Giardia - one cause of diarrhea..
Giardia is a protozoan, which is a microscopic organism slightly larger than a bacteria. Giardia lives in water - usually puddles, lakes and streams. Giardiasis is the most frequently occurring waterborne illness in North America.
Giardiasis is a zoonosis. That means many different species can be infected, including pets and humans.
Pets become infected by drinking contaminated water, by swimming in pools, lakes or streams, or by walking in contaminated runoff or puddles and then licking the water with organisms in it.
Pets with giardiasis can be asymptomatic, meaning that they don't show signs of illness. But all infected animals, whether they are sick or not, shed giardia cysts in their bowel movements. You cannot identify shedders by looking at them. Wild animals also shed giardia cysts into the environment. Water runoff then flows into streams and lakes, contaminating these water sources.
Symptoms of giardiasis include diarrhea (often chronic), weight loss and poor weight gain despite normal appetite. Humans with giardiasis experience pain and cramping. It is unknown whether pets experience these symptoms, but it is likely that gassy bloating and cramps occur.
Giardia is treated with antibiotics, however, recently some antibiotic treatments have become ineffective. Recurrent infection is common.
A new vaccine is available for prevention of giardia infection and prevention of cyst shedding in dogs and cats. If your pet is at risk, ask the veterinarians.
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