Harley's results are in: Giardia...again

[Terri and Harley]

Can I just say it? "NOOOO!!"

This is Harley's 3rd round of meds in the 3 months we've had him, so I guess we didn't get everything back in June when he tested positive.

<Sigh>

At least this time, he's on Panacur.

I've washed his bedding and his toys. Sprayed down his crate and his water bowl tray and holder.

I'm now wiping things down with clorox wipes until I can mop everything with a clorox solution.

I told my hubby about the advice here about wiping down Harley's paws and butt...no sure he'll do that. (some sort of man-thing, perhaps.)

Well, I guess I didn't =really= want a restful weekend. LOL!

Terri and Harley 

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

I can completely relate to this post as 1. Bella is now going on her third round of soupy poops after 2 courses of Panacur and Keflex, and 2. DH is not going to wipe up butts and feet after every poop!  

So off to the Vet we go again to get a fecal test and more meds.  I do feel our problem is that she finds poop from the wild animals that come into our yard at the cabin and the area is just so large and overgrown is some spots that I just can't find it all before her.  So she just keeps getting reinfected or the original strain is very virulent. 

Karen, besides all the clean up again, should I drop the metronidazole and just stick with Panacur?  No need to attack her with more antibiotics than necessary.  

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

I would absolutely "drop" the metronidazole and stick with Panacur. It's safer and more effective anyway. 

And don't forget the probiotics! 

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

Will do! I'm loaded up with probiotics too. Luckily I have a vet who is very receptive to my preferences, so she will go along with just doing panacur.

[Terri and Harley]

I feel ya, Sue. 

I live in a wooded area that is not completely cleared. We have bear, deer, groundhogs, chipmunks, racoons and even box turtles coming through the yard at any given time. He possibly found  feces and helped himself to a nibble.

Also, he so =loves= water that the swampy area of the backyard is suspect, though we've had a dry summer.

I just got back from giving him a bath (though he has 3 more days of Panacor left) and he let me trim up his anal area so I am hoping that will help with the butt cleaning aspect. 

I tried using the plate to catch the poop. Didn't work. Harley gets distracted. So, it's me and the clorox solution in the yard, I guess.

Funny, my other dog was a schnoodle/terrier mix and hated the water. Never had to deal with this with him.

On the up side, I have decided to name one of the evil characters in my next fantasy book Giardia. She will be annoying, destructive, persistent, and be a social parasite.

They say "Write what you know."

;)

Terri

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

If you haven't been picking up the poop in the yard immediately and disinfecting immediately, there are already giardia cysts in the grass and soil in those areas. When it rains, they are swept out into a bigger area, and those areas are all contaminated until you have a hard frost. The crucial thing is to keep her from eating or drinking anything outdoors, and I'd do that any way that I could. Including the use of an Outfox hood, or the use of a leash every single time she goes out.

Drinking any water outside is the worst; I would at least strive to prevent that. 

The other crucial step is to clean her paws every time she comes in from outside, to prevent her from bringing the cysts into the house, ingesting when she licks her paws, etc. 

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

That is very funny Terri, I would love to read a book with a character is Giardia.  Well, at least we know we aren't alone in our misery with Giardia. I hope we both can beat this for Harley and Bella. Can't be fun for them either.

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

It's disappointing to me is that so many vets neglect to tell people about de-contaminating outdoors when they diagnosis giardia. I was completely unfamiliar with it despite having owned dogs since 1977, but when my first doodle foster was diagnosed, my vet gave me detailed instructions for disinfecting everything including the yard, right down to the bleach-to-water ratio to use. 

[Terri and Harley]

I agree. When Harley was first diagnosed, I wasn't told anything. Nor the during the relapse. 

This time, I didn't even see the vet, I just sent in the fecal sample. When the results came in, they dispensed the drug.

I will be switching vets. I am unhappy and because my SIL works there, it makes complaining awkward. She needs the job.

Terri

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

As much as I like our Vet, she didn't explain anything about cleaning either, but then again I did tell her about being at the cabin and that it was impossible to clean the yard or keep animals out.  Maybe she figured I knew. Not an excuse though. I actually just called for the meds last time, without a fecal, as I can see it's positive and there is strong evidence that it's just giardia and no other GI issues. I did do the follow up stool sample 2 weeks after the course tho and it was negative again, so it's not chronic, just a case of recontamination. We should have a good frost within the next month so that will take care of one house. The other wont get a frost for a few months yet. So off I go to keep cleaning. 

[Terri and Harley]

So, do you not do a repeat fecal sample until 2 weeks after? So that means no doggie daycare for another 2 weeks???

<Wimper>

This poor pup.He needs socialization and exercise and now the yard is contaminated and he can't go to doggie day camp and he prolly shouldn't be playing with other puppies.

Guess we will be taking reeallly long walks.

Terri (banging her head against the nearest wall)

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

Yes, two weeks after the last dose. You need to give the medication it's full time to take effect and there can be residual cysts still dying off at the completion of the treatment so you'd most likely get another positive fecal test. All should be gone by 2 weeks after dose so less likely for a false positive.

 You can ask your doggie day care if they take them as soon as they are on meds, finished with the meds, or until a negative fecal. And maybe your Vet doesn't feel it's necessary to wait the 2 weeks. Guess it's up to them.

And have you considered that he might be getting reinfected at the daycare? Or that he has shed cysts there as well and if they are not as diligent in clean up as you, that he can be getting reinfected there? Just a thought.

[Terri and Harley]

No, because he hasn't started there yet. If he's gotten reinfected, it's prolly from the yard.

Tuesday I will call them to see what their protocol is on this, but I suspect the negative fecal is what is necessary.

This is going to be a looong two weeks. 

Time to find a dog walker now.

Terri (who really wants to cry.)