Lambliosis in dogs

Giardiasis in dogs is a disease caused by the simplest parasitic pathology of giardia. Unlike humans, dogs with giardiasis are more susceptible to acute and chronic forms of the disease. Various internal organs of the animal can be affected.

Just as in the human body, the small intestine is primarily affected. Damage to this part of the gastrointestinal tract leads to the development of symptoms of dermatological disorders, allergies and neurological irritations.

Any dog can become infected with giardiasis. The danger is that this disease is transmitted not only from animal to animal, but also from a person to their pet. Therefore, problems arise not only in identifying, but also in treating the disease.

The parasite lamblia can be located in the body both as a trophozoite and as a frozen cyst. In the latter state, the parasitic organism can remain motionless for a long time until it gets into the weakened intestine. The first condition for reproduction is that the pathogen must have a moist and cool environment.

Lamblia parasites are spread through secretions with cysts that enter the environment. After that, the microorganisms spread through water and air - moving along objects that end up in infected feces. Lamblia cysts penetrate the digestive tract and dissolve their shell. Gastric juice helps this process. After the shell dissolves, two trophozoites come out of the cyst, which after some time are transformed into full-fledged parasites. Unfortunately, the effect of lamblia on the small intestine has not been reliably studied. But veterinarians adhere to the theory that lambliasis chooses the small intestine cavity as its habitat - as in the human body. Lamblia secrete toxins and have a destructive effect on the intestinal walls. These processes interfere with normal digestion and absorption of food. As a result, diarrhea occurs.

To combat the disease, both animals and humans need to have strong immunity.

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Causes of Giardiasis in Dogs

Giardiasis in dogs occurs when the simplest single-celled microorganisms lamblia penetrate. Lamblia settle in the cavity of the small intestine. When the passive type of lamblia cyst penetrates the host's body and dissolves its shell, the disease itself begins. The bacteria begins its harmful activity, active reproduction.

The cause of giardiasis in dogs is the entry of carriers of microorganisms through soil, water or the dog's favorite toy. Microorganisms infect dogs through food and water sources. Therefore, it is necessary to carefully monitor the pet during walks and swimming in water bodies - infected feces can be found anywhere. Toys that can be shared by dogs living in the same yard also become carriers of infection.

If your dog becomes a carrier of cysts, after a couple of weeks of infection it itself becomes a carrier of giardiasis. Therefore, if you are the owner of several pets, the others can also become infected. Giardia, after entering the intestines, attach to its walls through the villi of epithelial cells. In doing so, they release toxic waste, which causes disruptions in the dog's body.

• The renewal of the intestinal walls is greatly impaired. The walls that were destroyed by lamblia are replaced by new immature ones, which in turn, not having time to enter the intestinal cycle, die again. Therefore, there are huge failures in the digestive system, the absorption of important substances and elements does not occur. Lactase deficiency may develop.
• Through the intestinal wall thinned by lamblia, various antigens penetrate inside, which are much larger than the organisms in the intestine. Food allergies begin to develop.
• Digestion in the small intestine deteriorates, and mineral and vitamin deficiencies develop in full swing.

In very severe cases, a dog's intestines can lose about half of their digestive functions.

In rare cases, lamblia parasites do not cause pathology and do not show their presence in the body.

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Symptoms of Giardiasis in Dogs

The manifestation of giardiasis in your dog can be hidden until the most severe form, when the integrity of the intestine is completely disrupted. General symptoms of giardiasis in dogs can manifest as minor intestinal disorders or general malaise. The presence of giardia can cause enterocolitis, which will be accompanied by prolonged (up to several months) diarrhea in liquid form. The possibility of your dog having diarrhea is thirty percent.

The presence of lamblia microorganisms in the intestines can also lead to duodenitis. In this case, weight loss is possible, while maintaining a good appetite.

Destructive processes occur in the intestines - the walls of the small intestine are destroyed, vitamins and useful minerals are not absorbed. Parasites in large quantities are also capable of disrupting the motor and secretory functions of the small intestine.

Diagnosis of Giardiasis in Dogs

It is very difficult to diagnose giardiasis in dogs based on symptoms alone. After all, most pets live through this disease without any external disorders. But if you begin to notice liquid diarrhea that continues without any apparent reason, you have something to worry about. Any mucus or blood in the feces is usually not present with giardiasis. But there may be vomiting or attacks of flatulence.

The detection of cysts in the dog's feces will help you diagnose the exact presence of the disease. To do this, you need to perform an endoscopy of the small intestine. At the discretion of the veterinarian, it is possible to analyze smears taken from the anus. In this case, a small amount of fresh feces is mixed with a special solution. In this way, they find out about the presence of trophozoites. For an accurate result of this analysis, it must be carried out for several days in a row. In this case, the percentage of detection of lamblia in the body increases to one hundred percent.

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Treatment of giardiasis in dogs

The most important thing in treating giardiasis in dogs is the complete elimination of cysts from the intestines. Unfortunately, such medications for animals are not yet available on the veterinary market. Therefore, the issue is preventing infection of others - for this, it is necessary to take special drugs. But even for this purpose, perfect drugs have not yet been developed, since there is a risk of re-infection through cysts that have already left the host's body.

In order to carry out a successful course of treatment against giardia, it is necessary to choose between effectiveness and the number of side effects. One of the most popular drugs is Metronidazole - its effectiveness in treatment is 67 percent. This drug is used for the complex treatment of intestinal diseases of pets. But be careful when using - an overdose of metronidazole can even lead to death.

There are less dangerous drugs in veterinary medicine. One of them is Panacur. It is more effective and can be used even in the treatment of puppies.

But drug treatment is not enough. It is necessary to carry out an additional set of measures. It is necessary to carefully monitor cleanliness - all surfaces must be disinfected. Owners of several pets must clean especially carefully. In order to destroy cysts, try using quarter ammonium. Existing carpets are cleaned using hot steam.

It is advisable to isolate your dog from its fellows until it is completely cured. Bathe it thoroughly after each visit to the toilet so that feces with cysts do not remain on the fur, as re-infection may occur.

It is also necessary to monitor your own cleanliness - you can also become infected from your dog. It is necessary to wash your hands thoroughly after touching and other contacts with a sick dog until complete recovery.

Prevention of Giardiasis in Dogs

Prevention of giardiasis in dogs consists of maintaining hygiene rules. It is necessary to carefully check acquired dogs, as their organism may contain parasites. Try to keep your dog away from dirty streams and ponds.

Constant stress can also provoke a decline in the dog's immune system, as a result of which giardiasis can develop. Avoid frequent moves and travel. The road and settling into a new place takes a lot of time and energy from the dog.

A sudden change in diet will also be stressful for the dog. The introduction of new products should be gradual and unobtrusive. Try mixing new products with old ones, gradually replacing the latter.

You can also use vitamins to support the immune system. These can be either vitamins or courses of special vaccines to prevent giardiasis in dogs.

Prognosis of Giardiasis in Dogs

If you have detected lamblia in the dog's body in time and have carried out all necessary measures for treatment in a timely manner, then the prognosis for recovery from lambliasis in dogs is very positive. The recovery rate, if all safety measures are observed, reaches ninety-five percent.

However, a relapse of the disease is also possible. For example, after contact with an infected dog that is a carrier of cysts. Therefore, as soon as the dog has recovered, it should be under the strict supervision of a veterinarian. In this way, the body weakened by giardia can be cleared of parasites in time. Also, after a full recovery, your pet needs to undergo a course of vitamins, which will reduce the possibility of a relapse of giardiasis in dogs to a minimum and strengthen the immune system.