Giardia and dogs

boing

boing

Joined
Dec 11, 2003
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170
Do you take any precautions with your dog(s) when out in the woods? Giardia is the common threat here in the Smokies, and when I hike I always carry a bowl and enough water for both of us, and take care to keep Millie from drinking when we cross streams. She and the other dogs have certainly had plenty of nasty puddles to drink from in the yard, not to mention other things they might find. :barf:

I wonder how much of a concern it really is?
 
As I understand it dogs have some goodies in there digestive tract that will let them eat or drink without problems from water borne bugs but giving safe water cant hurt and youdon't have to worry about pesticides.
 
I just did a Google search on giardia in dogs. I got a number of hits that indicate that there may be a form of giardia that can infect dogs, but it seems to run in kennel-like situations rather than in the wild. This is definitely something that people who hike with their dogs should consider and maybe do a little research or ask their vet.

I come to this forum to learn things. This is another fine example of the value of sharing experiences. Thanks. :thumbup:
 
One thing to be concerned about with your dog is Leptospirosis. However, in the case of dogs like my Weimaraner, the vaccine can be more dangerous to his health than the potential exposure.

The best we can do (imho) is make an informed decision based upon the best information available and then go out and enjoy life.
 
My German Shorthaired and I hunt the southwest which has the foulest, dirtiest, late summer slop holes you can imagine for cattle. I can't keep him out of them even with a training collar.

He wades to the middle, takes a long drink (yummmm!) that I swear he has to chew, and comes out with a big :D. So far he hasn't even had the runs. Just to be safe, I give him a wide spectrum antibiotic shot if he gets any open scrapes or cuts on the hunt because there is no telling what other animals bring to the water holes. He's now 7 and never been sick and the cuts heal nicely with a couple of Neosporin treatments. Amazing:). Regards, ss.
 
A dog's stomach is so acidic that alot of microbes just become protien for them. My mutts have allways drank mountain and creek water and never had any problems. But you can contact your local vet. and they would be able to warn of certain strains in your area to watch out for.

I got giardia when I climber Mt Rainier and that is an ordeal I will never forget.
 
Hello to everyone!

Am a Veterinarian and would like to clear things up.... dogs can get giardia... the same species that can affect us.... and they can be affected by pretty much all the same water contaminants/ orgamisms that can affect us... so if your dogs likes to drink the water and hasn't gotten sick , your dog is lucky... not immune.. there are some dogs that there immune systems are more accustomed to the dirty water and the body fights off the infection possibly with little or no symptoms.

If you do bring your dog please bring enough/ filter enough for the both of you...as he can get just as sick or sicker than you( depending on the body mass of your dog can dehydrated much quicker than you) :eek:


:D:D
 
Dogs get Giarida and Coccidia from puddles or infected water.
To prevent it if you're worried about it, you can add a little liquid Albon to your dogs water as a preventive measure.
Ask you vet about it.

Beware of tick diseases as well.
Having a little knowledge on treatment and storing a few common medicines can really save your dog in an emerigency.
http://www.minden.com/nowhereelse/canine_tick_disease.htm

I learned how to use IV's and treatment of common problems when I was running a large Police dog training facility.
In the aftermath of a huricane or other disaster,knowledge of first aid for all of your loved ones is a good idea.

Gator-aid and anti diarrhea meds can save your pooch until you can get to a vet.
Good tip to know.
 
Guille said:
Hello to everyone!

Am a Veterinarian and would like to clear things up.... dogs can get giardia... the same species that can affect us.... and they can be affected by pretty much all the same water contaminants/ orgamisms that can affect us... so if your dogs likes to drink the water and hasn't gotten sick , your dog is lucky... not immune.. there are some dogs that there immune systems are more accustomed to the dirty water and the body fights off the infection possibly with little or no symptoms.

If you do bring your dog please bring enough/ filter enough for the both of you...as he can get just as sick or sicker than you( depending on the body mass of your dog can dehydrated much quicker than you) :eek:


:D:D
Click to expand...

Doc,

While I agree with what you said I also know it is highly less likely for a dog who is used to untreated water to contract anything beyond a mild case of the squirts.

My family has trained gun dogs for 40 years and never had a problem (but once or twice) that didn't resolve itself in short order. A dogs digestive track is so short it eliminates most nasties before they get hold.

That said we also feed our dogs raw bones and meat and let them drink from any source from pups. Dogs are domestic wolves after all and are designed for this.

Would I let fido who lives in a house who gets out once a year drink questionable water? No.

My 2 cents.

Skam
 
Guille- thanks for the clarification. I always wondered if dogs were naturally immune, my vet said the same thing you have. I carry a lot of water for him and make him stop and come in for a drink even when he is too focused to take a break on his own. I wish I could keep him out of the waterholes.

So far he's been OK but I still take what precautions I can. Please post whatever additional information you comfortably can. It will be appreciated. :)Regards, ss.
 
I've been trying to cut my day hike gear to just my waistpack, but having to bring water for the dog made it impractical, and I don't want to make her carry her own:

camel-dog.jpg


:D

I just bought a daypack to solve the problem, and for my own peace of mind I'll keep her out of water as much as possible. I always have iodine tabs, but I don't want to bother with that for short hikes unless it's an emergency.

Thanks for the info.
 
I live in a very rural area and we have multiple packs of coyotes. I have seen them eating road kill that is 3-4 days old and drinking water that is beyond stagnant. Our dogs quite often feast on cow manure when they are loose. That strain of E. Coli is very dangerous for humans.

They might be susceptible to all the pathogens we are but they sure as hell have better defenses then us humans do. In my entire life I have never had a dog get sick from eating animal feces or drinking nasty water.

Guille, The dogs you have seen with giardia, were they very young or old, immune compromised or on steroids or other meds that compromise the immune system? I would like to know more about that to better protect my own dogs and my friends.
 
sigh.. where do i begin.... :Don't get me wrong guys i appreciate the questions and "rebuttals" so to say hehe but both skammer and b finnigan
have very valid points.. the immune system has a lot to do on whether or not the dog gets sick.. just like us they can fight it off with just "the squirts"but and this is a big but if for any reason your dogs immune system is not up to par then these organisms WILL take advantage and WILL cause problems for your four legged friend.

That is the beauty of our immune system( as well as the dogs) is that it CAN LEARN! so if they are drinking "dirty water from a very young age they can develop an immunity to it.


as for the coyotes.... they don't live very long unless they are the fittest to survive... so the ones you see are probably the ones with the strongest immune system to begin with....:D:D

so if you guys have any other questions or problems please let me know and if i can help i will
:D
 
Our 3 month old Maltese puppy was just treated (atibiotics) for Giardia...diarrhea was the indicator that something was amiss. I did some research and read that Giardia can survive outside the host in the stool which can "infest" your property. So then I had my 12 year old black lab tested 'cause she gets diarrhea 4 or 5 times a year. Fortunately she tested negative, and we have discovered that she's been feasting on the compost pile :eek: which may explain her bouts of diarrhea. Gotta figure out a way to wall of that compsot pile this weekend. Ideas? :confused:
 
A lady who used to buy milk from me to raise fawns on said some of her fawns had got giardia before which shocked me.

She was just buying milk and we experimented by giving them some pasteurized goat colostrum and the ones we gave the extra shot of colostrum too never got it.

However the ones that had it they were treating with Fenbenzadole which is a common dog wormer.
 
CitizenQ said:
Our 3 month old Maltese puppy was just treated (atibiotics) for Giardia...diarrhea was the indicator that something was amiss. I did some research and read that Giardia can survive outside the host in the stool which can "infest" your property. So then I had my 12 year old black lab tested 'cause she gets diarrhea 4 or 5 times a year. Fortunately she tested negative, and we have discovered that she's been feasting on the compost pile :eek: which may explain her bouts of diarrhea. Gotta figure out a way to wall of that compsot pile this weekend. Ideas? :confused:
Click to expand...

How big is your pile? I built a compost bin (4'x4'x4') for mine and am working on some compost barrels that can fully compost material in 2-3 weeks. Either way would keep your dogs out of your compost.
 
skammer said:
Doc,

While I agree with what you said I also know it is highly less likely for a dog who is used to untreated water to contract anything beyond a mild case of the squirts.

My family has trained gun dogs for 40 years and never had a problem (but once or twice) that didn't resolve itself in short order. A dogs digestive track is so short it eliminates most nasties before they get hold.

That said we also feed our dogs raw bones and meat and let them drink from any source from pups. Dogs are domestic wolves after all and are designed for this.

Would I let fido who lives in a house who gets out once a year drink questionable water? No.

My 2 cents.

Skam
Click to expand...
I see things kinda like you. I've made a point to feed my dog raw meat and different things to keep his digestive tract up. Same principle as long time vegatarians can't eat meat any more.
 
That is the beauty of our immune system( as well as the dogs) is that it CAN LEARN!
Click to expand...

This is exactly why we should all begin drinking from puddles and eating from rotten corpses NOW while we have a chance. All in the cause of preparedness for the coming SHTF/zombie uprising, of course.
 
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