Giardia is a parasitic infection that can affect multiple cat and dog households. It is transmitted through ingestion of Giardia cysts from contaminated surfaces like litter boxes or fur. Cysts can survive for months outside the body. Symptoms in cats include loose stool, diarrhea, frequent stinky stools, and weight loss. Diagnosis is made through fecal samples tested for Giardia cysts or antigens. Treatment involves fenbendazole or metronidazole for the cats along with thorough environmental cleaning and disinfection of surfaces to eliminate cysts. Proper litter box hygiene and regular treatment and cleaning can help control Giardia in households with multiple pets.

1. GIARDIA INFECTIONThe POOP nightmare for every multiple cat and/or dog household1

2. If there’s any doubt…Loose Stools we don’t want to see!Nice firm turds are what we DO want to see!2

3. DefinitionsDiarrhea…Excessive and frequent evacuation of watery feces, usually indicating gastrointestinal distress or disorder.Loose Stool…Refers to watery feces with no solid form. (Loose stool would be classified as "diarrhea" if the passage of stool was frequent or excessive in volume.)Tenesmus…A painfully urgent but ineffectual attempt to urinate or defecate3

4. The Poop Patrol by Terri Jorgensen4

5. COLORYellow or Greenish Stool = Rapid transitBlack Tarry Stool = Bleeding in upper digestive tractRed Bloody Stool = Bleeding in the lower bowel (colon)Pasty, Light-colored Stool = Lack of Bile (liver disease)Large Gray, Rancid-smelling Stool = Inadequate digestion, Malabsorption Syndrome (often with oil on hair around anus)5

6. ConsistencySoft Bulky Stool = Overfeeding or poor quality food high in fiberWatery Stool = Bowel wall irritation with rapid transit and decreased absorptionFoamy Stool = Suggestive of bacterial infection6

7. ODORThe more watery the stool, the greater the odor!Foodlike smell or sour milk smell = both incomplete digestion and inadequate absorptionPutrid smell = infection or blood7

8. FREQUENCYSeveral small stools per hour with straining = colitis3-4 large stools per day = malabsorption or inflammatory bowel(Note: any pathogen or parasite that would trigger rapid transit of food through the bowel would also result in malabsorption)8

9. What Exactly is Giardia?Giardia are protozoans (single celled organisms)This microscopic parasite clings to the surface of the intestine, or floats free in the mucous lining the intestine.The motile feeding stage occurs in the small intestine.The non-motile cyst stage occurs in large intestine.9

10. LifeCycle and TransmissionGiardia is transmitted during the cyst stage when it is excreted in the feces. Cats pick up cysts from the litter, floors, or fur. They usually ingest the cysts while cleaning themselves. 10

11. The Cysts are the Big Enemy!Cysts can live outside of the body for months in favorable (moist & warm) environments.Cysts are very hard to kill.Cysts are very easy to pick up and contaminate water supplies like streams and wells.11

12. SymptomsSymptomatic cats are “sick”Asymptomatic cats are “carriers”.No symptoms.Can excrete cysts in feces.Stressful conditions such as changes in food, moves, overcrowding, breeding, showing, new cats, etc. can bring on a “break”.Loose stools, diarrheaFrequent stinky stoolsWeight loss12

13. Giardia Flagellated attached to intestinal wallThis is the stage that creates the sickness, Giardiasis. The Giardia attach to the intestinal wall and interfere with the cat’s ability to absorb nutrients. This creates the weight loss. They usually don’t lose appetite.13

14. DiagnosisFecal LoopInserted into rectum to get FRESH fecal or mucus sample that hopefully contains Giardia (if there is an infection). Stool Samples need to be FRESH and MOISTCysts are shed in stools sporadicallyNeed several samples over at least three daysCysts & flagellet die in dry & hot conditions.ELISA test better than fecal examYou CAN get false negatives!14

15. As the Litter Box TurnsFLAGELLETMostly found in LOOSE stoolDon’t survive outside of body for longCYSTMostly found in FIRM stoolsSurvive outside of body for months15

16. TREATMENTThe great Big FUN FUNFUN topic, especially for multiple cat/dog households! 16

17. Fenbendazole“Panacur”—anti-parasiticSafeguard (for goats) is a fenbendazole 10% solution, 100 mg/ml.Can be purchased at Coastal Farm Supply or Winco Farm SupplyDosage is 50 mg/kg of body weight or 25 mg/lb of body weight.Dose by mouth once daily for 5 to 10 days…some advise 14 days.17

18. Metrondizole“Flagyl”– anti-bacterial, anti-inflammatory, and anti-parasitic.Helpful to calm the bowel.Often given in conjunction with fenbendazole.About 70% effective in treating Giardia.Can be toxic to the liver and cause vomiting.Dosage is 15 mg/kg body weight (My 5-6 lb cat was given 63 mg once daily)Dose one time a day for 7 to 10 days. 18

19. The Environment Bleach every surface you can several times while treating and at the least when treatment is done.

20. Bleach litter boxes and scoops every time litter is changed.

21. Steam clean your house if you can, including hard floors

22. Steam clean your carpets and upholstery

23. Machine Wash in hot water 19