Add us to the giardia club! UPDATED 3-6: It's gone!

[Julie and Charlie]

After an icky Sunday of loose stools, and me sanitizing his entire elimination area with a diluted bleach solution, Charlie's fecal revealed giardia- thankfully he's not shedding cysts. No idea where he picked it up.

Due to the advice I've read here, I asked the vet about Metronidazole and Panacur, and insisted that she give both. 

My question: I need to continue sanitation practices. He is currently trained to eliminate on a bed of rocks that is easy to hose off. I can continue dumping buckets of bleach solution on this area, but I'd like to try one of those bleach product hose attachments. Has anyone here used such an item before? I don't have to worry about killing plants or grass. 

I could also think about catching the waste with a paper plate or newspapers, but disposal would be an issue, we only have garbage every two weeks around here.

Update 3-6-2013! Charlie tested negative yesterday/today and his bodily functions are consistent with that result- although he's still taking a probiotic and yogurt to help keep things humming along. Thank you DK people, especially Karen for the support. This was a tough couple of weeks around here with Charlie being excluded from daycare and the clean up. We made it!

[Sue, Murphy and Bella ()*o*()]

Glad Charlie is on the right meds and you knew just what to ask your vet for. So empowering isn't it? The paper plate technique has been used here before, and as long as you wear gloves and wash hands well and dispose of properly it would be a good option. Maybe in a separate trash bin, lined well and closed tightly after each deposit?
Giardia is so resilient that I'm not sure how well it will live in the dirt under the stones if the right amount of bleach isn't applied. I think I would rather be certain I am removing as much of it from his area as possible. Hope some others will add their advice for you.

[Julie and Charlie]

Yes, it's empowering, one to know that there is a resource out there of people who've done this before, and two, to have a better shot of kicking this the first time around! 

[Joanna, Zoe & Bender]

If  you catch it on a paper plate, couldn't you tight seal it in a tied up plastic bag or a large zip lock before disposing in the trash?  Since the outdoor trash cans have lids I would think this can work until the trash car comes.  I'm not sure tho

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

I had a foster with giardia, and it was crucial that I eliminate any traces of it from my yard as JD's immune system is compromised. I used one of those spray bottles that attaches to your hose so you can spray weed killers, etc. It worked great. I used one part bleach to nine parts water as per the vet's instructions. JD never got it.

I'm so glad you knew to ask for Panacur. Here's hoping between the meds and your vigilance, the giardia is soon gone!

[Julie and Charlie]

I only knew to ask thanks to your constant vigilance on the topic! I asked about it yesterday when we saw the vet, she sounded a little hesitant to add Panacur. I talked to her today on the phone again and she said she did some research overnight.

[Laurie, Fudge, and Vern]

What would Karen do?? Another dog helped :)

[Nancy, Ned, Clancy, and Charlie]

Sorry you have Giardia at your house but so glad that you knew enough to insist on the best cure.

[Julie and Charlie]

You all convinced me that I need to change the dog waste disposal method around here temporarily. We usually flush his waste, but with it being so runny, it's tough to pick up.

For now, the back door has a "giardia station" of gloves, trash bags, paper bowls, hand sanitizer, and baby wipes.

[Maryann,Roo and Tigger]

I just finished the 10 day clean everything for Tigger's giardia.  My heart goes out to you - it's a lot of work.

I have artificial turf and concrete where he poops.   I use an old miracle grow container and hose attachment, filling the container with bleach.  I also pour straight bleach on the runny poop areas.  Vinegar, soap and water in a bucket for paws and butts, followed by disinfectant wipes. 

I hate giardia - yuckl

 

Good luck

[Julie and Charlie]

Word to the unwise: splash less bleach is foamy when mixed with water- makes it hard to carry a bucket with suds! I will never again make the mistake of purchasing it!

Other than that, we're making progress. Floors are bleached and rinsed, rugs washed, dog bathed, shoe soles sprayed, crate cleaned out-- my house smells like a swimming pool. Potty area area is also cleaned. I found a sprayer at Home Depot. so I'll do the whole process over again when his Panacur course is up. It's staying pretty clean catching the poop with a paper bowl-- thankfully, they've all been relatively formed today.

Oh, the things dog owners talk about!

[Julie and Charlie]

Update: the scourge that is giardia continues at this house. Charlie has figured out how to eat around his Panacur powder (he picks the chicken out of the bowl and leaves the yogurt or cottage cheese!), hates a bath on his hindquarters after he's been outside. When will the diarrhea end???  I swear, it wasn't this bad before he started the two medications. At least it was semi-solid. Now it's just liquid.

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

The giardia hadn't gotten to its worst yet, that's all. It should start getting better now, but he has to take that Panacur. Try mixing it into a small amount of baby food, one of the plain baby food meats.