dogday
March 12th, 2006, 11:59 AM
It is estimated that Giardia is the most common & prevalent bacterial
parasite in the world--Any dog living in an urban environment (even
if he does NOT visit parks or dog runs) should be tested. If he walks
on the streets he is coming in contact with infected dogs feces--
please test your dog--
Tiny Giardia can make Fido mighty sick
Small organism can be big trouble
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----------
Fido has diarrhea, is listless, and has lost weight...
The symptoms are typical of several diseases, but if Fido has had
contact with dirty (or potentially contaminated) water or with dogs
showing similar signs, Giardiasis should at least be suspected.
Giardia are protozoans, tiny, one-celled parasitic life forms with
the potential to cause serious illness. Some dogs are carriers who
show no symptoms, but others get sick and need treatment.
Like many disease organisms, Giardia mature in stages. Unlike many
others, no time elapses between infestation with the dormant phase
and activation of the disease. The cysts (the inactive form) are
found in contaminated water and feces. Once ingested by the dog, the
cysts open and discharge the mobile form known as the trophozoite, a
pear-shaped critter with whip-like flagella that propel it through
the intestine. If the dog is healthy, the trophozoites may live in
the lower digestive tract for years. If the dog has an immature or
overburdened immune system, the trophozoites continue to multiply by
dividing and can cause the debilitating disease.
The life cycle of Giardia is still somewhat of a mystery. Scientists
do know that the trophozoites encyst at some point, and that the
cysts are passed into the environment when the dog defecates, but the
exact timing and mechanism are not yet known. It is also unclear
whether the protozoans are a single species or several species, each
with a specific host. Suffice to say, however, that Giardia is an
equal opportunity disease that infects several species of animals,
including humans. Thus the presence of cysts in the environment can
trigger an outbreak in people as well as pets. Cysts can remain
viable for several weeks or months in cold, wet environments, so
areas littered with feces should be avoided and piles should be
removed from backyards.
In the mid 1990s, a guide dog school in England was hit by a severe
outbreak of diarrhea. Dr. Maggie Fisher, a veterinarian with an
interest in parasitology, helped devise a treatment and disinfection
strategy to prevent recurrence. Fisher described the diagnosis and
treatment of the disease as follows.
Symptoms: Large populations of Giardia can interfere with the
absorption of food and produce feces that are soft, light-colored,
and greasy. Mucus from the large intestine may also indicate that the
large intestine is irritated even though the colony of active
protozoa remains in the small intestine. Blood tests appear normal
with the possible exception of an increase in a type of white blood
cells and mild anemia.
Because Giardia crosses species and can infect people, sanitation is
important when caring for dogs. Kennel workers and pet owners alike
should be sure to wash hands after cleaning dog runs or removing
feces from yards, and babies and toddlers should be kept away from
dogs that have diarrhea. When traveling with Fido, owners should
prevent him from drinking potentially infected water in streams,
ponds, or swamps and, if possible, avoid public areas polluted with
feces.
Take a fecal sample to your vet for testing
References
1. Giardia in Dogs by Maggie Fisher, BVetMed, MRCVS; at Vet On-Line,
(http://www.priory.com/vet.htm) a service of Priory Lodge Education
Limited.
2. Treatment information is a blend of information from Dr. Fisher
and from "Giardia," an article by Dr. Holly Frisby, Drs. Foster and
Smith Veterinary Services Department,(http://www.drsfostersmith.com).
Norma Bennett Woolf
----------------------------------------------------------------------
----------
[Dog Owner's Guide: Giardia (www.canismajor.com/dog/giardia.html)] is
a part of the Dog Owner's Guide internet website and is copyright
2006 by Canis Major Publications. You may print or download this
material for non-commercial personal or school educational use. All
other rights reserved. If you, your organization or business would
like to reprint our articles in a newsletter or distribute them free
of charge as an educational handout please see our reprint policy.
parasite in the world--Any dog living in an urban environment (even
if he does NOT visit parks or dog runs) should be tested. If he walks
on the streets he is coming in contact with infected dogs feces--
please test your dog--
Tiny Giardia can make Fido mighty sick
Small organism can be big trouble
----------------------------------------------------------------------
----------
Fido has diarrhea, is listless, and has lost weight...
The symptoms are typical of several diseases, but if Fido has had
contact with dirty (or potentially contaminated) water or with dogs
showing similar signs, Giardiasis should at least be suspected.
Giardia are protozoans, tiny, one-celled parasitic life forms with
the potential to cause serious illness. Some dogs are carriers who
show no symptoms, but others get sick and need treatment.
Like many disease organisms, Giardia mature in stages. Unlike many
others, no time elapses between infestation with the dormant phase
and activation of the disease. The cysts (the inactive form) are
found in contaminated water and feces. Once ingested by the dog, the
cysts open and discharge the mobile form known as the trophozoite, a
pear-shaped critter with whip-like flagella that propel it through
the intestine. If the dog is healthy, the trophozoites may live in
the lower digestive tract for years. If the dog has an immature or
overburdened immune system, the trophozoites continue to multiply by
dividing and can cause the debilitating disease.
The life cycle of Giardia is still somewhat of a mystery. Scientists
do know that the trophozoites encyst at some point, and that the
cysts are passed into the environment when the dog defecates, but the
exact timing and mechanism are not yet known. It is also unclear
whether the protozoans are a single species or several species, each
with a specific host. Suffice to say, however, that Giardia is an
equal opportunity disease that infects several species of animals,
including humans. Thus the presence of cysts in the environment can
trigger an outbreak in people as well as pets. Cysts can remain
viable for several weeks or months in cold, wet environments, so
areas littered with feces should be avoided and piles should be
removed from backyards.
In the mid 1990s, a guide dog school in England was hit by a severe
outbreak of diarrhea. Dr. Maggie Fisher, a veterinarian with an
interest in parasitology, helped devise a treatment and disinfection
strategy to prevent recurrence. Fisher described the diagnosis and
treatment of the disease as follows.
Symptoms: Large populations of Giardia can interfere with the
absorption of food and produce feces that are soft, light-colored,
and greasy. Mucus from the large intestine may also indicate that the
large intestine is irritated even though the colony of active
protozoa remains in the small intestine. Blood tests appear normal
with the possible exception of an increase in a type of white blood
cells and mild anemia.
Because Giardia crosses species and can infect people, sanitation is
important when caring for dogs. Kennel workers and pet owners alike
should be sure to wash hands after cleaning dog runs or removing
feces from yards, and babies and toddlers should be kept away from
dogs that have diarrhea. When traveling with Fido, owners should
prevent him from drinking potentially infected water in streams,
ponds, or swamps and, if possible, avoid public areas polluted with
feces.
Take a fecal sample to your vet for testing
References
1. Giardia in Dogs by Maggie Fisher, BVetMed, MRCVS; at Vet On-Line,
(http://www.priory.com/vet.htm) a service of Priory Lodge Education
Limited.
2. Treatment information is a blend of information from Dr. Fisher
and from "Giardia," an article by Dr. Holly Frisby, Drs. Foster and
Smith Veterinary Services Department,(http://www.drsfostersmith.com).
Norma Bennett Woolf
----------------------------------------------------------------------
----------
[Dog Owner's Guide: Giardia (www.canismajor.com/dog/giardia.html)] is
a part of the Dog Owner's Guide internet website and is copyright
2006 by Canis Major Publications. You may print or download this
material for non-commercial personal or school educational use. All
other rights reserved. If you, your organization or business would
like to reprint our articles in a newsletter or distribute them free
of charge as an educational handout please see our reprint policy.