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Giardia Information

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What is Giardia?

Giardia is a common protozoal parasite that lives in the intestines of its host (dogs, cats, humans, etc). This parasite is a microscopic organism that attaches to the lining of the intestinal tract and can cause diarrhea (possibly from poor absorption of nutrients and vitamins, however, this has not yet been confirmed).

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How did my pet get Giardia?

The only known route of infection of Giardia is oral ingestion; this means your pet has ingested the microscopic organism from infected feces, soil, or water. Examples of possible ingestion could include:

  • Direct contact with infected feces from another animal

  • Rolling and playing in contaminated soil (then licking soil from fur)

  • Drinking from a water source that contains the parasite (puddle, pond, creek, etc)

Treatment:

Give your pet any medications the veterinarian has prescribed and inform of any other pets in the home in case they also require treatment. A recheck of a stool sample, 2 weeks after treatment, is finished is highly recommended to ensure treatment was successful. Finish all medication as prescribed and contact us with any further questions or concerns.

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Can I get Giardia from my pet?

It is possible, but very unlikely. Here are some things you can do to decrease the possibility even more:

  • Wear gloves and pick up fecal matter immediately after your pet defecates; dispose in a plastic bag

  • Practice frequent and proper hand washing

  • Wear gloves if working in a garden; wild animals can carry Giardia and infect the soil too

  • Bathe your pet (wearing gloves is recommended) * especially around the anus to remove any

  • Giardia may be stuck to the fur. Make sure to do this AT LEAST once halfway through treatment and again when treatment is finished.

How do I disinfect my house? It is difficult to completely remove Giardia from the environment, but doing the following will decrease the risk of reinfection: Gloves should be worn during disinfections.

Hard surfaces (crates, floors, cement, garbage cans, etc.) *daily if possible

  • Always clean surfaces with soap or other disinfectant until visible contamination isgone.

  • Use a bleach solution of ¾ cup bleach to 1 gal of water. Allow the solution to stay incontact with the surface for AT LEAST 1-3 minutes before rinsing with clean water.

Carpet/Furniture:

  • Remove any fecal matter

  • Clean with regular detergent or carpet/upholstery cleaner, following manufactureguidelines, allow to completely dry

  • Steam clean for 5 minutes at 158 degrees F

Toys/clothes/bedding daily if possible

  • Food and water bowls, as well as any dishwasher-safe toys may be disinfected in adishwasher with a final rinse or dry cycle that reaches at least 113 degrees F for 20minutes. (If no dishwasher, dishwasher-safe items should be submerged in boiling waterfor 1-3 minutes).

  • Bedding (yours too if your pet sleeps in your bed), soft toys, and clothing should bewashed and dried on the highest heat setting for 30 minutes

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