Puppy giardia how to keep from reinfection?

[Neko]

Hello,
Our pup came to us on flagyl for puppy giardia and after a visit to the vet, there was a slight trace of it left. It took 40 minutes for the test to turn up positive.

He is on flagyl for another 5 days with panacur. The vet told us yes to adding fiber and yes to pumpkin.

Do you guys think I should also use a teaspoon of yogurt? he is 8 weeks so still a baby and I was to make sure we can help him recover smoothly.

Now after reading cdc's website. How do we keep him from reinfecting? he touches everything in the house so it's not humanly possible to scrub every corner of the house daily.
He is not in contact with his stool, he goes outside for #2, no accidents and we keep him away from it.

It is scary to me because it sounds like this parasite lives on any surface and I am scared that it will be an endless cycle.

Do dogs eventually build immunity to it?

Any feedback would be greatly appreciated, this is our first time dealing with this.

[jessac]

Our pup had giardia when he was young. I can only tell you what advice our vet gave us and what we did personally, but luckily, he was never re-infected. We kind of went a little crazy, but I wanted to be done with it.

When we first brought him home, after his first dose of medicine, we bleached his crate (theres a mixture of I think 1 c to 1 gal water that kills the parasite - but a quick google should tell you for sure). Then, once dry, we placed him in his crate and vacuumed the carpeted areas of the house and then steam mopped the hard surface floors (you could also mop with a bleach solution). We washed all his toys - either in bleach in the washer, by dunking in boiling water, or (if hard toys) washing in the bath tub with bleach solution. We also gave the pup a bath.

He was trained to poo and pee on a little patch of fake grass, so we bleached that too. I've heard if they poo on natural grass, there's a containment period of sorts until it goes dormant. Can he potty somewhere else for a little while?

Our vet also said it wouldn't hurt to wipe his paws off when coming in from his poo area so he didn't track anything that might be shedding back into the house to reinfect himself.

It sounds like a lot but really took about a day. I think it just gives them a chance to not reinfect themselves when their immune system is already down and gives it a chance to fight off what's in their system.

I hope this helps you. I know I was concerned with him getting reinfected, but this seemed to knock it out.

[Neko]

Originally Posted by jessac

Our pup had giardia when he was young. I can only tell you what advice our vet gave us and what we did personally, but luckily, he was never re-infected. We kind of went a little crazy, but I wanted to be done with it.

When we first brought him home, after his first dose of medicine, we bleached his crate (theres a mixture of I think 1 c to 1 gal water that kills the parasite - but a quick google should tell you for sure). Then, once dry, we placed him in his crate and vacuumed the carpeted areas of the house and then steam mopped the hard surface floors (you could also mop with a bleach solution). We washed all his toys - either in bleach in the washer, by dunking in boiling water, or (if hard toys) washing in the bath tub with bleach solution. We also gave the pup a bath.

He was trained to poo and pee on a little patch of fake grass, so we bleached that too. I've heard if they poo on natural grass, there's a containment period of sorts until it goes dormant. Can he potty somewhere else for a little while?

Our vet also said it wouldn't hurt to wipe his paws off when coming in from his poo area so he didn't track anything that might be shedding back into the house to reinfect himself.

It sounds like a lot but really took about a day. I think it just gives them a chance to not reinfect themselves when their immune system is already down and gives it a chance to fight off what's in their system.

I hope this helps you. I know I was concerned with him getting reinfected, but this seemed to knock it out.

Well tomorrow will be a cleaning day!
And i am excited to give pup his first bath. I took one last night and he was trying to get in the tub... =)

[Neko]

Sounds like this is going to be a long battle =( no improvement so far

[blackshep]

Good luck, my pup keeps getting it, I've done everything I can think of.

Vet said some puppies are just prone to it, until their immune system gets stronger.

[Neko]

Originally Posted by blackshep

Good luck, my pup keeps getting it, I've done everything I can think of.

Vet said some puppies are just prone to it, until their immune system gets stronger.

we are almost done with second set of meds and no changes. he eats, drinks and he seams happy and hyper. not sure whats next but i picked up 2 meds this morning to harden his stool.

once they are cured, have anyone heard if the vaccine is common and worth it? or if it even works?

[blackshep]

I did all that cleaning. Washed the dog, her toys/bowls, vacuumed, cleaned with Lysol, she keeps reinfecting. And it's winter in Canada, so how she's picking it up outside is beyond me. I've cleaned her crate, bedding etc.

She's finished 4 treatments now. I haven't rechecked with a fecal, but she still has the runs. I'm at my whits end with this. I swear my only option left is to move, I have no idea what to do with this dog. Hopefully when the weather warms up and the ground dries we can get rid of it.

[Neko]

Originally Posted by blackshep

I did all that cleaning. Washed the dog, her toys/bowls, vacuumed, cleaned with Lysol, she keeps reinfecting. And it's winter in Canada, so how she's picking it up outside is beyond me. I've cleaned her crate, bedding etc.

She's finished 4 treatments now. I haven't rechecked with a fecal, but she still has the runs. I'm at my whits end with this. I swear my only option left is to move, I have no idea what to do with this dog. Hopefully when the weather warms up and the ground dries we can get rid of it.

I know how you feel, we just heard from someone who had the same problem and it took 6 weeks to get rid of it. its not really reinfection, it just stays in the system and "blooms" at different times so medication sometimes misses between treatments.

Just picked up prescription food for Zeus and Proviable. Worried that its chicken food... wheat and gluten. They kept saying its great food, but looks like garbage to me. We were told to stay far away from all 3 as the Kennel has seen allergies to all 3. Oh well I will try it and see what happens. I am willing to try anything.

poor baby on 2 pills and 2 gels + prescription food.

[Neko]

My husband got home from work and called me right away. he said Zeus was acting normal, but there is NO belly! its gone. (we added probiotic and high fiber food yesterday). Since we don't know any better, he called the vet and they stated that this is a huge sign of recovery! yay! I really hope so. we have few more days of flegyl and penecur as well as probiotic to restore healthy cultures. I really hope this is it!

[Momto2GSDs]

The following is a natural approach to controlling Giarida or Coccidia without antibiotics that I have used with great success.
I would suggest using an Anti-Parasite Chinese Herbal formula called Omphalia ($25), a Chinese herb called Picrorrhiza ($23) and a Homeopathic called “Bowel Pathogen Nosode” ($24). In case you are not familiar with Homeopathy, a “Nosode” stimulates the body to recognize and assist in the elimination of the pathogen naturally.
These can be purchased from www.naturalrearing.com with complete instructions from Roger. It may sound expensive, but it is worth it to me to avoid the drugs.
I hope this helps someone!