“Giardia is found in a lot of different locations,” says Tracey Jensen, DVM, Dipl. ABVP, founding partner of Wellington Veterinary Hospital in Wellington, Colorado. “Certainly, places where there is wildlife, particularly water fowl, or other dogs, so dog parks and places where there is standing water, can be areas where you can find quite a bit of giardia.”
- Giardia is not a worm.
- Giardia is mainly spread by wildlife and pets.
- Not all dogs infected with giardia will get sick.
- Giardia in dogs causes specific symptoms.
- Your vet can diagnose giardia with a simple test.
- Giardia in dogs is not always easy to get rid of.
- Your dog can give you giardia.
Source: Dogster, November 8, 2017.
Giardia infections (giardiasis) are a commonly diagnosed problem in puppies. They cause stinky diarrhea and are sometimes difficult to treat. Giardia is a parasite, but it’s not like a tapeworm or roundworm. Instead, it is a protozoal parasite, which means it’s a one-celled organism. Inside the body, giardia parasites attach themselves to the wall of a dog’s intestine, where they feed.
INSIGHTS: Dogs frequently travel with families during the holidays where they encounter new risk factors. Hunters transport dogs all over the country. Share this information assertively with pet owners via websites, newsletters, blogs and social media posts.