Giardia or 'Beaver Fever'
Giardiais a protozoan parasite that can infect the gastrointestinal tract of dogs and cat and is capable of causing diarrhea, vomiting, weight loss and lethargy — although many infected animals show no signs at all.
It is common throughout North America and can cause infections at almost any time of year. Unlike many other infectious organisms, giardia persists longer in the environment when conditions are cool and moist.
Most pets become infected by drinking water contaminated with feces. Giardia then infects the small intestine, and infected pets pass microscopic cysts in their stool. These cysts can then infect another animal or person if ingested. Giardia cysts are very resistant in the environment, and can live for many months under the correct circumstances.
After infection, it takes 5-12 days in dogs or 5-16 days in cats for Giardia to be found in the host’s stool. Diarrhea can precede the shedding of the Giardia. Infection is more common in kennel situations where animals are housed in groups.
Treatment
A broad spectrum dewormer called fenbendazole (Panacur) seems to be the most effective conventional treatment at this time.
Metronidazole in relatively high doses has been a classical treatment for Giardia but studies show it to only be effective in 67% of cases. The high doses required to treat Giardia also have been known to occasionally result in temporary neurologic side effects or upset stomach. For some resistant cases, both medications are used concurrently.
Because cysts can stick to the fur of the infected patient and be a source for re-infection, the positive animal should receive a bath at least once in the course of treatment. At the least, the patient should have a bath at the end of the treatment course.
Alternative Options
This research article looked at using an ingredient in coconut oil, lauric acid, as a treatment.
RESEARCH ARTICLE PUJVol. 6, No. 1, 2013ISSN: 1687-7942Personal non-commercial use only. PUJ copyright © 2013. All rights reserved PUJ; 2013, 6(1): 89-98 Therapeutic Effect of Lauric Acid, a Medium Chain Saturated Fatty Acid on Giardia lamblia in Experimentally Infected HamstersMona M. Aly1, Maisa A. Shalaby2, Samar S. Attia1, Shaimaa H. El Sayed2, Soheir S. Mahmoud2Departments of Medical Parasitology, Faculty of Medicine, Cairo University1 and Theodor Bilharz Research Institute2, Cairo, Egypt
Therapeutic Effect of Lauric Acid, a.... Available from: https://www.researchgate.net/publication/282295166_Therapeutic_Effect_of_Lauric_Acid_a_Medium_Chain_Saturated_Fatty_Acid_on_Giardia_lamblia_in_Experimentally_Infected_Hamsters [accessed Jul 13 2018].
Conclusion: Lauric Acid improved the therapeutic effect against Giardia when combined with metronidazole
Dr Jones' thoughts
If your dog/cat has a mild suspect case of giardia, then you could consider a trial course of coconut oil for 1 week - or use it along with the conventional meds.
Dose
A typical coconut oil dose is 1 teaspoon/10lbs daily
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