Giardia

[Tugger's Mom]

Well...we found out that Tugger may have Giardia. He's just 4 months old. We have no idea if he caught if from another dog (either at groomers or at puppy school) or whether he got it from the natural spring overflow we have in our back yard (it's been such a mild, rainy winter here in Massachusetts-our backyard is full of water puddles and he's been lapping water on his walks!).

Just wondering if any of you experienced Giardia with puppies so young....how long did it last.....how did you manage while the pup had the diarrehea, etc. We crate Tug during naps and sleeps time and take him out regularly.....

 

[Ash47]

He most likely got it from drinking outside water. Giardia is an illness that is contracted from drinking water where another animal has defecated. I hope he feels better soon!

 

[Jynx]

No need to beat yourself up about where it came from, it could be just about anywhere, and the just as a side note, giardia can lay dorment in the system for literally years and then just crop up. Adult dogs seem to be able to fight it off easier than young ones.

I treated my gsd with metronadizole/fagyl which cleared it up without showing symptoms of it again.
diane

 

[Tugger's Mom]

Thanks Diane!

Well....we got the call at 6PM on Sunday night that it is definitely Giardia. However, it's now Tuesday and the diarrehea is getting worse. We have him on Metronadizole and the Panacur......He's been on it now for almost 2 weeks and now he's pooping just water. We're back to the vets tomorrow. This is so disheartening....he's such a good natured dog regardless......

 

[Tugger's Mom]

BTW....what can I feed the dog that will help his stomach and digestive system? Do you have any suggestions? Does rice really bind? Would it be white or brown rice? The vet put him on Science Diet I/D.....and he gobbles the stuff up---and he's gaining weight.....but I don't see it helping him at all when it comes to the waste he's outputting.

 

[Barb04]

Plain canned pumpkin works great with helping stop the runs. Try giving your pup a few tablespoons (even a couple of times a day) and it should help.

 

[Mordy]

http://www.chazhound.com/forums/showpost.php?p=249687&postcount=8

Except that a 4 month old puppy shouldn't fast longer than 12 hours and you need to give some nutrical or honey on a regular basis to prevent hypoglycemia.

 

[Jynx]

I'd also try the pumpkin, gosh it seems kinda weird that the metronadizole and panacur aren't kicking in! It certainly should have. I remember when I started mine on it, it kicked in really fast.

The SD should also be helpful in "binding", but if you want to try rice, I would use white rice, as in the Uncle Ben's kind, not minute rice. Maybe add some rice to the SD?

Hope you see some results soon, keep us updated
diane

 

[jxxlxxs]

haha i just found out my dog has giardia too, with my first dog, he had it and we did the panacur and it didnt work for him, then they put him on flagyl and then a round of endosorb and that seemed to do the trick. the new pup that has it is on flagyl right now and i also got a fiber supplement you out on their food to help slow down the diarrhea, im also using that vitamin supplement paste to help get him some nutrients, since everthing he ate for 3 1/2 weeks went right thru him. good luck!! itll be over shortly, with reugar it took maybe a week of being on meds and he felt better. well have to see with rusty bc he just started meds yesterday good luck!!

 

[Tugger's Mom]

Good Luck to you, too--Reugar's Mom!!! (Nice to know I'm not alone!!!) Thanks for everyone's suggestions.....I'm off to buy the PUMPKIN today.....this is absolutely ridiculous that nothing seems to be working. (We also make another VET visit this afternoon.....cha-ching...cha-ching!)