If a dog gets diarrhea as a result of parasites, the most common causes are Coccidia or Giardia. Both will cause diarrhea, but each requires different medication. Both Coccidia and Giardia are protozoan pathogens that cause the same types of symptoms, and both are contracted the fecal oral route. The only definitive way to distinguish the two is by examining a fecal sample under the microscope. Both are also very contagious. Coccidia is more dangerous to puppies your other pets may become infected from exposure to infected fecal matter but it is important to note that this is usually an infection of the young (i.e. the immature immune system tends to let the coccidia infection reach large numbers whereas the mature immune system probably will not.) In most cases, the infected new puppy or kitten does not infect the resident adult animal.

Giardia (Giardiasis)

Giardia is a protozoan parasite picked up through ingesting contaminated water, soil, or feces. It has a sucker on its belly, helping it stay adhered to the inside walls of the intestines of our dogs and cats. The sucker is also what makes it Giardia one of the most stubborn parasites to treat.

Many parasites can be acquired from ingesting feces, but this one especially can be transmitted to people from their animals, it is zoonotic. With any disease, especially one which is zoonotic, remember to wash your hands after petting your animal. Many pets will lick their anus after defecating to keep it clean, then can lick our hands or face. There is always a risk of ingesting parasite eggs if we don’t wash our hands after handling our pets, especially just before eating.

What you see with your eyes: Occasionally we will see intermittent diarrhea, often stools will look normal unless the infection is more severe.

The symptoms of Giardia are typical of several diseases, but if your dog has had contact with dirty (or potentially contaminated) water or with dogs showing similar signs, Giardiasis should at least be suspected.

Giardiasis is an intestinal infection that is caused by the protozoan parasite giardia, which is the most common intestinal parasite that is found in humans. Dogs develop the infection by ingesting infectious offspring (cysts) that are shed in another animal’s feces. The contamination can be from direct or indirect contact with the infected cysts. The organisms, once ingested, make their way into the intestine, often causing diarrhea. The treatment is typically performed on an outpatient basis with a good prognosis.

Like many disease organisms, Giardia mature in stages. Unlike many others, no time elapses between infestation with the dormant phase and activation of the disease. The cysts (the inactive form) are found in contaminated water and feces. Once ingested by the dog, the cysts open and discharge the mobile form known as the trophozoite, a pear-shaped critter with whip-like flagella that propel it through the intestine. If the dog is healthy, the trophozoites may live in the lower digestive tract for years. If the dog has an immature or overburdened immune system, the trophozoites continue to multiply by dividing and can cause the debilitating disease.

Symptoms of Giardia:

Large populations of Giardia can interfere with the absorption of food and produce feces that are soft, light-colored, and greasy. Mucus from the large intestine may also indicate that the large intestine is irritated even though the colony of active protozoa remains in the small intestine. Blood tests appear normal with the possible exception of an increase in a type of white blood cells and mild anemia.

Diagnosis of Giardia:

Since diarrhea is a common symptom of intestinal infection, causes such as Salmonella and Campylobacter are generally ruled out before testing for Giardia is done. Direct microscopic inspection of feces can help to determine the presence of the protozoan. Examination of soft feces may reveal the active trophozoites, and cysts may be found in firm excrement.

The number of cysts can vary from day to day, so best chances of detecting this form of Giardia lies in collecting samples over three days for a fecal flotation test or conducting individual tests every two or three days until at least three tests have been done. A quicker test does exist, but it is more expensive and requires an experienced technician to run.

Treatment for Giardia and how it can be treated for less?

If it were me I would start by deworming your dogs (all your dogs) with Panacur or Safeguard dewormer for a 3 day course (info below). At this time nothing else works as well for Giardia, and Metronidazole and Flagyl only stops it for a short time, then it returns. Giardia in dogs is almost impossible to find in a stool check so I recommend just automatically worming them with Panacure or Safeguard. If your vet insists on a test, make sure that you do not bring a stool from home, that tells me the vet does not know how to properly test for giardia. You need a fresh, warm stool so it is best to use a loop tool and take a sample from the dog. Even then, if the giardia cyst is not present, it will come up with a false negative.

Fenbendazole – Safeguard/Panacur Giardia Treatment

In a recent study, Panacur or Safeguard (name brands for the drug Fenbendazole), which is approved for use in treating dogs with roundworm, hookworm, and whipworm, has been shown ALSO to be effective in treating canine giardiasis.

Safe-Guard Packets – One Box Per Dog

For the treatment and control of Roundworms (Toxocara canis Toxascaris leonina) Hookworms (Ancylostoma caninum Uncinaria stenocephala) Whipworms (Trichuris vulpis) and Tapeworms (Taenia pisiformis) and Giardia.

Safe-Guard^® (Fenbendazole) Canine is safe for use in puppies 6 weeks or older and adult dogs including pregnant bitches.

Other Giardia Treatment Options. .

There are several options of treatment , some with two- or three-day protocols and others needing seven-to-10 days to complete the job.

Flagyl Giardia Treatment

Flagyl (Metronidazole) is an old stand-by treatment for bacterial infestations that cause diarrhea and is about 60-70 percent effective in curing giardiasis. However, Flagyl has potentially serious side-effects in some animals, including vomiting, anorexia, liver toxicity, and some neurological signs, and it cannot be used in pregnant dogs.

You can also get Safeguard over the counter at Petco and Petsmart and both treatments can be found online for cheaper at Vet Supply Stores like Revival Animal Health online and Lambert Vet Supply online.

I have purchased the Flagyl (Metronidazole) tablets from from revivalanimal.com online without a prescription and for a lot less money (before I discovered Fenbendazole works even better) . I have seen Vet bills charging as much as $15.00 for two (2) 250 mg tablets.

I buy a product called FISH-ZOLE which is simply the prescription Metronidazole (Rx) bottled and labeled for fish tank use. It is a bottle of 250 mg x 30 tablets of Metronidazole (Flagyl) for only$24.99 (current price as of 07/20/2012). These tablets are the exact same tablets that you get when your Vet prescribes this drug to your dogs. Let me make this clear, these are the exact same tablets: same size, same color, and even same markings.

Recommended Dosage: I give adult Labradoodles (avg. 45 lbs) one 250 mg tablet twice per day and Doodle puppies (avg. 8-12 lbs) one-half of a 250 mg tablet twice per day for a total of 5 days. In 5 days, your Labradoodles will be 100% FREE from giardiasis. These tablets are extremely easy to administer, and this is also the dosage which is recommended by most Vets. You will not find this medication cheaper anywhere else.

Another approach is to retreat after an interval of one week.

WARNING: BEFORE YOU WORM WITH PANACUR OR SAFE-GUARD FOR DOGS MAKE SURE YOUR DOG HAS BEEN TESTED FOR HEARTWORM AND ON A HEARTWORM MEDICINE DAILY. IF NOT, AND YOUR DOG HAS ADULT HEART WORMS, IT WILL KILL THE HEARTWORMS BUT THE DEAD WORMS CLOG THE HEART AND IT WILL KILL YOUR DOG. MAKE SURE YOU ARE WORKING WITH YOUR VET ON THIS SO THERE IS NO MISTAKE WHEN USING DRUGS.

What is Coccidia?

Coccidia are small protozoans (one-celled organisms) that live in the intestinal tracts of dogs and cats. They cause disease most commonly in puppies and kittens less than six months of age, in adult animals whose immune system is suppressed, or in animals who are stressed in other ways (e.g.; change in ownership, other disease present).In dogs and cats, most coccidia are of the genus called Isospora. Isospora canis and I. ohioensisare the species most often encountered in dogs. Regardless of which species is present, we generally refer to the disease as coccidiosis. As a puppy ages, he tends to develop a natural immunity to the effects of coccidia. As an adult, he may carry coccidia in his intestines, and shed the cyst in the feces, but experience no ill effects. All dogs have some level of Coccidia in their gut. When a dog is stressed (i.e. being shipped, moving into a new environment etc ) the stress can cause the Coccidia to bloom and flair up causing diarrhea. The solution is to give the dog ALBON. How much and how it is administered is a question for your vet.

How are Coccidia Transmitted?

A puppy is not born with the coccidia organisms in his intestine. However, once born, the puppy is frequently exposed to his mother’s feces, and if the mother is shedding the infective cysts in her feces, then the young animals will likely ingest them and coccidia will develop within the young animal’s intestines. Since young puppies, usually those less than six months of age, have no immunity to coccidia, the organisms reproduce in great numbers and parasitize the young animal’s intestines. Oftentimes, this has severe effects. From exposure to the coccidia in feces to the onset of the illness is about 13 days. Most puppies who are ill from coccidia are, therefore, two weeks of age and older. Although most infections are the result of spread from the mother, this is not always the case. Any infected puppy or kitten is contagious to other puppies or kittens. In breeding facilities, shelters, animal hospitals, etc., it is wise to isolate those infected from those that are not.

What are the Symptoms of Coccidiosis?

The primary sign of an animal suffering with coccidiosis is diarrhea. The diarrhea may be mild to severe depending on the level of infection. Blood and mucous may be present, especially in advanced cases. Severely affected animals may also vomit, lose their appetite, become dehydrated, and in some instances, die from the disease. Most infected puppies encountered by the authors are in the four to twelve week age group. The possibility of coccidiosis should always be considered when a loose stool or diarrhea is encountered in this age group. A microscopic fecal exam by a veterinarian will detect the cysts confirming a diagnosis. It should be mentioned that stress plays a role in the development of coccidiosis. It is not uncommon for a seemingly healthy puppy to arrive at his new home and develop diarrhea several days later leading to a diagnosis of coccidia. If the puppy has been at the new home for less than thirteen days, then he had coccidia before he arrived. Remember, the incubation period (from exposure to illness) is about thirteen days. If the puppy has been with his new owner several weeks, then the exposure to coccidia most likely occurred after the animal arrived at the new home.

What are the Risks?

Although many cases are mild, it is not uncommon to see severe, bloody diarrhea result in dehydration and even death. This is most common in animals who are ill or infected with other parasites, bacteria, or viruses. Coccidiosis is very contagious, especially among young puppies. Entire kennels may become contaminated, with puppies of many age groups simultaneously affected.

What is the treatment of coccidiosis?

Fortunately, coccidiosis is treatable. Drugs such as sulfadimethoxine (Albon^®) and trimethoprim-sulfadiazine (Tribrissen^®) have been effective in the treatment and prevention of coccidia. Because these drugs do not kill the organisms, but rather inhibit their reproduction capabilities, elimination of coccidia from the intestine is not rapid. By stopping the ability of the protozoa to reproduce, time is allowed for the puppy’s own immunity to develop and remove the organisms. Drug treatments of one to three weeks are usually required.

How is Coccidiosis prevented or controlled?

Because coccidia is spread by the feces of carrier animals, it is very important to practice strict sanitation. All fecal material should be removed. Housing needs to be such that food and water cannot become contaminated with feces. Clean water should be provided at all times. Most disinfectants do not work well against coccidia; incineration of the feces, and steam cleaning, immersion in boiling water, or a 10% ammonia solution are the best methods to kill coccidia. Coccidia can withstand freezing. Cockroaches and flies can mechanically carry coccidia from one place to another. Mice and other animals can ingest the coccidia and when killed and eaten by a dog, for instance, can infect the dog. Therefore, insect and rodent control is very important in preventing coccidiosis.

Can Coccidia infect Humans?

While there are species of coccidia that can infect people (Toxoplasma and Cryptosporidium, for example), the Isospora species of dogs and cats are not infective to people.

Highly Recommended Reading:

My Deworming Protocal for Dog Breeders:

Breeders need to keep those nasty parasites in check and the best way to do it is to have a good and consistent deworming protocal for not only your puppies but your whole pack of dogs whether they’re pregnant or not if they are on your property you need to deworm everyone at the same times.

Puppies need to be dewormed at 2,4,6,8 Weeks or every 2 wks until they go home up until 16 weeks and then every 6 months once they go home.

Deworming Protocal for Your Puppies and Your Pack

I use Pyrantel Pamoate first won our Puppies at 2 and 4 wks (1 day dosage) and then Safeguard starting at 6 weeks. Once a day for 3 days. (and again every 2 weeks).

Puppies must be 6 wks or older to use the Safeguard, that’s why I use the Pyrantel Pamoate for the first 4 weeks.

*Remember to deworm your whole pack with Safeguard 2 weeks before whelping a litter and everytime you deworm the puppies except I only use the Safeguard on my adults not the Pyrantel because Safeguard covers more types of worms and also treats Giardia.

*Remember Adult Dogs can have Giardia and/or Coccidia and pass it onto the puppies while still showing no symptoms themselves. Most adult dogs are immune to giardia by adulthood but it gives young puppies moderate to severe diarrhea and can even kill them if left untreated or they are really young. Giardia and Coccidia have very similiar symptoms so you may need to get a fecal test done to diagnose the exact issue.

Safeguard (Fenbendazole)I recommend buying the big bottle if you plan on having a few litters a year or have more then 4-5 dogs.

Deworming Puppies – Safeguard (Fenbendazole)

I use the Safeguard Bottle labeled for Goats and Cows. Starting at (6wks+) Same medication. Different dosage chart. You get more of the medication for your money.

Pyrantel Pamoate Suspension 50 mg 16 oz

Pyrantel Pamoate Suspension 50 mg 16 oz bottle by Generic

Pyrantel Pamoate Suspension 50 mg 16 oz

Liquid De-wormer – removes large roundworms and hookworms in dogs and puppies
PLEASE USE THE PYRANTEL PAMOATE DOSAGE CHART FOR ADULTS AND PUPPIES – CLICK HERE
Deworming Puppies & Dogs – Pyrantel Pamoate Dosage Chart (2wks & 4wks):
I use the Pyrantel Pamoate 50 mg to 1 ml Suspension bottle by Columbia Factories (last longer; different dosage chart then Nemex 2).*Buy the Pyrantel Pamoate 50 mg to 1ml Bottle by Columbia Factories (labeled for humans) on Amazon

Same exact medication just a different dosage chart. You get WAY more for your money.

IMPORTANT

*For proper dosing use a 1cc -1ml oral dosing syringe for puppies and a 3 or 5 ML oral dosing syringe for Adults.

NEMEX 2 – PYRANTEL PAMOATE

You can also use Nemex 2 (PYRANTEL PAMOATE) instead of the Columbia Factories brand above but it is a different dosage and you will need to spend alot more money in order to deworm everyone in your litter especially if you have multiple litters. The dosage instructions are on the bottle. Nemex 2 (PYRANTEL PAMOATE) does NOT TREAT GIARDIA OR COCCIDIA.

Liquid wormer removes large roundworms and hookworms in dogs and puppies.