Giardia In Dogs

This Parasite is lurking EVERYWHERE in Seattle

If you have a dog in Seattle it's not a question of IF your dog will catch Giardia, it's only a question of WHEN your dog will catch it, and how many times.

When Francis, the Flying Standard Poodle 
of Woof Play and Stay, was 4 months old he contracted Giardia.  After several days of progressively runny stools, without any change of diet, I became suspicious. So I took a Fecal sample to Northwest Veterinary Hospital in Wallingford.  KA-CHING!  The next day the Vet called and informed me that Francis had hit the Giardia Jackpot.  Shit, shit, SHIT I thought, pun very much intended.  How could that be?  He had not been around very many other dogs and he had not been to any dog parks either- he just went for walks, mostly in our neighborhood.

That was in April of 2016. I had studied Giardia, Bordetella and a whole bunch of other nasty canine pathogens, and how to control them in a dog boarding and daycare environment.  I was opening Woof! in a few months and I knew I had to be prepared.  But when Francis caught the bug I realized I didn't know shit about Giardia (yes, this awful pun may be repeated multiple times throughout this post, so brace yourself).  As the future owner of a dog daycare and boarding center in downtown Seattle, I knew I had to get my shit together, and REALLY know it as well.  Funny, the more I learn the less I know.  But I digress.

I was stunned when Dr. Mark Donavan, Francis's Vet and Woof's Veterinarian consultant, told me how prevalent Giardia was in Seattle.  But I was shocked when he said "living in Seattle Francis will likely contract it at least couple of more times in his lifetime".  So then I asked him the obvious question "what can I do to prevent him from catching it again?".  He replied "nothing, really, unless you put Francis in a bubble".  I went from shocked to absolutely flabbergasted. 

Don't Panic


I knew how to significantly reduce the risk of dogs spreading Giardia and other contagious dog bugs in controlled environments, such as veterinarian clinics, dog daycare centers and boarding facilities, but what can you do out in the cold cruel world to reduce risk?  Actually, quit a lot I learned. This post is not all gloom and doom and we will explore precautions you can take to fight Giardia, and cut the chances your pup catches that nasty shit whenever you venture beyond the four walls of your domain.  But first lets get to know that little shit better.  It will be well worth the effort, especially if you're an urban dog owner living in Seattle.


What Exactly is Giardia?

Guardia is a microscopic single cell protozoa parasite.  Guardia cysts are passed though feces and thrive in wet, damp and muddy areas.  When ingested they will cause an infection of the small intestine, a condition called Giardiasis.  Guardia are hardy little shits that can survive in the wild up to 7 weeks, just waiting to viciously infect their next victim.


How Contagious is Giardia?

Very.  Infected dogs can shed billions of cysts in a single poop, yet only a few need to be ingested to become infected.  Literally, one sniff of a few cysts and it's over.  Guardia really is that contagious.


How Does a Dog "Catch" Giardia?

Giardiasis can be contracted when a dog eats, drinks, sniffs or licks something , anything, contaminated with Giardia cysts.  This includes, but is not limited to, drinking contaminated water, licking contaminated mud and sniffing an infected dogs butt.  A dog can even catch Giardia by sniffing the bare ground that was contaminated two weeks ago!

Where Can a Dog Catch  Giardia?

Anywhere.  A hike in the woods, a dog park, a dog-friendly establishment- even a walk around the block.  Can a dog catch Giardia at a dog boarding or daycare facility?  Yes, of course.  But at a well maintained facility with an effective infection control plan, it is less likely for a dog to contract Giardia there than out on the streets or in the woods.

At Woof Play and Stay dog daycare center we take specific precautions to minimize the risk of contagious disease  transmission.  Whenever a dog goes potty on our specially designed flooring, the area is immediately cleaned and disinfected.  Additionally we vacuum, clean and disinfect all surfaces that have come into contact with the dogs every evening.  I've never seen a human disinfect the sidewalk after picking up their dog's poop, so it stands to reason that a reputable dog daycare facility is a lower risk bet.

What are the Symptoms of a Giardia Infection

Guardia is a tricky little shit.  Some dogs can be totally asymptomatic (without any noticeable symptoms) and appear to be perfectly healthy, yet sheding billions of cysts with every poop.  Clues can be found, however, in the frequency and attributes of a dog's poop- but not always.  Dogs infected with Giardia often develop diarrhea, which can be mild or explosive.  The stool can be more foul smelling than usual, liquidy or soft.  Additionally, it can appear pale, be loaded with mucus, or even contain blood.   The net - net is that if your dog has unusual smelling or looking poop for more than a couple of days in a row, a trip to the Vet is definitely in order.

In addition to persistently unusual stools, other symptoms may include any, all or none of the following:

• Change in behavior- such as lethargy or listlessness
• Apparent pain or discomfort in the abdomen
• Gas (extra stinky farts)
• Loss of appetite
• Weight loss

If your dog has an immune disorder or a secondary infection the symptoms are often much more intense.

How is Giardiasis Diagnosed?

Did I say that Giardia was a tricky little shit?  Well, it REALLY is!  That's because infected dogs shed cysts intermittently.  That means some poops contain cysts, while others may not.  So a negative fecal sample is not a guarantee that you dog is Giardia free.

Guardia is typically diagnosed by some combination of medical history, clinical symptoms and lab tests.  I won't bore you with the details of the various fecal lab tests, but some are more accurate than others.  In some cases an accurate lab diagnosis may require 3 or more fecal samples in the span of one week.

What is the Treatment for Giardia?

The treatment of Giardia is dependent upon the severity of the infection and symptoms.  If the dog is dehydrated and week, supportive therapy  (IV's etc.) to nurse it back to a better level of health may be prescribed before beginning an anti Giardia drug regime.

An antibiotic called Metronidazole is the most common first line drug used to rid a dog of Giardia.  Fenbendazole, an antiparasitic drug can also be effective and many Vets use the two drugs in combination.  A course of treatment typically lasts 7-10 days.  Keep in mind there are drug resistant stains of Giardia.  While Giardia can run it's course and resolve on it's own, a dog with long term untreated Giardai can experience severe health issues and damage to the GI tract.

What is the Prognosis for Giardia

Finally, a ray of light and good news in this dark and gloomy shit storm!  The prognosis is good for a majority of otherwise healthy dogs who are diagnosed and treated for Guardia.  Unfortunately, however, not so good for geriatric dogs, sickly dogs and dogs with compromised immune disorders.  They're at much greater risk for serious complications up to and including death.

Can Giardia be Prevented?

No, but the risk of infection can be minimized.  Here are some measures you can take in the battle against Giardia:

• Have have your dog's feces tested every 6 months. That way if she or he does contract Giardia you will catch it early and reduce the possibility of complications.
• Avoid wet or muddy areas that may be contaminated by animal feces (like in many of Seattle's dog parks).
• Don't allow your dog to drink from water sources that may have been directly or indirectly contaminated by animal feces.
• Promptly pick up and dispose of your dogs feces after it poops.
• Practice good hygiene and wash your hands frequently.

This blog is sponsored by Woof! Play & Stay, a dog daycare and dog boarding center that focuses on the fitness and well being of dogs.  Located in downtown Seattle, Woof also offers dog training, dog walking and in-home pet care services available 24/7/365.