What is giardia? How long does it take for giardia to show up in puppies? Is it dangerous? All of these are questions dog owners have. Below, we are going to explain the topic in detail and also reveal all the facts you should memorize. You need to know everything, in order to help your pet. Giardia can be very dangerous hence starting the treatment as soon as possible is mandatory.
What is giardia?
How long does it take for giardia to show up in puppies? Well, first you need to know what this is. A parasite causes giardia. A puppy can get this parasite when drinking unclean water or from feces from an infected dog. Giardia will infect the small intestine.
Small dogs are more prone to this infection. They do not have a fully developed immune system that will protect them. Adult dogs are less likely to be infected but they can still develop the symptoms. We must add that symptoms are not always visible. It is still not possible for a dog to cure himself. However, in some cases, especially if it is not treated severe symptoms may appear. In puppies, giardia can cause malnutrition. This means that a dog will not get all the nutrients his body needs.
In the wild, protozoa parasites live in still water. It is also possible that an animal infected with the parasite will defecate near a standing water body. In that case, in a scenario the water will act as a reservoir. The parasite will infect the water. When your puppy drinks the water, the infection starts. The parasite will reach the small intestine and start dividing. This process can destroy the small intestine. As you may know already, this is a severe issue!
How long does it take for giardia to show up in puppies?
A puppy infected with this parasite will show signs between 5 and 10 days since exposure. Your puppy may have diarrhea. The stool will be soft, mixed with mucus and blood. It is also possible that the stool will be light in color and extremely soft. Most puppies also show signs of bloating, gas and they refuse to eat. A few will show symptoms such as lack of energy and inability to gain weight. In puppies, this is a severe issue.
Keep in mind that some dogs may have no symptoms at all. If you feel that something is wrong you need to take him to a vet immediately. A vet can diagnose and rule out or detect giardia. Proper treatment is mandatory afterward.
Diagnosis and treatment
Diagnosing giardia is hard and does require a few repetitive tests. The most common test is via a stool sample. Nevertheless, the problem is that dogs do not always pass the parasite! As such, a vet will have to test multiple stool samples in order to detect the parasite. Performing an antibody test is possible but not always accurate. Dogs cannot cure this issue by themselves hence; the presence of antibodies may mean there is another issue. Anyway, with a few tests, the diagnosis will be determined. A vet will detect the parasites. The treatment is the next step.
There is no single and specific treatment for this parasite. A vet will probably prescribe a drug called fenbendazole to the puppy. This medication can deal with all kinds of parasites. It is also used to treat worms. The medication is safe to use and side effects are extremely rare. It is also very effective. Most dogs will show improvements within days. If this medication does not do the trick, another one should be used. Metronidazole is an antibiotic and it is also used for this treatment. In some cases, both medications are mandatory. This is done when the infection is hard to treat and the first medication is unsuccessful. A vet will determine what is needed and which option is the best.
Once the dog is fine, there are still some things to do.
A stool test will be recommended on a regular basis. This is mandatory in order to detect any parasites that may have left. If they are left, they can start the infection once again. If everything is fine, you can start enjoying yourself with your pet.
Regular bathing is something you need to do more often now. This is effective to remove the fecal material and prevent the recurrence of the infection. You must wear protective gloves and you will have to use strong shampoo.
Giardia can affect humans as well
This parasite is tough. It can affect humans as well. It is known as zoonotic which means that the parasite can be transmitted between animals and humans. These cases do happen but they are extremely rare. Humans usually get the parasite from drinking contaminated water. The symptoms are the same and the treatment is mandatory. Keep in mind that humans with the damaged or affected immune system are more prone to getting this infection.
Don’t forget that reinfection is common among people as well. You will need to follow a specific set of rules and treatments in order to eliminate this parasite from you and protect your body and others. Proper hygiene can help you with that. However, individuals with a weak immune system cannot do many things to protect themselves.
Prevention is extremely important
As you can see, prevention can be the best cure. The first thing you have to do is to clean the area where your puppy visits and uses it as a bathroom. This is mandatory to do once the treatment has started and once it is completed. It is mandatory to remove all the parasites with the poop. You obviously cannot control and clean public surfaces and parks. However, you can control the dog better and limit his movement when walking. This is mandatory in order to prevent exposure to the parasite again.
The disease is common among kennels and all the places where you can see many dogs. Due to the fact, the parasite can affect many dogs within days, these are dangerous places. Add the fact that reinfection is common and you can see the problem here. This means that a dog will need the same treatment all over again. You will need the same process to use, which is annoying and complicated. It is also expensive.
Giardia affects puppies and smaller dogs the most. If you live in an area where this parasite is common, avoid bringing the puppy to areas of the exposure until he is 1 year of age. Dogs aged 1+ years are less likely to catch the parasite and their immune system is far more resilient.
The final word
How long does it take for giardia to show up in puppies? In general, your puppy will show signs within 5-10 days. Always remember that some dogs don’t show any signs but they can still have the parasite in the small intestine. Treatment will be successful and it is something your puppy deserves. All we can add here is that the treatment is not invasive and it is very successful. It is complicated though and does require a lot of time.
Also, you can read Leaving Puppy In Playpen While At Work.
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