Giardia and Coccidia.....eeeewwwww yuck! - Page 2

 Just to correct some posts here....both giardia and coccidia are PROTOZOANS, NOT BACTERIA....big difference.

They are very difficult, if not impossible, to eradicate in any environment that cannot withstand rigorous disinfection. This is one reason why these conditions occur in so many breeders quarters who do not rigorously disinfect their facility. Many boarding kennels also support these infections and dogs go home ill. Giardia is probably a zoonotic, meaning it is transmissible between humans and animals and animals and humans.

so what is the difference between the two?

john

We have LOTS of Pet Store pups come into the Vet Clinic where I work and almost all of the pups have Giardia. We treat with Flagyl and it clears up all but maybe 2 % of them. As for Coccidia, we treat them all with Centrine and have the same success. We actually find the opposite effect when the dogs come in from the Shelters that transport from the south to the northeast and do their own Deworming and try to do their own treatments. They use Panacur and we end up having to treat with Flagyl. Flagyl and Centrine has worked for us with HUGE success until I can remember. Unfortunately they are becoming more and more popular as time goes on.

Tina

for coccidiosis, ....... when I had chickens it was very common for the chicks to get it, especially during the wet months. The vets had me use albon which was effective but didnt keep it gone. The chicken board I was on had people like those here, ones with years of experience. They told me to add a small amount of applecider vinegar to their water, preferrably with the "Mother". well it worked.No more Cocci. Apparently the vinegar creates a hostile environment for internal parasites as well as help the absorbition of calcium from the oystershell for the adults. When my dog was cleaning up after the chickens as only dogs will do, she ended up with Cocci ( altho not chicken cocci, apparently cocci is species specific according to the vet) wel I asked her if I could add the vinegar to the dogs water and she said it would be fine. It helps keep the water a bit fresher during the heat of the summer months also, you dont get that slime or algea build up daily. I used 1/4 c per 5 gals,worked for me.

Here are some links about the benefits. You might have to adjust the quantity to suit your dogs systems, I would start off with a lower dose for a week or 2 then gradually increase it, Worked wonders for the chicks as well as my dog.

http://curezone.com/blogs/fm.asp?i=973742

http://www.apple-cider-vinegar-benefits.com/pet-care.html

Anyways that was my experience, ask your vet about it.

Anybody had any luck with the giardia vaccine? Just curious.

SS

Most vets agree that the Giardia vaccine is not effective.

My vet (an old timer w/ great knowledge) and I disagree. The trick is making sure the dog has thoroughly been treated before gving the vaccine.  It is also effective in humans. I came to know about it thru a MD who had personally suffered from Giardia and finally found and used(successfully) the vaccine.

For those who have emdemic giardia and coccidia on their property may I suggest you buy some Borax or Boraxo powdered soap(smells better). When you scoop sprinkle some on the spot where the poop was. It acts as a dessicator and dries out the eggs and cysts of these protozoas.