Puppy with Giardia

[David and Franklin]

Replies to my last post were so helpful I decided to try it again. Franklin has Giardia. I saw signs of trouble (bloody fecal discharge) on his first day home (Saturday) and got him to the vet the following Monday. The vet told me that it is treatable and not cause for undue alarm. This was a relief to me because I had already bonded with him and did not want to send him back to the breeder. We put him on a 5 day regimen of antibiotics and he has 2 days to go, Franklin still has a good appetite and pretty good energy; maybe a little tired this evening.but I found a little bit of blood in his stool this evening and he seemed to have trouble eliminating. I had Giardia when I was a young man. It was not much fun, and hard to shake. Do any of you have any experience to offer? I hope I am just being an overly excitable doggy daddy.

[Gail and Bailey]

David,  the most important info that has been given to you is the advice about NOT giving the antibiotic Flagyl...also known as Metronidazole.  Most vets give this for Giardia and it is effective BUT it very often leads to ongoing tummy problems!  There are so many folks here at DK who have had problems after giving it to their pups!

Ask your vet to give little Franklin the antibiotic Panacure ...aka (Fenbendazole).  This will cure the Giardia as well and it is easier on the tummy.   Of course both antibiotics kill good and bad microbs in the gut and a good probiotic is necessary and should be given at least 2 hours before or after food is given.

Good luck with getting over this bump in the road of puppy hood!  Franklin is a cutie!

[Cindy and Olive (Ollie)]

Nice. How's the little guy doing?

[David and Franklin]

We have completed the 5 day course of panacur. His stool is still loose and he had trace amounts of blood around his anus after he went out this morning. In fairness, far less blood than 2 or 3 days ago. His energy was very high this morning; afternoons seem to be about naps. His appetite is very good-voracious really. Since there was some blood this morning, I plan to take a stool sample to the vet tomorrow to have a follow up. I would like to enroll him in a puppy socialization class but I cannot do that in good conscience until he has a health clearance. I am vigilant about scooping poop and spraying bleach, so I hope I have nipped any contamination issues in the bud. Thanks for asking!

[David and Franklin]

An update on Franklin: 

 I had Franklin’s stool tested again yesterday and it appears that his case of Giardia is persisting.  We sent the stool sample to a lab for analysis since the in-house inspection by the vet was ambiguous.  

Today we began a second round of Panacur and have added a course of Flagyl in hopes of getting on top of this.  I noted the concern expressed above about Flagyl but I need to trust my vet on this.  We will begin a course of pro-biotics after we complete the Flagyl.  I am also taking radical steps to avoid re-infection by gathering up all stool upon elimination and then bleaching each and every soiling spot in my back yard where Franklin defecates.  The quartered paper plates do not seem to work as Franklin just moves away where he can poop on pine needles rather than paper. 

Franklin’s main symptom is loose to runny stool with intermittent bloody discharge.  His energy seems good and his appetite is very good.  We have him on a diet of boiled chicken, pumpkin paste, Diamond Natural and chicken broth, three squares a day.  We did have a minor upchuck this morning.  

He is a good little dog;  very strong spirited.   He eats like a horse and appears to be gaining weight.  These factors suggest to me that he still has an excellent prognosis if I can avoid re-infection. 

Thanks for the amazing support on this site!

[Cindy and Olive (Ollie)]

One last tip then I will stop! I just learned (from someone on DK) that boxed/canned chicken broth has onion which can be toxic to dogs. Perhaps you are just using the broth after boiling the chicken and are a step ahead of what I did! Also i know sweet potato is nutritious and good to feed while he's having diarrhea. I also use the proviable dc probiotic, even when he is not on antibiotics. Ok, enough from me!
Best to you and Franklin, hope he can shake this soon.

[Gail and Bailey]

It will help if you start the probiotic NOW being sure to give it to Franklin at least 2 hours before or after giving the antibiotics.  Also feed him a bit of plain fat free yogurt and some mashed sweet potato with his meals or as a snack.  The Flagyl is likely to firm up his stool but as soon as the course of meds in done it may get bad again.  Flagyl is extra hard on the tummy in the long run so please give that probiotic starting now and keep giving it for a few weeks after he is giardia free.  Best of luck!

[Jill, Woody & Maxi]

Glad to hear that you are taking care of things..I know this has been said before..but I strongly think you should re-post this in the Food Group..this is one of the most popular topics that we talk about in the group, and there is a lot of great info and knowledgeable members there that can add to the great advice that you have gotten already!

[David and Franklin]

All excellent suggestions. I'll get him started on the probiotics ASAP! Oh, the chicken broth is from the boiled chicken, but I did not about the onions in the store bought brand. I fed that to my last dog Boomer during his last few days. I feel terrible about that now. So much to learn and I have had dogs my entire life!

[David and Franklin]

Hi all, as of last Thursday, Franklin is free if Giardia. I plan to continue good backyard poop maintenance of course. So grateful to those who took time to share your expertise with me!

[Emily, Bentley, & Maserati]

I'm glad to hear the Giardia is gone! It can be a persistent little bug! 

[Gail and Bailey]

Glad to hear that Franklin is Giardia free!!!  Yea!!!  

[Jill, Woody & Maxi]

Great news!!! :)