Ive taken in kittens with it. Take extra precautions by washing your hands after handling the dog and clean her bedding. I would avoid puppy kisses on your face too until you get the all-clear. But don't freak out...I've probably dealt with it 3x in the last 5 yrs and never caught it.

It took my doggie several rounds of treatments to finally get rid of it. The 2-week or so course of meds doesn't always totally zap it and a few weeks or months later, it would come back. Finally did double the recommended course of treatment and doggie beat it. I was told that relapses are fairly common and several rounds of treatment are common. Doggie had trouble controlling herself when she had an episode so we put down washable rugs in the house and never scolded her if she had an accident there. And, I was told that giardia can be particularly rough on a younger dog so watch her carefully (sounds like you are doing that.)

Make sure you wash down all her outdoor potty spots with a mixture of water and Palmolive dishwashing detergent (just the plain old green stuff). It won't do the grass too much harm, and it won't harm her either. As hauscat said, be scrupulous about washing your hands with soap and hot water.

So sorry you and your pup are going through this. Hope she feels better, soon.

In addition to the meds, the vet prescribed W/D brand dog food which is designed to address gastro-intestinal issues. That seemed to help, too. I had no idea such a thing as prescription dog food even existed at the time.

My dog was cured after a 10 day treatment with Flagyl and the powder on the food ( I can't remember the name right now) for five days. She could also get it from eating cat poop or other animal poop that is in your yard or where you take her on walks. I think my dog got it from eating goose poop (or maybe drinking pond water).

Ceide do u take your dog to the dogpark or the reservation? do you have a lot of stray cats or racoons around you? sterilizing your floor surfaces is very important.

Do you have a steam mop? Steam mop the house. It kills the cysts and you can use steam on rugs unlike bleach.

Besides reinfection you are dealing with a dog whose intestinal lining is in shreds not only due to giardia but also due to the antibiotics. You need to build that up so wont be such an easy target... Try this supplement http://www.amazon.com/Probiotic-Miracle-Probiotics-Dogs-servings/dp/B002RGU0AA
This is one of the few products that has the strain B. Animalis in it which is very helpful with a dog that has intestinal issues. Most human products including yoghurt doesnt have B. animals.

There is much discussion in the medical field in regards to what actually triggers the giardia outbreak. Now the thought is that it isnt just a matter of getting infected but having to have a compromised digestive immuno situation that allows the parasite to settle in. Do yourself a favor..for now switch over to W/D food and put her own pribiotics. No fancy treats, get rid of her toys of you can't boil them....NO RAWHIDE! NO BULLY STICKS!

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Here is a very good educational article about giardia.

Giardia are protozoa (one-celled organisms) that live in the small intestine of dogs and cats. Giardia are found throughout the United States and in many other parts of the world. Infection with Giardia is called 'giardiasis.'

There are many things we do not know about this parasite. Experts do not agree on how many species of Giardia there are and which ones affect which animals. Veterinarians do not even agree on how common Giardia infections are and when they should be treated. Generally, it is believed that infection with Giardia is common but disease is rare. There is much about the life cycle we do not know either.

A dog becomes infected by eating the cyst form of the parasite. In the small intestine, the cyst opens and releases an active form called a trophozoite. These have flagella, hair-like structures that whip back and forth allowing them to move around. They attach to the intestinal wall and reproduce by dividing in two. After an unknown number of divisions, at some stage, in an unknown location, this form develops a wall around itself (encysts) and is passed in the feces. The Giardia in the feces can contaminate the environment and water and infect other animals and people..

How can I prevent my pet from becoming infected with Giardia?

The cysts can live several weeks to months outside the host in wet, cold environments. So lawns, parks, kennels, and other areas that may be contaminated with animal feces can be a source of infection for your pet. You should keep your pet away from areas contaminated by the feces of other animals. This is not always easy.

As with other parasites of the digestive system, prevention of the spread of Giardia centers on testing and treating infected animals and using sanitary measures to reduce or kill the organisms in the environment. Solutions quaternary ammonium compounds are effective against Giardia.

Decontaminate the Environment: Establish a clean area. If possible, this can be the whole facility. Otherwise, create a few clean runs or cages, separate from the others. Remove all fecal material from the areas since the organic matter in feces can greatly decrease the effectiveness of many disinfectants. Steam clean the area. Quaternary ammonium disinfectants used according to manufacturer's directions or a 1:5 or 1:10 solution of bleach can usually kill the cysts within one minute. Allow the area to dry for several days before reintroducing the animals. NOTE: Use extreme caution when using quaternary ammonium compounds and bleach solutions. Use proper ventilation, gloves, protective clothing and follow your veterinarian's recommendations.

Clean the Animals: Cysts can remain stuck to the haircoats of infected animals. So during treatment and before moving the treated animals to the clean area, they should be regularly shampooed and rinsed well. Especially concentrate on the perianal area.

Prevent Reintroduction of Giardia: Giardia can be brought into the kennel either by introducing an infected animal or on your shoes or boots. Any new animal should be quarantined from the rest of the animals and be treated and cleaned as described above. You should either use disposable shoe covers or clean shoes/boots and use a footbath containing quaternary ammonium compounds to prevent people from reintroducing Giardia.

Remember, Giardia of dogs may infect people, so good, personal hygiene should be used by adults when cleaning kennels or picking up the yard, and by children who may play with pets or in potentially contaminated areas.

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Key is steam for what you cant bleach. Don't forget your shoes!!!

Scrupulous cleanliness -- its very contagious to humans, too. And the treatment for humans is pretty miserable.

We had it with our greyhound when she came off the track. In addition to the flagyl, we fed her rice and sweet potatoes, sprinkled with probiotics. Note: probiotics must be the kind you find in the refrigerated case.
Good luck!

Our dog just went through a course of panacur and flagl for giardia. His stools are pretty solid and less frequent...I assumed he was over it when I dropped off his stool sample... Now you guys have me thinking it may not be so easy. Results should be in tomorrow.

So there was a powder which Dr. Levine gave us in addition to the flagyl - could that be Panacur? Tomorrow, I am going to go to Propets, get probiotics for doggies and some really good quality food. I already cleaned everything, but I am going to have another go around and definitely get a steam cleaner!

I gave her white rice and boiled chicken for dinner this evening. She wolfed it down so it looks like she's getting her appetite back.

@pixigirl and everyone else - thanks for the good advice! I just want our puppy to be better.

JDBitterman said:

In addition to the meds, the vet prescribed W/D brand dog food which is designed to address gastro-intestinal issues. That seemed to help, too. I had no idea such a thing as prescription dog food even existed at the time.

W/d is amazing for binding up loose stools or diarrhea. ProPets doesn't have anything that compares, or at least not in my experience (and I've tried quite a few).

I believe it's the Hills Pet (Science Diet) Prescription Dog food. There's different types - W/D is for treating allergies and I/D is for treating gastro intestinal upsets.

So Dr. Levine should have this food? I will get it tomorrow morning. I have been giving her boiled chicken and rice.

ceidefields said:

So Dr. Levine should have this food? I will get it tomorrow morning. I have been giving her boiled chicken and rice.

Yes, I get it from Dr. Levine. And you can return any cans you don't use.

yay!