Labrador Retriever Forum

General Forum
Start a New Topic 
Author
Comment
Can't kick giardia

I have a 4 1/2 month old who can't seem to kick giardia. We've tried metronidazole, fenbendazole and a combo of both over the course of two months now. I've kept toys, bowls, kennel areas, etc. sanitized with a bleach/water mixture and I've also been sure to wipe off the pups bum and feet after defecating. Feces are picked up immediately and the area is then sanitized. Fresh water multiple times a day with no standing water in our area. The last fecal he had at 16 weeks showed there were a high number of cysts and the vet now wants to try Drontal which I'm not familiar with at all. Any advice??

Re: Can't kick giardia

Do you have multiple dogs?
You may have to treat everyone. You may also need to walk the dog to another area of the yard.
I also strongly recommend probiotics.

Re: Can't kick giardia

I think Drontal is used for round worms or was it coccidia........ been a long time so not sure.

I have heard of giving dyatamacceous earth for coccidia, not sure if it would work for giardia, but it is all natural (you need food grade) so might want to give it a try.

Also try Tylan powder.

Hope you can figure this out. I feel your frustration.

Re: Can't kick giardia

Have you tried steam? I bought one to kill everything and have done the dirt with it too. You can rent one from a rental place but they have to be a certain temperature to kill the different germs.

Don't forget to bathe him while being treated and treating his area. My Vet told me this because I was getting it back. He also had me put him in a different pre-cleaned area after the bath. It got rid of it.

Re: Can't kick giardia

You might try Kocci Free. I ordered it from Wolf Creek Ranch. It is for coccidia and giardia. I used it for coccidiosis and it did work. Could be puppy has an underlying food intolerance that is making it more susceptible to things like giardia, I have a dog like that, did not really get over the giardia and coccidiosis (had both), even with febendazole/Albon treatment, until taken off of chicken-based dog food. It was a different dog that I used the Kocci Free on, no underlying food issue. Don't see what Drontal could possibly do unless the puppy has worms.

Re: Can't kick giardia

I had my first bout of giardia here a couple mos ago also. As I recall, my vet said they can continue to see positive fecals come back for quite some time once a pup gets it. Another vet (who bought one of the pups) said it's been a big debate on whether to treat the asymptomatic dogs or not. He had a recurrence at ~3 to 4 mos as well but it sounds like it cleared up well. I did end up doing a 6 day Panacur on all my adult dogs (since I figure at least one must have been the carrier) despite being asymptomatic. I also treated my next litter at the same time (they were 6 wks), and they never tested positive for giardia but did pick up some other bacteria that was a 48 hr type bug. I think spring litters are the pits for all of this, personally!

Re: Can't kick giardia

Thank you so much to everyone for your suggestions- I'm very appreciative!

We aren't a multi-dog household so no chance of transfer unless I'm infected. We've also started taking him to a completely different location to do his business. I do have him on a doubled up dose of Dogzymes Digestive Enhancer but I'll look into trying the diatomaceous earth, Kocci Free and bathing after treatment. There was some research done on wild oil of oregano and giardia so I've been giving him that as a last resort. He was completely asymptomatic until he was diagnosed and ever since the first treatment, he's had stool issues. He's also become picky with his food and I'm not sure if it's from the giardia or teething.

Extremely frustrating to say the least!!

Re: Can't kick giardia

Here are a few websites that might help. Probiotics are important because most of the wormers or drugs used to treat Giardia will strip the gut of good bacteria. Make sure no mud puddles or standing water to drink from. Lots of fluids to avoid dehydration.
Good luck to you and your little one.


http://www.greatdanelady.com/articles/feed_program_for_giardia.htm

http://www.portlandvetspecialists.com/Library/Gastrointestinal/GiardiainDogs.aspx

http://www.vcahospitals.com/main/pet-health-information/article/animal-health/giardia-in-dogs/766


Re: Can't kick giardia

The Vets I work for learned at Las Vegas that you should bath dog on last day and day after to get rid of any left oocysts. We have been seeing a lot of resistant giardia lately.

Re: Can't kick giardia

He was completely asymptomatic until he was diagnosed and ever since the first treatment, he's had stool issues. He's also become picky with his food and I'm not sure if it's from the giardia or teething.

If a dog's stool shows giardia but has no symptoms there is no reason to treat, many dogs are carriers and only have symptoms when their immune system is young. It may be possible that the stool issues you are seeing are being caused by the antibiotics. His lack of appetite could also be from his medication or the self treatment your giving him.