Giardia is a single-celled microscopic parasite. It can cause severe gastrointestinal disease in dogs and other animals, including cats and humans, by living in their intestines.
Dogs can contract giardia from feces-contaminated water, food, or soil. When taking care of an infected pet, you must follow safe hygiene practices, such as vigilant handwashing and decontaminating your home and all areas your dog has access to, to avoid contracting Giardia from your dog.
Giardia causes copious amounts of watery diarrhea in dogs. Giardia symptoms in dogs can also include vomiting, excessive gas with a foul smell, decreased appetite, low energy, and frequent urges to poop.
It is also important to note that dogs (and other animals, for that matter) can have subclinical, or asymptomatic, Giardia infection in their intestines. We don’t know how frequently this occurs because healthy dogs are not routinely tested for Giardia.
Beyond the “ick factor” of handling poop, another reason why hygiene around animal feces is so crucial is the possibility of otherwise healthy dogs carrying Giardia.
Giardia cysts, which allow the parasite to live outside of a host and are present everywhere in the world, must be ingested in order to spread infection.
Dogs can become infected by ingesting infected feces directly or by consuming food or water that contains the cysts.
There are other ways to consume feces besides digging it up from the ground. Ingestion can also occur when your dog licks the nose of another dog after sniffing their hind ends, which is the most common canine greeting.
#2 Cloves
Cloves work well against parasites like giardia. The oil in cloves is the key to their effectiveness.
One study found that essential oil of cloves can inhibit the growth of parasites. It also stated the essential oil can kill almost 50% of parasites in a “time-dependent manner.”
Dogs should receive one clove daily for every 10 pounds of body weight. Alternately, add a dash of clove powder to your dog’s food.
CAUTION: Don’t give more than the recommended dose. Larger doses can be toxic, especially for small dogs.
Why You Shouldn’t Treat Giardia in Dogs With Medication
Three medications are frequently recommended by veterinarians to eradicate giardia
Sometimes they might even combine two of these drugs in a prescription.
But none of these three drugs is FDA-approved for animals.
They may also produce a variety of negative side effects.
All these drugs often cause diarrhea and vomiting. And they may have other side effects, such as …
Giardia can take a while to get rid of. And these drugs also carry long-term risks.
And like the majority of common “anti-” drugs, these substances can seriously harm the gut health of your dog. Since the gut houses 80% of your dog’s immune system, this could make him more prone to illness in the future.
The good news is that your dog can get rid of giardia naturally.
Cloves Oil
Cloves oil contains eugenol, which proves to have anti-giardia properties. This eugenol could eliminate 50% of the parasite population by preventing trophozoite giardia from adhering or growing.
You can add one clove to your dog’s food each day for every 10 pounds of weight they have.
But keep in mind that too much of it could be toxic to them and cause skin burns. so be sure to consult your veterinarian before giving it to them.
FAQ
Can dogs fight off Giardia without medicine?
Your vet may want to prescribe medication for treatment. But drugs can cause avoidable and unnecessary side effects. Therefore, the question “Can dogs recover from giardia without medication?” is a valid one.
How long does it take for Giardia to go away in dogs?
As long as they don’t get infected again, your dog should be fully recovered from their giardia infection within 1 to 2 weeks.
What happens if you leave Giardia untreated in dogs?
Diarrhea might be continual or intermittent, especially in puppies. Giardia causes severe weight loss and may even cause death in dogs who are not treated, if that were the question you were asking.
How do you get rid of Giardia in dogs naturally?
No natural methods are proven to effectively cure Giardia. Your veterinarian may prescribe the prescription drug metronidazole, which ought to take effect quickly. It’s crucial to combat the infection as soon as possible.