Giardia in the dog and cat. Dr. Dan- what giardia is, giardia symptoms, diagnosis, and treatment

*This video is for entertainment and educational purposes only. If your pet is sick, take them to see your local veterinarian for the care they need* (Disclaimer)



Hi guys! My name is Dan, and I am a veterinarian.

Today I am covering giardia in the dog and cat. Dog giardia and cat giardia infections look pretty similar and they are diagnosed the same way.

Giardai is a single cell organisms that causes an infection in the small intestines. Dogs and cats will get giardia fecal oral. This means when the dog or cat is licking the ground of their paws, they can be infected with giardia from another dog and cat's poop or stool.

Dog giardia can cause diarrhea. Giardia's most common symptom is diarrhea. The diarrhea my be daily or it may come and go. Giardia can also cause vomiting and lethargy from the infection.

Giardia can be diagnosed two ways. Giardia can be diagnosed with a fecal exam. The poop from a dog is placed in a sugar like solution. The cyst from the giardia will float to the top of the sugar solution. Under a microscope the veterinarian will be able to see the microscopic giardia to diagnose the giardia.

The veterinarian can also do an antigen test. Both of these tests are a really good idea to diagnose the giardia

There are a handful of different medications that can be prescribed for a giardia infection. Giardia infections once treated, resolve pretty quickly.