Giardia Infection in Dogs and Cats

Giardia in Dogs and Cats

               Giardia is a fairly common parasite in York County and South Central Pennsylvania.  But what exactly is giardia and how can you prevent and treat it in your pet?

               What is it?  Giardia is a microscopic single-celled parasite that may infect the intestinal tract of dogs, cats and other animals including farm animals, rodents and people. It is not a worm or bacteria.  Giardia is found around the world and can cause “traveler’s diarrhea” or “beaver fever” in hikers and campers drinking unfiltered water from streams and ponds.  Giardia is not visible to the naked eye.

Different strains or “assemblages” exist and can infect different animals.  Type D is the most common in dogs and it only infects dogs.  Type A can infect dogs, humans and birds.  Birds are often blamed for causing giardia infections in dogs, but as stated, the A assemblage is rare in dogs.  Cats are rarely affected, but can be infected by Assemblage F.

               How do pets get it?  Giardia lives in the small intestine attaching to the intestinal wall.  The feeding giardia transform into hardy cysts. When an animal poops, the cysts can be passed in the poo and can re-infect other animals if they come in contact with the cysts in contaminated ground or water.  Giardia love damp environments and water so ponds, marshy areas, even puddles may be sources of giardia in dogs and cats. Giardia cysts can survive for weeks in wet environments.  Cysts may also be present on the haircoats of dogs or cats which can sometimes be a source of re-infection or passed to another animal when the pet grooms himself or another pet licks the infected pet’s coat.  Giardia is diagnosed by finding organisms or cysts in a stool sample.

               What symptoms does it cause?  Many pets do not develop any symptoms.  However, giardia may cause watery diarrhea, sometimes with blood.  Infection is rarely serious though pets (or people) may occasionally require IV fluids to combat dehydration.  While treatable, occasionally pets become chronically infected. 

               How can I prevent it?  Giardia may be prevented by not allowing pets (or people!) to drink from lakes, ponds, streams or puddles, keeping pets groomed to prevent cysts from adhering to fur and the cysts can also be killed by freezing, drying, sunlight and most disinfectants.  If your pet is infected, keep the area around the anus clean and free of hair and pick up stools immediately to prevent contamination of the environment and to prevent other animals from ingesting the stools.  While transmission from pet to person is thought to be rare, some strains of giardia can infect both animals and humans.  Use good hygiene washing hands after handling your pet or disposing of poop, not allowing pets to lick your face and cleaning soiled areas with a disinfectant or 10% bleach solution if possible. People with immune compromise or young children may have increased risk.

               If my pet is infected, how can I treat it?  Giardia infections can be treated with medications such as fenbendazole or metronidazole.  Occasionally, despite multiple treatments, some pets remain persistently infected.  Infected pets may also receive supportive or symptomatic care with anti-diarrheal medications, bland diets or probiotics.  Infections may clear on their own in some cases.

               Giardia infection is rarely serious, but can cause diarrhea in pets and people and, despite the fact that direct infections passing from animal to person seem to be rare, giardia is a zoonotic disease (meaning it infects both people and animals).  Use caution and good hygiene when caring for infected pets.

               This blog brought to you by the Patton Veterinary Hospital serving Red Lion, York and the surrounding communities.

https://www.wormsandgermsblog.com/files/2008/04/M2-Giardia-Owner1.pdf

https://vcahospitals.com/know-your-pet/giardia-in-cats

https://vcahospitals.com/know-your-pet/giardia-in-dogs