Over recent weeks, we’ve seen a spike in Giardia cases in our canine patients.

If your dog has had ongoing diarrhoea, intermittent tummy upset, or just hasn’t seemed quite right lately, Giardia is definitely something worth keeping on the radar at the moment.

Giardia is an intestinal parasite that spreads very easily between dogs, particularly in shared environments like dog parks, daycare, boarding kennels and anywhere dogs are toileting in the same areas.

It can be tricky to identify early on –  dogs with Giardia don’t always look obviously unwell. Some have severe diarrhoea and vomiting, while others only have mild symptoms — or no symptoms at all — while still spreading it to other dogs.

What Symptoms Are We Seeing?

The most common signs we’re seeing in clinic include:

• Soft stools or diarrhoea
• Mucus in the stool
• Intermittent gastrointestinal upset
• Vomiting
• Flatulence
• Weight loss
• Reduced appetite
• Lethargy

A lot of owners tell us their dog seems to improve for a few days, then gets sick again. That recurring pattern is something we commonly see with Giardia.

How Do Dogs Catch Giardia?

Dogs become infected by swallowing Giardia cysts from contaminated environments.

This can happen through:

• Drinking from puddles or stagnant water
• Sniffing or licking contaminated surfaces
• Contact with infected faeces
• Shared dog spaces and communal water bowls

Unfortunately, Giardia survives quite well in the environment, especially in damp conditions, which makes it very easy for dogs to reinfect themselves or pass it on to others.

How Do We Diagnose It?

Giardia doesn’t always show up on a routine faecal test, so often additional testing is needed.

If your dog has ongoing diarrhoea or recurrent tummy issues, we may recommend:

• Faecal testing
• Giardia-specific testing
• Testing multiple stool samples over several days

How Do We Treat It?

Treatment usually involves prescription medication to clear the parasite, along with supportive care for the gut if needed.

One of the biggest parts of treatment is preventing reinfection at home. We recommend:

• Promptly picking up faeces
• Washing bedding regularly
• Cleaning food and water bowls daily
• Bathing dogs during treatment
• Avoiding communal dog areas until treatment is complete

In some cases, other pets in the household may also need testing or treatment.

When Should You Book An Appointment?

If your dog has diarrhoea that isn’t settling, keeps recurring, or they just seem “off,” it’s worth getting them checked.