Giardiasis is a diarrheal disease in dogs and cats caused by single-celled parasites in the small intestine. There are different types of Giardia, most of which are harmless to humans. However, some rare forms can also be transmitted to humans, making it a zoonosis. Young children and immunocompromised individuals are particularly at risk, which is why strict hygiene measures are essential when dealing with giardiasis.
Giardia are microscopic, single-celled microorganisms that are also found in the healthy intestines of many mammals. However, healthy adult dogs with a well-developed immune system rarely become ill from this colonization, as they are present in appropriate numbers as part of the normal intestinal flora and the organism is accustomed to them.
However, in young animals with weak immune systems, which are sometimes stressed by separation and a new environment, these pathogens can cause illness. Infection is very easy. The Giardia cysts are excreted in the feces of infected animals, which do not necessarily have to be ill themselves. The pathogen remains infectious in the environment for weeks, so that it can be picked up by the next dog that licks its paws after a walk or runs through contaminated grass in a meadow. If the young dog's weak immune system allows it, the Giardia multiply massively in its small intestine and cause inflammation.
A characteristic symptom of giardiasis is acute, yellow-green, slimy, watery, foul-smelling diarrhea that is difficult or impossible to treat with common diarrhea medications. The stool may also be pasty and greasy in texture due to increased fat excretion. Although appetite is usually maintained, affected animals lose weight and develop a dull, shaggy coat. Without treatment, severe cases in puppies can lead to deficiencies and developmental delays.
The veterinarian will first examine your dog thoroughly and listen to your preliminary report. They will also assess the consistency of your four-legged friend's stool. This will allow them to form an initial suspicion.
However, in order to make a definitive diagnosis, it is necessary to identify the pathogen. In addition to microscopy and various laboratory tests, the veterinarian also has modern rapid tests at their disposal that can be used directly in the practice and provide quick results.
The most important aspect of giardiasis treatment is strict adherence to hygiene measures, as this is the only way to prevent reinfection, especially in households with multiple animals. This includes treating all dogs, cats, and ferrets living in the household and washing the affected animals regularly. Other important measures include thorough disposal of feces and cleaning and disinfecting the environment. Sleeping areas, food bowls, and other items must be thoroughly cleaned and dried, as Giardia can survive particularly well in damp environments.
The aim of drug treatment must be to cure the diarrhea and kill the pathogen. Since it is now known that a healthy dog can live perfectly well with a certain number of Giardia in its intestines, it is neither necessary nor advisable to treat the dog until it is completely free of the pathogen. As effective medications are now available in veterinary medicine, treatment is time-consuming in some cases, but successful. Talk to your veterinarian about the choice of the exact preparation.
Several treatment intervals may be necessary to get the disease under control. The success of treatment should be checked five to seven days after the end of treatment with a repeat test. Since the cysts excreted in the feces can sometimes stick to the coat, symptoms may reappear shortly after a negative test due to reinfection, requiring further treatment.
Despite treatment cycles that can sometimes be lengthy, the prognosis is good if the right therapy is started in good time and all hygiene measures are observed. However, due to the high resistance of Giardia in the environment, relapses can occur even with meticulous hygiene and correct therapy, which must be treated again.
The best measure for preventing a Giardia infection is hygiene. Regular cleaning of sleeping areas, food and water bowls, as well as harnesses, collars, and leashes should be a matter of course. Since the pathogen survives in moist environments, drinking from puddles, unfamiliar water bowls, or standing water should be prevented.
In order to build up a strong immune system, it is particularly important to ensure that puppies are not exposed to too many stress factors during their first few weeks in their new home.
There is currently no approved vaccine against Giardia in Germany. A vaccine has been available in the US for some time, but it can only be used with special permission and its effectiveness remains controversial.
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