Giardia in a 12 week old pup

karla215 · Jun 21, 2014

Lulu had her first vet visit with me yesterday - I waited as she got her second set of shots the day before she was shipped, so I wanted to be able to get the third set when I took her in. Plus she seemed like an active, healthy puppy! Got a call today saying the fecal sample showed giardia. I texted my sister, as Lulu stayed with her dogs all day Wed, and she asked if Giardia might be responsible for her dog barfing and pooping all over my parent's house this weekend. Not sure, but sounds possible. So she'll get her dog tested on Monday.

We also had puppy class on Thurs night. It feels fast for her to develop it by stool on Friday afternoon, but maybe it is from Wednesday too! Is this something she most likely just came with? I've had her for 2 weeks, no diarrhea, no barfing - eats well when I feed the raw thawed pellets.

It wont matter in the long run, as I'll treat it and hopefully we won't have the issue again - unless you think it could be from the puppy class on Thurs night.

Appreciate the input, esp if you've had experience with Giardia!

Karla

eeturk · Jun 21, 2014

When Hudson had his giardia snap test to go to the dog hotel, the vet told me that if he had it he probably would have been throwing up and having diarrhea. Sounds like your sister's dog is showing those possible symptoms.

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Cbrugs · Jun 21, 2014

When I took Jax in for his first visit, they did a fecal test and he tested positive for giardia but he wasn't showing any signs. He must have already had it when I picked him up. I believe the incubation period is longer than a couple of days. The most common sign is slimy poop. Jax has had it twice now and both times cleared up after the first round of treatment.

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Tgirl · Jun 21, 2014

She probably had it when you got her. It will clear up with treatment, and she will be just fine.

karla215 · Jun 21, 2014

Thanks everyone! Made even less convenient because she's got to stay with a friend for 2 days while I'm in Chicago for work this week, and he's got teenagers. So they all have to be careful not to get it! And I hope she doesn't suddenly become symptomatic at his house!!! She's such an angel still--can't tell there's a thing wrong with her! Appreciate the assurance and advice! I dealt with mange in my last puppy, so this is nowhere as bad!!

Karla

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2bullymama · Jun 22, 2014

karla215 said:
Thanks everyone! Made even less convenient because she's got to stay with a friend for 2 days while I'm in Chicago for work this week, and he's got teenagers. So they all have to be careful not to get it! And I hope she doesn't suddenly become symptomatic at his house!!! She's such an angel still--can't tell there's a thing wrong with her! Appreciate the assurance and advice! I dealt with mange in my last puppy, so this is nowhere as bad!!

Karla

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tell your sister (as well as you) to bleach/disinfect any area that the vomit or poo... ensures it not spreading

karla215 · Jun 23, 2014

Well, quick update in case anyone goes thru this later and finds this post! Giardia takes 5-18 days to incubate, then you have 5 days of powder and pill once a day, seven day wait, and a stool retest to confirm it's gone. You have to assume she's contagious that whole time. This is going to cripple our socialization and halt puppy class for two weeks! Ugh. But at least now I know--can't blame either my sister's dogs or puppy class for this.

She's staying with a friend while I go to Chicago for work for a couple days--miss her so much already!!! My friend makes her sleep on the FLOOR in her crate, instead of on the bed in her crate. Some people!

Apparently she did just fine night one.

Karla

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2bullymama · Jun 23, 2014

karla215 said:
My friend makes her sleep on the FLOOR in her crate, instead of on the bed in her crate. Sent from my SCH-I545 using Tapatalk

The nerve!!! :stinkeye:

lkclark · Jun 23, 2014

How strange...what's the difference between adding the bed or not? :-/

karla215 · Jun 23, 2014

Hah. I knew you guys would understand! I think I was clear her current arrangements were, "in crate, on bed"! I'm actually so happy that she's in good care and has a15 and 17 year old to play with daily that I'll let him off the hook on this one. If lulu chooses NOT to and wakes him up more often, that's between the two of them.

I actually offered her a bed outside the crate the other night, but she walked right in and laid down. Works for me--she's usually too excited in bed to think she'll settle down and sleep without getting into trouble. Eventually tho.

Karla

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karla215 · Jun 25, 2014

Hmm, just found out that lulu is on both panacur and metronidazole. I read that metronidazole is kind of high risk. What do you ago think of this treatment? I'm feeling less and less like a non symptomatic puppy should be treated. It's confusing when you read about this bug!

Karla

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Cbrugs · Jun 25, 2014

Both times Jax had giardia, he was put on the panacur and that was it.

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2bullymama · Jun 25, 2014

karla215 said:
Hmm, just found out that lulu is on both panacur and metronidazole. I read that metronidazole is kind of high risk. What do you ago think of this treatment? I'm feeling less and less like a non symptomatic puppy should be treated. It's confusing when you read about this bug!

Karla

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That is the standard treatment both times Banks, my EB, had it she was in them as well. Never heard metro was high risk, in what way did it say?

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Jakeyjake · Jun 26, 2014

My Jake had Giardia and the Panacur alone did not cure him. Still had really soft stools so it took a while on both medications. He came with it also when we brought him home as a puppy, but it was no big deal and it cleared up.