Giardia and Coccidia in Dogs & Puppies Don’t Wait To Treat It!

Gauria and Coccidia can be deadly to your puppy if not treated properly. Adult dogs can get these diseases as well as puppies.

Woman kissing her puppy

Giardia in Dogs

Giardia in dogs (aka Giardiasis) much like Coccidia infects the intestinal tract. It is very common in puppies due to their weak immune systems.

Symptoms of Giardia:

1. Blood in Stool or Mucus in Stool
2. Diarrhea With Blood or Mucus
3. Weight loss or failure to gain weight
4. Throwing Up
5. Dehydration
6. Bloating

You’ll want to contact your Vet if you see any of these symptoms.

Treatment of Giardia:

Giardia is usually treated with Fenbendazole or Metronidazole. Treatment typically lasts 3–10 days.

1. Metronidazole

Metronidazole Bottle Tablets

You can get Metronidazole in tablets, chewable, and liquid online and at most pet stores. This will require a prescription (Unless you use Fish Aid Metronidazole which will be the same tablets your vet will give you. Some breeders use this). Usually prescribed at 7–11 mg/pound of body weight once a day. In some cases, your vet might dose at 12 — (in severe cases 29) mg per pound twice a day for 5–7 days.

2. Fenbendazole

NOTE: Always talk to your Vet before treating. Treatment for Giardia is usually 1 dose daily for 5 days. You do not need a prescription for Fenbendazole and it’s safe to use on puppies after 6 weeks old.

Fenbendazole is also used to worm dogs. The two main brands are Safeguard and Panacur.

Note: A lot of breeders will use the SafeGaurd (fenbendazole) stamped for livestock because it’s cheaper, but the dose differs from that of livestock so you will need to consult your vet.

Coccidia in Dogs

Coccidia in dogs is very similar to Giardia and hard to tell them apart when looking at the symptoms. Coccidia (aka Coccidiosis ) are very small parasites that can infect your puppy or dog’s intestinal tract.

Coccidia isn’t as common in dogs and puppies as Giardia but can be easily treated, the sooner you treat it the better.

A lot of times Coccidia goes unnoticed in adult dogs because their immune system is better and Coccidia has a harder time taking over, compared to a puppy, the adult dog won’t show symptoms.

Symptoms:

1. Blood in Stool or Blood and Mucus in Stool
2. Diarrhea With Blood and Mucus
3. Not Being Very Hungry
4. Throwing Up
5. Dehydration

If you are unsure always call your Vet. Your Vet will be able to take a sample of the dog’s stool and tell you if it’s Coccidia or Giardia and tell you the best way to treat it.

Treatment of Coccidia:

Note: Always consult your Vet before treating your dog or puppy.

For the treatment of Coccidia in your Puppies or Dogs, there are a couple of products out there. They are usually treated with a product containing sulfadimethoxine. So here is a list of some Products:

1. Albon (sulfadimethoxine)

So can get Albon in Chewable tablets or liquid at most pet shops and or Veterinarians. Usually, treatment can be anywhere from 5–15 days but can be longer. Sulfadimethoxine is most often prescribed at 20 mg/lbs on day one then 12 mg/lbs for each day after, in most cases for 5 days.

Preventing Giardia and Coccidia in Dogs:

1. Clean the dog’s area

Take some chlorine bleach and mix it down with some water and spray it around your dog’s pen and around where your dog stays.

You will want to dilute it down, about 2 cups of bleach per 2 gallons of water because this usually does the trick.

2. Build up your dogs Immune System against Coccidia and Giardia:

3. Ensure you seek treatment immediately for your doggo, if you suspect Giardia.

4. If your dog has ongoing diarrhea, don’t just write it off as something bad that they ate! Take them to the vet for testing so that it doesn’t spread to other pets or your human family members.

5. Never let your dog drink from untreated outdoor water sources, including lakes and rivers! Giardia parasites love stagnant water.

If your dog has Giardia, remember that hygiene is key! Wiping, washing and disinfecting surfaces, hands, and objects and keeping them free of Giardia cysts is the best way to prevent reinfection in your pooch.

It’s Not Just A Dog’s Parasites! Giardia in Humans is Very Common!

Guess what? Giardiasis doesn’t just exist in our lovely dog and cats, but it also occurs in other mammals, including humans!

Giardia in humans is an unpleasant disease and can last for many months with many of the same symptoms, such as diarrhea, as giardiasis in dogs.

You may be wondering where giardia got its other rather hilarious name — beaver fever. In humans, giardiasis often occurs from drinking untreated lake or river water.

In Canada, there have been many reported outbreaks of ‘beaver fever’ from hikers and campers who didn’t boil their drinking water obtained from lakes and rivers. Leaving giardia cysts primed to enter their digestive systems!

How to Avoid Contracting Giardia from Your Dog

• Ensure you wear gloves while gardening or working with soil around your home, to avoid contact with infected feces or contaminated soil.
• Clean general household surfaces regularly, ideally with a cleaner with disinfectant properties.
• Clean and disinfect your pets toys and bedding regularly.
• Ensure a thorough handwashing procedure is in place in your household.
• Supervise small children to ensure they are not infecting themselves by playing in the soil, with fecal matter or using the dog’s toys or bedding.

With your dog it is always better to play it safe then shrugging it off as something with non importance.