Giardia... how contagious?

[Gunnar's Dad]

Gunnar JUST had a clean bill of health and blood test last week from the vet.

His brother Tank went to the vet Saturday and blood tests came back positive for Giardia. No symptoms from either of them.

Gunnar spends weekdays playing in the house and yard with tank.

Do I REALLY need to pay for another vet visit and test if tank is medicated and gunner shows no symptoms? Or can I just watch him close? If so, what should I watch for?

[Gunnar's Dad]

Been cleaning up immediately after both dogs.  Boiling hot water on the grass as well.  May not kill all of it but we are headed into our sunny months and I understand that Giardia typically only survives our summers in the higher elevations due to the temperature swings.

Tank's vet put him on Panacur and some antibiotic that starts with an M.

I just hit the IFA and bought a 3 day cycle of Panacur to run Gunnar on right now and a three day cycle to follow up after 10 days.  Will get them both tested at that point.

Crazy stuff had Gunnar up multiple times during the night to go out and pee.  Usually he's a heavy all night sleeper.

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

The antibiotic that Tank was given is metronidazole. You really never want to give that unless it's absolutely necessary, because it usually results in the dog's having ongoing diarrhea after the meds are discontinued, due to the drug killing all of the good gut bacteria that's necessary for proper digestion and stool formation. You might want to advise Tank's owner to get a good probiotic like Proviable DC (order online) and be sure to give the probiotics at least 2 hours apart from the meds...and longer is better. They will want to give him the probiotics for a couple of weeks after the metronidazole is discontinued.

Dogs with giardia will typically need to go out during the night, but not to urinate, lol. 

I think that if you pick up the poop immediately, the giardia cysts really don't have time to work their way into the soil and contaminate it, so spraying the grass works pretty well. My understanding was that freezing temperatures are what will kill giardia, not summer heat. And it loves moisture. 

[Gunnar's Dad]

that's what I read about the antibiotic, and unfortunately a lot of vets over prescribe it.  That's why after a phone call to my vet I just went with Panacur and am self treating him before we even get tested.

I have a decent vet but Tank's owners go to a vet that is a bit expensive and seems to pursue action on every route.  

The dogs have had zero symptoms.  Stool has been mostly solid etc. and any loose stools were attributed to excessive treats or whatever.

Perhaps Gunnar has been a little more well behaved and sleepy, but it's hard to tell because he is so good anyway.  I just chalked that up to growing puppies and the fact that dogs are champion nap takers.

[Nancy, Ned, Clancy, and Charlie]

My son's puppy had no symptoms when he tested positive.  I wonder if that might be because it was caught earlier?  Or perhaps they just have a tougher digestive system? 

[Laurie, Wally & Charlotte]

I think I recall Jane (Rooney and Stuart) using gloves and paper plates to "catch" the poop before it ever hit the ground. This might be something to consider for both Tank and Gunner.  

[Gunnar's Dad]

Gunnar won't poop if I am within his 10 foot circle of privacy LOL  He will interrupt pooping if I get too close or tell him good boy before he is done.  He will pee a few feet away but pooping is his private time.. HAHA

[Wendy and Myla]

Myla too!!!  She turns her back to me and looks over her shoulder as if to say "Some privacy please" and then goes!  Then she runs a few feet away, kicks her hind feet as if to cover it, then goes back sniffing until she gets to it and then lifts her head as if disgusted and runs away.  Every. Single. Time.  Hilarious!

[Nancy, Ned, Clancy, and Charlie]

And there is also the dog who wants to poop AND eat in private!  That's my Ned.

[Wendy and Myla]

That's funny!  I cannot imagine wanting to eat in private!  What do you do in the RV?