Should I bring my giardia-exposed puppy home while on treatment?

Thank you for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! The risk of contracting Giardia from your dog is pretty slim, but elderly, very young, or immunocompromised individuals are at a higher risk. If Kiddo is fully vaccinated, fully treated with an anti-parasitic agent, and house trained, it should not be a concern for Kiddo to reinfect herself. You do not need to steam/bleach/etc your home continuously after treatment. I am happy to answer any other questions you may have and wish you luck with your puppy!

Yes, Metronidazole is safe to give pets that are less than 6 months old. In refractory cases, it is often recommended to also treat with a dewormer (i.e. Fenbendazole). I really like Foriflora probiotic, here is a link --> https://www.chewy.com/purina-pro-plan-veterinary-diets/dp/50029 In cases where a pet is positive for Giardia but not symptomatic, we may not treat, so its best to ask your veterinarian for advice before moving forward. Also if your pet is constantly getting Giardia, then I would highly consider doing a bloodwork check to ensure there is no immune system issue that is making your pet more prone to infections. I wish you all the best in managing your pet Jackson's Giardia. Take care!

It sounds like you are doing everything right. I would keep treating her if she still has cysts in the stools. When they "clear" the giardia is completely dependent on the dog. There is not cut and dry answer to that question. Same goes with how many rounds of treatment they will need. Some puppies clear it with one course of medication. Others take months of treatment. Just keep working closely with your vet. Here is a link to more information about giardia in dogs. I think you should consider using a probiotic along with treatment. Any probiotic made for dogs would be OK but I highly recommend you use Fortiflora. https://vcahospitals.com/know-your-pet/giardia-in-dogs https://www.allivet.com/p-1130-purina-pro-plan-veterinary-diets-fortiflora-dog-supplement-box-of-30.aspx

Thank you for submitting your question regarding Mia. Giardia is spread through a fecal oral route. Typically good hygiene and washing your hands thoroughly prohibits this from occurring. I would not let her lick your mouth. Scoop the feces in the yard frequently and wash your hands afterwards. She should stay home from doggie daycare until the infection is resolved. I hope this information helps!

Hello. I am sorry that Jagger has giardia. You should be able to get a prescription from your vet that diagnosed the giardia. In general Metronidazole (sometimes sold as 'Flagyl') is used to treat giardia. Of course, if you think your family has this then you will need to go to the doctor to get a stool sample done, and get medication from your family from your doctor. Other medications can work as well however Metronidazole is the most common 'go-to'. Best of luck with Jagger.

I hate t hear Max is having this issue. Most puppies with Giardia are fine to vaccinate as long as they are not lethargic, not eating well, vomiting or have severe diarrhea. Mild, non-bloody loose stool in a puppy who is active and eating well can generally be vaccinated (though you may space them out to be more safe). Also, giardia testing needs to be done 4-6 weeks after treatment to be sure the parasite is gone. Some pets will need a combination of medication to kill the parasite. Make sure to check with Max's vet to make sure it is ok to vaccinate him and to make sure Max is getting the correct medication. I hope this helps and please feel free to post any additional questions.

Thank you for submitting your question regarding Luna. I recommend having her stool tested again to ensure the infection is resolved before taking her to public places. Be sure to clean your yard thoroughly to avoid reinfection. I hope this information helps!