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

[Rosemary (Ro) and Enzo]

Reading and learning right along with you. Thankfully, I have never had to deal with this.
Hoping the sweet Oliver is doing a bit better this morning and riding on healing vibes!

[Lori, Quincy & Frankie]

Fingers crossed for a speedy recovery

[LarryL]

So far this morning Oliver hasn't pooped.
He's pee'd but not pooped.

He seems fine and is acting like himself, but didn't want his kibble with sweet potato this morning.
Nor did he want to drink much.

I tried feeding him later, and he didn't want it again.
I then boiled some chicken for him w sweet potato and he gladly ate that.
Licked the bowl clean, and I put his Panacur in there aswell.

He didn't really drink too much today tho.
He had a few sips but not much - otherwise he's acting fine

[LarryL]

He also had his 3rd booster shot on Saturday -
The day before we found out he had giardia

Not sure if that shot changes anything regarding the infection or the meds, does it?

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

No.

[LarryL]

THIS IS WHAT MY BREEDER SAID REGARDING GIARDIA AND USING PANACUR TO FIX.

TOTALLY OPPOSITE OF ADVICE I GOT HERE.

I'M STILL INCLINED TO MY DK FRIENDS AS OPPOSED TO THE BREEDER, BUT HERE COMMENT OF 10-14 DAYS OF PANACUR VS. THE 3 DAY DOSE I HAVE HAS ME WORRIED.

"Panacur for 3 days will do nothing. I would suggest he be given it at least 10-14 days as it seems resistant however there are better things out there now that will work better.

I would get the metronidazole. That would make him feel a lot better and will firm up his stools.

Also to get rid of the Giardia see if the vet can give him Tinidazole. Pups get Giarida from any water source. Even drinking out of a puddle he may get it.

Parasites and dogs go hand in hand. We do everything we can to make sure our dogs do not carry parasites but it is virtually impossible to make sure every single dog is clear of them. 99% of dogs have the parasites insisted in the tissues and in times of stress these parasites will infect your dog. We do not cover parasite treatment.

Get the tinidazole and metronidazole and that should clear him up."

[F, Calla & Luca]

First off, not to be a purist, it's encyst not insist. But Giardia does not encyst all over the body but it is shed as cysts in feces and this can go on for a long time, like weeks. If all the parasites are eliminated stress will not result in Giardia. But if your dog drimks water with cysts, puddles, streams etc. it may well be reinfected. I do not let my dogs drink anything when we are out and about but water from home. So reinfection is frequent.

Here is a good article. The fact is 3-5 days of treatment with Panacur is recommended but retreatment may be necessary. If your breeder were a vet she probably would not be breeding. We are not vets but some of us are pretty well versed in medical matters and many members have had dogs with Giardia. TG, so far, I have not : )

http://www.vetmed.wisc.edu/pbs/zoonoses/gik9fel/giardia.html

[Jill, Woody & Maxi]

Both of our dogs had giardia. Our puppy, Maxi had to go through two courses of treatment with panacur. After the first treatment, we did a retest of her fecal about 2 weeks after we finished her dosage..once again she tested positive for giardia..after the 2nd course of treatment..rested 2 weeks later. Negative!
Have you started Oliver on any treatment yet?

[LarryL]

yes, I started with panacur. 3 day supply of powder.

today is day 3.

how many days did you treat for?

his poops have firmed up a bit, but ive been giving him some sweet potato, chicken, rice.

vet suggests waiting 2 weeks, and doing another dose, and then test

[Jill, Woody & Maxi]

I am at work now, when I get home I'll check the bottle to see how many days we used it.. We gave the liquid form. If you want, you can always say that you'd like to do another fecal test before treating again..have you ordered a probiotic yet?

[LarryL]

yes, I ordered Proviable DC pills.

should be here today.

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

Where did the breeder go to veterinary school?