Giardia and dogs

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
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When I have enough land for dog's thats how I'm going to raise them. They need to be tough and able to survive in the wilderness on their own. I don't want a "house dog" that's what cats are for ;)
 
Guille- to know what symptoms to watch for (other than the runs or lack of appetite) would be very helpful. Also, have you had any experience with the new Crotalus rattlesnake vaccine for dogs? My GSP had the second of the first 2 shots a few months ago and the season is coming up. He's been snake broke and rechecked last year to make sure he still avoids them but he could still run over or near one:eek:. Any recent news will be welcome and appreciated. Thanks in advance.:) Regards, ss.
 
Serrinon said:
When I have enough land for dog's thats how I'm going to raise them. They need to be tough and able to survive in the wilderness on their own. I don't want a "house dog" that's what cats are for ;)
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Dogs are tough or not it has little to do with what they are fed or whether they sleep outside. Most people trying to make "tough" dogs end up with mean dogs, a very real difference.

Myself and most of my friends shoot free range dogs if they range on to our property, something to think about when raising your outside dogs. Chris
 
shecky said:
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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:eek: rofl!!! thats taking things to a whole new level
 
straitshot said:
Guille- to know what symptoms to watch for (other than the runs or lack of appetite) would be very helpful. Also, have you had any experience with the new Crotalus rattlesnake vaccine for dogs? My GSP had the second of the first 2 shots a few months ago and the season is coming up. He's been snake broke and rechecked last year to make sure he still avoids them but he could still run over or near one:eek:. Any recent news will be welcome and appreciated. Thanks in advance.:) Regards, ss.
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ok.. this is getting interesting... have to review my parasitology to update completely... basically it is the runs and lack of appetite that you really have to watch out for. and the poop has a distinctive Fishy smell ( but you have to be familiar with what normal poop smell like in the first place.) the only prblem with giardiasis is that almost as soon as the dogs are infected they become the source of spread of the disease....so proper disinfection has to be done


A good rule of thumb that we like to recommend is your dog can go for 3 days without food AS LONG AS there is no vomiting or diarrhea, now as for the diarrhea problem.. it's a little more complicated.. the term dehydration is not only with regards the water or h2o in the body but as with humans it has a lot to do with the electrolyte balance in the body.. thats why gatorade is recommended for re hydration. there are also newer products that are designed with rehydration in mind.. such as royal canin's rehydration support which come in sachets that you mix with 500ml of water and is a balanced solution for your dogs re hydration....the sachets are not very expensive and should be worth looking into for us who go on extended hikes and/or who are in very hot areas.

Also some dogs get so engrossed in the hike or play or whatever that they forget to drink sometimes... it is important to let your dogs drink from time to time and not wait for them to be really thirsty.

As for the rattlesnake vaccine i found a good article which pretty much sums everything up...
http://www.hvjournal.com/articles.php?id=1794&art_title=New_Rattlesnake_Vaccine_for_Dogs"

but as with any vaccine it is designed to help the body fight off the disease in the case of the rattle snake vaccine it is primarily focused on preventing an anaphylactic reaction (read: Allergic reaction) to the snake venom.. it will not stop the effect of the venom on the body thus if your dog is bitten it is STILL a medical emergency and proper measures must be taken.

Whew.... that was a long one.. keep the questions coming or if you need clarifications let me know...
Guille
 
Guille- thanks so much for the link and for the descriptions of symptoms and suggestions. It looks as though Red Rock Biologics has revised their recommended protocol. Earlier they advised the first two with an annual booster. Now they recommend the first two then boosters every six months, or every four months depending on circumstances and risk. Mine will get another booster in a couple of days with quail season starting next month. I've sent a link to the updated recommendations to my vet and a hunting friend who often runs his vaccinated dog with mine. Your counsel is very much appreciated.

:thumbup::thumbup::thumbup::) Best Regards, ss.
 
Guille said:
ok.. this is getting interesting... have to review my parasitology to update completely... basically it is the runs and lack of appetite that you really have to watch out for. and the poop has a distinctive Fishy smell ( but you have to be familiar with what normal poop smell like in the first place.) the only prblem with giardiasis is that almost as soon as the dogs are infected they become the source of spread of the disease....so proper disinfection has to be done


A good rule of thumb that we like to recommend is your dog can go for 3 days without food AS LONG AS there is no vomiting or diarrhea, now as for the diarrhea problem.. it's a little more complicated.. the term dehydration is not only with regards the water or h2o in the body but as with humans it has a lot to do with the electrolyte balance in the body.. thats why gatorade is recommended for re hydration. there are also newer products that are designed with rehydration in mind.. such as royal canin's rehydration support which come in sachets that you mix with 500ml of water and is a balanced solution for your dogs re hydration....the sachets are not very expensive and should be worth looking into for us who go on extended hikes and/or who are in very hot areas.

Also some dogs get so engrossed in the hike or play or whatever that they forget to drink sometimes... it is important to let your dogs drink from time to time and not wait for them to be really thirsty.

As for the rattlesnake vaccine i found a good article which pretty much sums everything up...
http://www.hvjournal.com/articles.php?id=1794&art_title=New_Rattlesnake_Vaccine_for_Dogs"

but as with any vaccine it is designed to help the body fight off the disease in the case of the rattle snake vaccine it is primarily focused on preventing an anaphylactic reaction (read: Allergic reaction) to the snake venom.. it will not stop the effect of the venom on the body thus if your dog is bitten it is STILL a medical emergency and proper measures must be taken.

Whew.... that was a long one.. keep the questions coming or if you need clarifications let me know...
Guille
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And people laugh at me for having an oil immersion microscope and Lugol's stain in my SHTF supplies...just kidding...though I do keep a huge medical reference library on my Pocket PC...never know when you'll need a headstart in starting civilization all over again.

As an aside, and slightly off topic, I've always said I'd rather have a vet with me in a SHTF scenario than a "people doctor". They're used to doing everything and generally have a broader knowledge base.
 
task force k said:
And people laugh at me for having an oil immersion microscope and Lugol's stain in my SHTF supplies...just kidding...though I do keep a huge medical reference library on my Pocket PC...never know when you'll need a headstart in starting civilization all over again.

As an aside, and slightly off topic, I've always said I'd rather have a vet with me in a SHTF scenario than a "people doctor". They're used to doing everything and generally have a broader knowledge base.
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THANKS! i consider that a very big complement.

After all OUR patients can tell us whats wrong with them. hehe


As for the compost question....hmmm
dogs usually eat either their feces or other decaying matter for a couple of reasons.... first instinct.. in the wild all food is good food .. so some dogs ; especially if your compost pile has a lot of vegetable matter. because that is how dogs used to get their fill of vegetable matter.. they would eat the intestines and stomachs of the prey they hunted first and partly digested vegetable matter was what was inside...

( this is why the BARF diet includes pureed vegetables)

another possible reason is that your dog might be lacking in certain minerals or vitamins and thus is "looking" for them in other areas. i.e. the compost bin

third reason is that it could possibly be a bad habit your dog has.. and he is trying to get your attention hehe

hope this helps

:D:DGuille
 
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