Spring is officially here! Birds are back from their southern homes and singing in the trees. Clocks have been turned back and the sun is still up at the end of the work day. The streams, ponds, and ground in your dog’s favorite yards and fields and parks are defrosting. You and your pooch are itching with cabin fever and can’t wait to hit the turf! Unfortunately, there’s something else that’s rearing to go this time of year: giardia.
Giardia isn’t a bacteria or virus. It’s actually the name of a tiny little parasite, Giardia intestinalis. This tiny creature chooses to live in the intestines of various animals, spreading via places that other animals have used the bathroom. The dog park and the local pond tend to be the most popular breeding grounds. Spring is usually when it rears its ugly head the most, thanks to everything getting wet and staying wet!
Your dog may be hosting some of these freeloaders and not display any symptoms at all. The actual illness that results from it is called “giardiasis”, which is an infection of the intestines directly linked to this parasite. One of the most noted symptoms is loose, mucousy diarrhea that may be even smellier than usual. Left unchecked, giardiasis can lead to dehydration, malnutrition, weight loss, and fatigue, among even worse symptoms.
So how do you keep your pooch safe this spring? When out with your pup, make certain you bring fresh bottled water along so they don’t feel the urge to drink out of any dirty puddles or streams. Ideally, it would be best to avoid places you know where other animals may have pooped, especially when those places are wet and muddy. However, as the dog park is generally the biggest culprit here, that might not necessarily be your best bet! So if you suspect your dog may have been exposed and when you notice the tell-tale mucousy feces, err on the side of caution: ask your vet to do a fecal test. It could save you and your pup a lot of unpleasantness.
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