giardia wont go away in my dog?

Question

My dog has gone through two treatments of Flagyl. one panacure, and is now on third flagvyl. I thought at one point it went away but a few days later he had the runs. Its been over a month now what should i do?

Answer 1

Why not try using something natural in concert with the traditional medication. Here are some websites with products and info:

http://www.buckmountainbotanicals.com

Look up:
black walnut
chamomile
wormwood

http://wolfcreekranch1.tripod.com/coccidia.html

http://www.avitec.com/AviPow-Anti-Fungal-Anti-Bacterial-p/apw.htm

Answer 2

I'm a bit surprised that you've not had success with Flagyl, since it is the medication of choice. That leads me to believe that your dog's problem is either:
1) Not Giardia (perhaps coccidiosis )
2) It is re-infection of Giardia

Please check the link at the end of this post... while geared to kennel operators, it has excellent info. Especially note that Giardia is not a germ, but an internal parasite that can live (under certain conditions) outside its hosts for some time.
You must eliminate stray cysts in the dog's living area to prevent re-infection.

Active hunting dogs seem to get Giardia often; if your vet can't help, you may seek a second opinion from a vet that works with hunting dogs.

BTW, note that it can infect humans, too!

Good Luck!

Answer 3

Talk to your vet. My friend has the same problem and was told it stays dormant when we think it is gone. Her dog is 2 and has had it pop back at random times. It was put on special food, in addition to the meds, and if it is changed at all out comes the giardia again. It has cost them thousands of dollars for this dog. He is a very large dog. They never know when it will come back. He was bought in a pet store and that was how they got him. The store offered to take him back but they loved him by then.
Best of luck with your dog.

Answer 4

Wow... I was lucky, My dog had severe giardia (bloody mucus diarhhea and everything) and one treatment of flagyl cleared her right up and none of our other 5 caught it, though we have emergency flagyl just in case.. You shoudl clean up after the dog's messes with STRONG bleach water immediately.

Answer 5

Your dog might be 'reinfecting' itself after the treatments. What water sources are available to your dog? Do you use filtered water for drinking? If you do, use the same water for the dog. If you don't filter your own drinking water, consider having your water tested.

Good possiblity that your dog needs a better quality dog food, one without any corn or wheat products in it for better absorbtion of nutrients.

Answer 6

are you having fecal samples done at regular intervals at your vets office or are you just treating?