Bobby had been diagnosed with giardiasis :( - Another update

[Jan D]

Bobby is only 15 weeks and has been diagnosed with giardia and put on a course of metronidazole - half a tablet twice a day for 10 days.

Does anyone have any experience of this and if so what should I be watching out for please?

[mlynnf50]

Sorry no advice, but big hugs for you both, hope it is something that will improve

[Countrygirl]

I am sorry I have no advice either, but wanted to say that I hope Bobby gets better very quickly.

[mcc]

I am no expert  but I have just googled it and it would appear to be a fairly common intestinal infection and easily treatable with antibiotics.  There is a good article on the bbc website about the disease in humans but i am sure that the main points would also apply to animals. 
Anyway hope your pup makes a speedy recovery

 http://www.bbc.co.uk/health/physical_health/conditions/giardiasis1.shtml

[RegalRustyCharm]

Sorry, I don't have any knowledge of this yet so can't give any advice but I just wanted to send you hugs and wish you and Bobby all the best.

[8 Hairy Feet]

May be wrong but I believe
it can be contracted through
drinking water that has the protozoa
present, can be spread to humans too so
watch your hand hygiene etc.
All antibiotics can have side effects
including sickness and diawotsits,
but do let Bobby finish the course.
Sending wee Bobby :luv:some
get-well-soon vibes!
steffxxx

[wendyt]

Murphy contracted giardia when he was a pup, the vet thought that he had picked it up from drinking out of puddles. He was put onto the same treatment as your Bobby and was absolutely fine after he finished the course. It's very common and alot of adult dogs carry this infection but don't have any symptoms.

Try not to worry too much I'm sure Bobby will be fine once he has had his treatment.

[max2011]

Poor Bobby, I have never come accross this but hope he gets better soon.

[Jan D]

I am not too worried about the giardia itself but more concerned about the treatment. I think he has probably had it since we got him as he has had dia wotsits on and off since then but because it kept going we didn't take him to the vet...wish we had now poor baby. I am not sure about the side effects of the treatment - they seem quite nasty and don't come on until after a week or so of taking it.

thanks for all your kind words - so far so good, only one bout of vomiting last night (followed by him trying to eat it - yuk!!) and nothing since

[wendyt]

Murph didn't have any side effects at all from the metronidazole, hopefully Bobby won't have either. Once the 10 days of treatment is finished it should have sorted out his diawotsit problem.

[Jan D]

Well Bobby had his first course of metronidazole (antobiotics) - half a tablet (100mg) twice a day for a week and was no better at the end of it. By then the results of the faeces tests were back and the vet confirmed that the only thing they had found was the giardia so at least we knew what we were treating. He then upped the dosage to 200mg twice a day of the metronidazole and gave me 3 days worth of panacur granules for both Bobby and Roxy (in case she might have caught it) and also some Pro something which is a kind of friendly bacteria thing for 3 days too. He has just finished the second course of metronidazole and is absolutely no better - no change at all. Just rang the vets again and he is going to ring back. This is proving to be a nightmare to shift!

The good news is that Bobby is absolutely fine in himself in fact he's gorgeous - I just think that 4 months is the cutest age for a pup  

Will keep updating this thread cos someone may find it useful if they have to tackle this.

[starboy]

Hope that you do find out what is happening to your lovely boy and manage to get him sorted. One of my Ragdoll cats is having tests done for a similar complaint. We are waiting for his results. Sadly he is getting very thin although still eating and drinking.
I will follow this thread with interest. Sending your little one 

[Scottishkitkat]

Hi there

I was diagnosed with this whilst I was travelling in India- it is characterised by eggy burps etc ! I was also given the same anti biotics as your pup which worked a treat. It is caused by drinking dirty water and is quite common throughout the world. It can reoccur once it is cured and I think i had it about 3 times over a period of a year but it is quite managable with antibiotics and probiotics.

Hope your pup is on the mend, I'm sure he will be fine

 

[Scottishkitkat]

The antibiotics caused a nasty reaction when I drank alcohol but I'm guessing that this will not be an issue for your pooch!

[wendyt]

JanD I was just looking back at the dosage of Metronidazole that the vet prescribed Murph when he had Giardia. He weighed 12.15kg at the time and his dose was 300mg twice daily, he was clear after he finished the course. If I can remember rightly I'm sure the vet mentioned that it could take a while to shift, but for once it cleared up after the first dose of antibiotics. Prokolin is a probiotic which I give to the boys when they have the diawotsits it calms their tummies and helps to firm things up. I always have some in the house for emergencies.

I'm so pleased that Bobby is doing well despite the giardia. I'm sure you will get it sorted