was friendly as my dog loves to greet other dogs. She said yes but that her dog 'had a problem'!!! He had Giardia!!! Yet there she was parading the dog outside and also had been in the store. I was horrified and quickly picked my dog up and put him in the cart - and kept him there!!!
How could anyone take their dog into a petstore and let it roam around to infect other animals??? The store clerk heard my conversation and was also very upset and told the other dog owner her fortune, thank goodness. He did not know of the situation until I spoke to the woman and was grateful to find out from my incident.
So I hope my little one did not get close enough to catch the disease, but want to warn people of the kind of dangers one can unknowingly meet in pet stores by thoughtless owners.
Just before anyone chastises me should Giardia not be easily passed on to other dogs, the message is the same - you never know what disease dogs are carrying and cannot depend on the good sense of some owners.

That is scarey! This is why we don't go to dog parks. If we go to a store, they usually go in the puppy bag. I'm going to use my stroller now, since I have two yorkies. If her dog had traces on his paws and your dog stepped in the same spot, your baby could get it. Prayers that your baby is healthy and doesn't get it. It's terrible!

I never have thought about it like that, but you are completely right!

This is yet another reason to have a stroller. I use mine at the vet's office also as I don't want their feet picking up something we didn't go in with.

Giarda (Sissy had it twice) is the sole reason my babies are indoor pottiers. Giardia is found in standing water and bird feces (even dried, almost gone bird feces). Same reason their feet get wiped with baby wipes if they have been on a walk before we come back in.

I know there are those who do not understand why I (and others) do not treat my "babies" like dogs. IMO - they are much too fragile and I'm not willing to lose them over something stupid I can actually control.

Thanks for the great advise! We'll keep Harlie away from pet stores, it only makes total sense.

Marcel had giardia twice as a puppy too...and it was horrible. It really does a number on puppies (to their small intestine) and can be so dangerous. I remember when Sissy had it too :(.

To the OP - I can't believe someone let their dog around other dogs during giardia - it's so easily contracted.

OMG! What kind of of considerate person does that?????

I never let Lady on the floor of pet stores. She always goes in her stroller or I bring a blanket to line a cart with. My vet said letting your dog walk around Petsmart was like letting your children play on the floor of a public bathroom. Ugh!

Giardia
 

Thank you all for your interest and concern. We have to be constantly vigilant to the hazards dogs face from the outside world.
I do not go to dog parks, and carry my dog into Vet if possible - but he is hard to keep in my arms as he is like a squirmy eel. LOL.
I did wipe his feet with wipes after the Petco incident and hope all is well.
After a walk, which he really LOVES, I wash his feet well in water. Dealing with the constant sniffing of the ground however is harder to stop. LOL.
I guess all we can do is keep a watchful eye and vaccinate where we can.

EEEEWWWWW..... that just made me shudder! :sickie: Can not say that I have ever thought about it but I am so relieved that they are always in my arms when we are out!

Peggy, Monkey & Maddie :daisy:

I also am very protective of Princess. Whenever I have taken either of my dogs to the pet store, vet or anywhere else, I either carry them or have them in their puppy carrier.

Reading this, makes me desire to purchase a stroller ASAP. I am considering buying a "baby stroller" instead of a pet stroller. And buy the netting or rainshield to put over it. I want a "twin stroller" so we can take both dogs with us.

Some people just don't think when they take their sick dogs out in public. It is just as bad as taking a sick child out in public. They can spread disease to healthy dogs and to dogs that may have compromised immune systems. All I can say is.... EEEWWWWW!!!!

I can't believe that she took her dog out like that to infect other dogs! I would be really upset :(

Ok add this to the bathroom floor analogy.
What do you think is at the vets office or the emergency vets office??
Yup sick animals. I see people letting their dogs walk in on leashes. Mine are in carriers in the vets and only come out onto the clean table then right back into the carrier. The carrier never touches a floor or a chair.
Parvo can stay on surfaces inside and out in all kinds of weather and live for MONTHS!! At the vet office they clean tables in between pets but only do the floor once a day. When mine are there for surgery my vet knows the carrier is on a towel and my pups stay in the carrier before and after surgery. I do not want to bring anything home besides what I came in with (well less the ummm parts being removed)
So when you put your pup in the cart at petco or any other store, remember that the doggy before you was in the cart too. Hopefully he did not have giardia or even worse parvo....:(

This is so informative for all pet owners! I also have a tale to tell, Pet.. employee actually told us that she would never bring her babies to be groomed there or the other place...because you cant trust people that say their dogs are vaccinated or not sick!!! She was a Yorkie Mom and said she just invested the time and money to learn how to groom her babies!!!! Our baby Maximus has not been out of the house except to vet..in his carrier! I just wish people would think of others once in awhile! Wishing your baby a happy healthy year!!! :animal-pa Maximus Nana Susan

Giardia
 

Hello All:
Thanks for your replies and good wishes. I did put a towel in the cart so he would not touch it. He seems fine and as I also wiped his feet immediately with wipes and washed them when I got home, hopefully not too many 'bugs' got to him.
We sure have to be careful when taking our little ones out.
It is a pity all dog owners do not have to take a course on health safety and good sense! LOL. I am so grateful for YT forums to learn much that I did not know when I got my first dog.