As we continue our journey to unveil the different existing pet infections, which of them affect humans and which of them do not, I will be sharing today on Giardia infections. What makes giardia different from other infections we have written about in the past is that it exists both in animals and humans, it is an intestinal infection caused by a microscopic protozoan.
It is a very simple one-celled parasitic species, it is not a worm, a bacteria, or a virus, the parasite isn't limited to a certain geographical location as it exists worldwide and it is even a common cause of Traveler's diarrhea in people.
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Humans who are always particular about living the outside life, usually consume contaminated water and may develop ''beaver fever'', which is a different name for a disease in people. Giardiasis is a significant source of illness, especially for puppies or younger dogs, in older dogs; your dog has an infection but does not have diarrhea, or show signs of vomiting and other signs.
It is possible for pets to get giardia through the ingestion of feces-contaminated water, food, soil, or other objects. Giardia exists in two forms. we have the trophozoites which stay in the intestine of the infected animal, and even cysts which are trophozoites that are protected by an outer shell that is shed in the dog's stool. Cysts are hard and they can survive in an environment for several months, they are instantly infectious, and only a few ingested cysts can cause infection. A dog can get infected easily by grooming themselves, the infection is possible when there is a cyst on the fur, paw pads, and hid end of the pet.
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Giardia has to be ingested by your pet before they get the parasite so when they drink water that has been contaminated by feces or eat something that has been contaminated by feces including grass, you know the problem is that pets especially dogs actually love to put things in their mouth, so this makes it possible for pets to pick up an infection, he said there are lots of places he had built-in. Once the parasite successfully finds its way into the intestine of your pet, your pet can then spread the parasite even while no sign of infection at all, now the problem is, when you have more than one pet at home.
Common clinical signs of Giardiasis are;
Sudden diarrhea, abdominal discomfort, and even a soft or watery stool that has mucous and a foul odor.
The intention of resolving giardiasis is to get rid of diarrhea and other clinical signs shown by the factor.
If there is prescribed medication by an expert, then it's fine but it does not get over-the-counter medication to treat your pet.
Vets may recommend diet support that will help him get out of health and help control diarrhea.
Pets also need to be constantly and fully bathed on the final day of the treatment to help remove fecal material and any remaining Giardia cysts existing in the fur of the pet.
Remember to always maintain a clean environment for your pet, common household disinfectant and dry cleaning substances are great materials for killing Giardia cysts.
Ensure that your pet's drinking water is always in a clean bowl, persuade him and let him get used to drinking from just one source.
Giardia cysts that are on the lawn could be easily destroyed through direct contact with the sun.
The parasite carefully inhibits the dog's ability in order to properly absorb water, and electrolytes leading to weight loss and diarrhea.
The solution to getting your pet treated is through contact with your Giardia cysts. Traditionally, the test for Giardia is observed under a microscope, but it was noticed to give a poor result when compared to modern an example is a test like ELISA (Enzyme like immunosorbent assay). Some pets may also require rehydration fluids for treatment and nutritional support to help the pet gain weight back.
Can pet owners contact Giardia?
The fear of most pet owners is that their pets do not catch an infection and on the other hand, they are also worried about their own health. Luckily, in the case of Giardia, the chances of the infection from animals to humans is extremely low and could be treated through helpful procedures.
Giardia affects humans too but not from pets, instead, it is from pet owners sharing water utensils, and consumption of contaminated water amongst other things.
Conclusion.
Giardia infection can attack pets as well as humans, however, it is not a regular case of zoonotic infection because the likelihood of the spread of pet to the human on the basis of this infection is very low, instead, animals can spread to one another while humans can as well spread to one another. Pets should be taken away from feces, and unclean water in order to prevent giardia infection, any symptoms noticed should be reported to the vet as soon as possible.
References.
https://www.akc.org/expert-advice/health/the-facts-you-need-to-know-about-giardia-in-dogs/
https://pets.webmd.com/dogs/what-to-know-about-giardia-in-dogs
https://www.msdvetmanual.com/digestive-system/giardiasis-giardia/giardiasis-in-animals
https://www.cdc.gov/parasites/giardia/prevention-control-pets.html
https://vcahospitals.com/know-your-pet/giardia-in-dogs
https://www.petsandparasites.org/dog-owners/giardia-in-dogs/