Good disinfectant / cleaning advice to get rid of traces of giardia

[Discussing Labradoodles & Goldendoodles]

Noah has giardia :-(

We went to the vet tonight for some vaccinations and they ran a stool sample. They ran it right there and it tested positive for a very mild case of giardia within seconds. They'll let me know the full results tomorrow. I hope he doesn't have anything else! I'm completely paranoid that Sherlock or I will get it also.

When I came home tonight, there was poo all over Noah and most of the apartment. It looked like he had rolled around in it, it was even on the walls!!!!?? I had to throw out a couple of toys because the poo was on them. It even got on Sherlock's FAVORITE toy: his teddy bear. He is literally obsessed with this bear. There was no way I was throwing it away, so I spent about 15 minutes washing and scrubbing it with soap. I even used the hair dryer to dry it.

I'm paranoid that there are traces of giardia in my apartment now. I always use Nature's Miracle whenever Noah has an accident, but is this a disinfectant? I wish I could spray lysol over everything right now, but it's too dangerous because one of the dogs could inhale the fumes. What are some good dog-friendly disinfectants?

[Adina P]

Nature's Miracle does NOT disinfect. Bleach is probably the best disinfectant for Giardia. I would wash the bear in the laundry using bleach. I think the ratio is 20 parts water to 1 part bleach (when using it around the house) -- though obviously carpet can't be bleached.

Perhaps a breeder can chime in with ideas as they have to do mass cleaning regularly for safety of their litters.

[Cam & Oski]

Poor Noah & the teddy bear! Here's a link that you might find helpful--it has info concerning disinfection techniques as well as general preventative info:



Mainly they recommend bleach or ammonium compounds like Lysol. Hope the doods are doing okay :)

[Cam & Oski]

Hmmm, for some reason the link isn't working so just paste this into your browser web address:

http://www.beaglesunlimited.com/beaglehealth_giardiasis.htm

[Adina P]

The link works the second time you pasted it...just curious how did you add the link the first time?

[Cam & Oski]

I clicked on the hypertext link above the text box but apparently it didn't like it the first time?

[Janie]

I am so sorry to hear this about Noah. I agree with the advice already given.

[IDOGMa]

One thing to keep in mind is that you need to clean the area first and then use bleach. If the area isnt cleaned before you use the bleach the dirts will break down the bleach. Wash everything you can with a good detergent (I use pine-sol or llysol) and then use a 10% bleach solution to sterilize.

This is the same reason why when we all wash our clothes, we add detergent first and then later the bleach is added.

[Ali]

For the carpets I would use Nature's Miracle and then call a steam cleaning carpet business and then spray Nature's Miracle all over the carpets again. If you are using ammonia products, make sure you neutralize it with Nature's Miracle or else it will signal the dog that this is a pee spot. I think sometimes there are rentable carpet steam cleaners at places like Home Depot or even some grocery stores.

[Noble Vestal Labradoodles]

Jane, You can have your carpets steam cleaned which will kill it in the carpet. I would use a 1/10 bleach to water solution to wipe everything else down. Soak toys in the washer with bleach.

Giardia is a water born parasite (if you want to call it that), it was to have water to live. It can grow indoors in water bowls that dont get changed or washed so make sure that is taken care of.

Make sure that both of your dogs are being treated for it since it is zoonotic. You also need to make sure you wash your hands after picking up poo because you too can get it.

This is what is in the water in Mexico so just live it up and pretend you're on vacation in Mexico! :)

[Petra Scholastica]

I know that this is late for this discussion, but in case someone else like me is looking for household help with giardia.

Giardia is indeed water borne, but it does not have to have water to survive. It can live in the very hardy cyst form w/o water... in dried feces, on carpeting, in soil ... for months. It survives cold temperatures very well. It likes heat. The cyst is what is ingested. When it hits the digestive system, it then breaks open & the protozoa begins to divide rapidly.

It is very hard to diagnose, which is one reason why when humans submit fecal samples to their Dr... you do multiple samples. Dogs can have it & test negative, so multiple testings are recommended if there are symptoms or if there has been giardia in the house or kennel. It is suspected that a significant percentage of dogs on the East Coast of the US have it. They may show no symptoms at all or have occasional diarrhea.

Steaming carpets will not kill the cysts. Lysol will not kill the cysts. The only known killers of Giardia cysts are significant quantities of bleach. Higher than the normal percentages used for laundry & cleaning. The most effective method is boiling.... at least 3 minute at a rolling boil. Fortunately, cysts, like bacteria will wash off. This is why we wash our hands.

The thing is, even if there are cysts present in the environment, the dog must ingest them to become reinfected... so he must either have gotten them on his coat or his feet & then licked himself. So keep the dog clean. Change the water & wash the water bowl & food dishes. Wash your own hands & be careful of your shoes.

The most common way for dogs to get it is drinking stagnant water, ponds, &, of course, eating or rolling in feces, which we all know that many do at the first opportunity.

There is now a vaccine.

[Petra Scholastica]

PS.... If there are multiple dogs in the household.... all dogs need to be treated, just in case. You can have them all tested, but they can test negative & still have it, so it's just cheaper to treat all dogs & act as if all are infected.

[Camden's Mom]

Each time I clean up an elimination, I wipe down first with the baby wipe I used to wipe Camden, then I wipe with a disinfectant wipe (target or clorox brand is mild but effective), then I wipe down with Nature's Miracle (or Simple Solution) last to rid of any scent. The disinfectant is key. I think bleach may be a little harsh on the senses - both yours and Noah's, but I can't say I've used it yet.