Giardia

[Jane, Guinness and Murphy]

Guinness had his four year check up and shots last week, and I brought a stool sample which I do every year.  He's had no symptoms of anything and has fantastic poops with his special diet.  He's had no flare ups of the IBS in well over a year, and no parasites of any type.  All in all, he's been really healthy.  As a young puppy he did have a horrible case of Giardia which it took weeks to get rid of.  Anyway, to get to the point the Vet called to say that he was shedding the Giardia cysts and needed to be treated....and of course they also will treat Murph because he's in the household.  Tomorrow I'll go and pick up the panacur and metronidazole and we'll start that "process" which I know from experience will take several weeks. 

That's nothing new or even interesting, but my conversation with the Vet really got me thinking.  She said that it's running rampant in our area, so she's not in the least bit surprised.  Basically any dog being walked in our parks, bike paths, or going to daycare is being exposed.  When I asked why she said she had a theory but no scientific proof that it was the case...just her supposition.  She feels that puppies are being given metronidazole and/or panacur often before they even leave their litter by the breeders.  The idea the breeders have is that they want to rid them of giardia before leaving for their homes, and they don't bother to test (because it's so prevalent).  Then they get to their homes and often they are still infected and so they go on another round or two, and so it goes.  They eventually build a tolerance to the meds and the parasites continue to survive and infest the ground and ultimately other dogs who come in contact with that ground. Karen has said that she had lots of concerns with the frequency of metronidazole being prescribed, and so I found this thought provoking.  If all this is true, it's a bleak picture. 

[F, Calla & Luca]

I had Calla on antibiotics for two days before and 6 days after her dental cleaning. She also got Penicillin in the clinic. Proviable DC is part of the reason that we got thru without real diarrhea I think.

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

You chose a great probiotic. 

[F, Calla & Luca]

I have a good advisor : )

[Jennifer and Jack]

Why was Calla on antibiotics so long? My current vet doesn't even use any it where Jack is going they give him a shot of antibiotics ..I am just wondering so I can learn!

[F, Calla & Luca]

I put her on two days before the cleaning although the vet said it really wasn't necessary but it was OK. But then when they sent her home they wanted her on the antibiotic for another week, maybe because she had a pocket in her gum and they used a antibiotic, slow release gel there.

[Bonnie and Kona]

Poor Kona has been on four courses of antibiotics in a row for his tail! It makes me sick thinking about it. His tail is starting to look better and he just took his last antibiotic today. Sadly he started throwing up a few days ago. I'm sure this is horrible for him. 

[Jane, Guinness and Murphy]

Oh wow...I had forgotten all about that.  Thanks for the reminder.  Murph is going through his "seasonal allergy flare" and he's itchy and lapping paws and butt (on claritin and the cortisone spray).  I wouldn't be too surprised if he was the one that had it since he has been licking so much...maybe he does but just isn't shedding the cysts.  Anyway I am treating him as well. 

[Nadini & Moeka]

Hi Karen, 

So would I first give the antibiotics without food and then give the probiotics with food 2 hours later? 

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

For the antibiotics, you follow your vet's advice regarding whether they should be given with or without food. 

The probiotics must be given at least 2 hours apart from the antibiotics, and longer is better. 2 hours is only the minimum. They do not need to be given with food. 

[F, Calla & Luca]

Certainly bacteria can become resistant to antibiotics so I suppose parasites could become resistant to drugs too. But it would be good to know if there are studies about this. sorry to hear you have to medicate the doodles.

[Joanne ~ Spud*]

I haven't read up on Giardia for many years, but when my four year old son ( now 24) had Giardia, I had read that it can last in a human system for 20 years, dormant, only to  reemerge. Truth or not?  Don't know. But may be an interesting theory since he had it as a pup.  He may be a dormant carrier.

Some truth to this may be found in this article

Giardia infections can also cause chronic symptoms because some folk may have Giardia in their bodies for many months, or even years!

http://giardia-symptoms.org/giardia-symptoms/

[Joanne ~ Spud*]

On another note, when my son came down with this violent...

Crap, it was cut off.... and no way am I typing that all out again.