GIARDIA

WHAT IS GIARDIA?
Giardia is sometimes confused with "worms" because they invade the gastrointestinal tract and can cause diarrhea. Giardia is a one-celled parasitic species classified as a protozoa.

Most pets that are infected with Giardia do not have diarrhea or any other signs of illness. When the eggs (cysts) are found in the stool of a dogor cat without diarrhea, they are generally considered a transient, insignificant finding. However, in puppies, kittens and debilitated adult animals, they may cause severe, watery diarrhea that may be fatal.

WHICH CATS ARE LIKELY TO GET GIARDIASIS?
Infection is relatively rare in healthy cats. It is more common in densely-populated groups of animals, such as in a cattery, pet store, or animal shelter. Also, kittens have been shown to shed more Giardia cysts in their feces than older cats.

HOW DID MY PET GET GIARDIA?
A dog or cat becomes infected with Giardia when it swallows the cyst stage of the parasite. Once inside the animal's intestine, the cyst goes through several stages of maturation. Eventually, the animal passes infective cysts in the stool. These cysts lie in the environment and can infect other dogs and cats. Giardia may also be transmitted through drinking infected water.

HOW IS GIARDIASIS DIAGNOSED?
Giardiasis or infection with Giardia spp. is diagnosed by performing a microscopic examination of a stool sample. The cysts are quite small and usually require a special floatation medium for detection, so they are not normally found on routine fecal examinations. Occasionally, the parasites may be seen on a direct smear of the feces. Tests are available for detection of antigens (cell proteins) of Giardia in the blood or feces. These tests are more accurate than the stool exam, but it may require several days to get a result from the laboratory.

HOW IS GIARDIA TREATED?
The typical drug used to kill Giardia is metronidazole, an antibiotic. It is normally given for five to seven days to treat giardiasis. Other drugs are also used if diarrhea and dehydration occur. If metronidazole is not effective, other medications may be recommended.

CAN HUMANS BECOME INFECTED WITH GIARDIA?
Giardia can cause diarrhea in humans. If your pet is diagnosed with giardiasis, environmental disinfection is important. The use of diluted chlorine bleach at 1:32 or 1:16 dilutions (one cup in a gallon of water or 500 ml in 4 liters of water) is effective in killing the cysts. Giardia cysts are very susceptible to drying. We recommend thoroughly cleaning the pet's living and sleeping areas and then allowing the areas to dry out for several days before reintroducing pets.