Oliver has giardia - and I have a few questions

[LarryL]

I thought I'd move this out of the food group and start a new thread as it is no longer food related.

Oliver is a little over 3 months and has been with us for two and a half weeks.
A day after changing food he had diarrhea - after getting a stool sample to the vet, he tested positive for giardia.

We have been adding a bit of mashed sweet potato to his food to firm him up a bit.

The vets office initially gave me metro, but thanks to DK I requested Panacur instead.
They gave me 3 little baggies of powder - a 3 day supply.

Question 1: I know I'm supposed to give a probiotic either two hours before or after he takes his meds. Yesterday we bought all natural fage Greek yogurt - is this a probiotic? Or is yogurt & probiotic not the same?

2: how often should we give him yogurt? Just once a day before or after his meds??

3: I asked the guy at the vets office if in a week or two I should give another stool sample, but he said he would just take more Panacur in two weeks. This sounded weird to me as I dont want to give him more meds than necessary - am I right for thinking that?

4: as far as cleaning, I know to be diligent with his poop cleaning. Is the only way he can reinfect himself by eating licking his poop???

5: he just got his booster shot yesterday - should I avoid taking him outside until this passes?

6: how cantageous is he to other pups? We have a puppy socialization class on Wednesday that I now think I should cancel?

Lastly, I will take as much advice & recommendations as possible!

Thanks

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

t may take a while for his stool to firm up.

I would get rid of the RC and only use the Orijen. 

You did not mention the probiotics. I cannot stress how crucial it is that he be getting those. Hopefully, you just forgot to mention it.

What time does Oliver get his last meal of the day? I don't think it's all that unusual for a puppy to need to go potty at 5 pm, even a healthy puppy with no giardia. 

[LarryL]

Hey guys, good morning.

The only reason he is on the RC is because thats the food he started with.

I mixed in some Orijen, as I am trying to get him used to that - and thought going cold turkey wasn't good.

His kibble is already pre mixed with about 60%RC - 40% Orijen.

If you think its a good idea to just get rid of that, and go to strictly Orijen - I have no problem getting rid of the little bit we have left. (but I mixed it cause that's what I thought was the right thing to do)

Yes, I forgot to mention probiotic. But he def gets it!

He gets Proviable DC with a little bit of yogurt.

The last two times I actually opened the pill and put the powder in the yogurt and he still ate it.

(that doesn't make a difference does it?)

It is reassuring to hear that it may take a while for his stool to firm up.

its getting better, but slightly, and very slowly.

So originally the DR says 5 days panacur, 2 weeks off, 5 days on - then test his stool again.

Do you guys agree with that?

Just want to know that it is actually working, and we're not just wasting time while our baby is uncomfortable.

Oliver sleeps thru the night just fine since we got him.

We normally wake up at 8am to take him out.

Only 3 times since we got him has he woke me up thru the night to go out.

The first night when we started panacur, and his diarrhea was the worst.

Yesterday to go potty, and then at 5am today.

He pottied at 5am today, and then once more at 10am just before we left.

He's been eating at 830am, 230pm, 830pm

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

Get rid of the RC at this point. 

And don't open the Proviable capsules. 

[LarryL]

Thanks will do both of those things.

Out of curiosity, what makes i different when I open the capsule?

And switching over to Orijen wont have any ill effect on his tummy?

[F, Calla & Luca]

I don't know specifically for Proviable. But some capsules have individual particles inside for time release. Some are made to dissolve more readily in the intestine rather than the stomach. The dog may not get all the dose. Those are the kinds of reasons. I give my dogs EPO daily. Calla trained herself to take them from me. I put Luca's down his throat. They are happy since they get a liver treat afterward : )

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

F has answered the question about the capsules.

Regarding the Orijen having an ill effect, he's been eating it, lol. Mixing it with RC wouldn't make it less likely to have an ill effect. In fact, getting rid of the grains and fillers in the RC might help improve his stool quality. 

[LarryL]

awesome, and  thanks again guys for your help.

so should I still stay on course with watching, waiting another week or so, and then more panacure?

[LarryL]

Yet again this morning Oliver woke us up w a very runny stool.
Once at 4 - then again at 430am

He went #2 again just now at 930 - very runny, mucusy, and blood
Then 15 minutes later he went again it it was more mucus and blood than poop :-(

Bringing him back to vet now - wondering if your advice is still avoid Metro ?

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

At this point, I'd say he needs something more than the Panacur. I'm not sure that metronidazole is what he needs, but I'm out of ideas. This may be more than just giardia. One course of metronidazole shouldn't hurt as long as you are diligent about giving the probiotics for an extended period of time. Just no Rx food.

[Jill, Woody & Maxi]

I am sorry to hear this..I agree with what Karen said..NO to rx food, and yes to proviable! Good luck and let us know

[LarryL]

So our vet looked and listened to Oliver and said he looks & sounds healthy.
He said "if it was his dog he wouldn't do any exotic blood testing just yet"

Said "although he looks fine, he personally expected him to have gained a little more weight since last visit"
That's was on the 2nd at 11lb12oz - 12lbs9oz today - but said he looks fine.

Asked what and how much we were feeding - he said that I should stick w the suggested 1/2 of kibble mix 3 times a day - and if I add anything like pumpkin or potatoes I should add a little on top of that.

Said maybe the chicken was a little too rich for him maybe.


But he also says that he knows some giardia is resistant to certain meds - and said "I guarantee after 9 days of flaygyl he'll be alright"

His plan is to do the metro, 2 pills a day for 9 days - take two weeks off - then do some more Panacur
Also said that there shouldn't be any adverse effects to metro if not taken very often.

Suggested yogurt or probiotic which we're already on - and that was it.


Hoping Oliver gets well soon...

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

I hope so too.

One side note: boiled, skinless white meat chicken with all visible fat removed is not "too rich" for him. Richness in food refers to fat content, and the fat content of chicken breast prepared as I described is very low.