It becomes a bit of an epidimec every so often here in NYC.  I know a few dogs who have gotten it from various dog parks.  Dogs drinking water that has sat still for too long outside.  they all went to the vet and it was cleared up.

Does your Vet have any guess where your dog picked it up - water, soil, etc.?  This also means mountain streams and other water that looks clean to out eye. 

 

Does your dog play with any other dogs that are infected.  He / she could be getting it from being around another infected dog.

 

Good Luck. 

Well I bought Doodles from a brand new pup store in NJ, I bought him on a Tuesday and by Friday he was at the vet because I didn't like the looks of his stools..... it was tested and there were 3 parasites and one was Giardia, after meds, two cleared up and Giardia was still there after more meds and a stool test again it was there yet again. I know it had to be the store's puppies passing it around from dog to dog. One more test and Giardia was gone but the next day after the test came back he was pooping out watery stools, nasty!!! I went back to the vet the same day and he was put on meds and special dry dog food for intestinal problems..... . That worked for 8 days  and I wanted him tested again , well Giardia still there and now they gave him the Giardia Vaccine, gave him Immodium and said come back in 2 1/2 weeks for the next Giardia vaccine ( it is a 2 part vaccine ) and it should be fine by then. We shall see....it is only a day later...

 It seems when Doodles is on the meds he does great , a day later after meds are finished his stools become a watery mess again!

The first week I walked him around town but that is not the case NOW, he goes no where, I mean no where, no classes, not around other dogs or cats & no walks...just training from home and trying our best since it is our first dog. Which has been very disappointing to say the least .....because I want him social, he is a Golden Retriever and Poodle mix and he is such a friendly dog and needs to meet other dogs and people so when older he will not be crazy acting when people or other dogs approach him!!...but that hasn't happen..

I have two cats and they have been away from him from day one of bringing him home, I did it first so the dog could get use to us before adjusting to two cats but now it is all about them not catching the Giardia from the dog...I have a big place and two floors and the cats are down and the dog is up..so it is working out.......

Now I taught him to only pee and poop on my driveway , I pick up the SLOP and wash down the driveway each and every time ....I wipe his paws with baby wipes and I am so careful with washing my hands because of the whole ordeal......so I am doing everything I should , well at least I think.

This is my first dog ever, I have other pets, birds, cats etc etc.....but from day one of owning the dog I have been at the vet many many times and it is alittle overwhelming....thank god I own a business and can leave on vet trips when I have too other wise what does a person do......

So I wrote on here to see if any one knows any tips or what they did when their dog had it ... I really just want to see the light after the tunnel....we are dealing with this since June 16th and it is August 15th......

I canceled his nuetering once and I think I will again for next week( I had him going next Monday ), I guess one thing at a time, he'll be 7 months in September so maybe he'll go then!!

The dog of course shows no signs of sickness ( he is 50 pounds at 6 months old exactly, gaining wieght every week ), he listens good, gives paw, learned the leash and collar gig ,loves us and we love him , he is trained as much as we can train him between me, son and husband...we are working with what we were dealt with.

He was trained to pee and poop outside in 3 weeks by me because I was on top of my game....and that is good considering he sat in the store 2 months before I bought him......He just peed and popped on the floor whenever he wanted...no walks, no leash and collar..

In this area no one wants a big dog any more , they all want designer dogs and because Doodle's is huge he wasn't sold too fast, I rescued him fer sure, I say the bigger the better!!

Again he is a joy and we enjoy him alot, wish I could take him to Dog Events cause there are many here in NJ and I wish he could be around my cats, other dogs, and I can take him out more, when he poops it is a huge mess, I wouldn't want that on someone elses property and it very hard to clean up if you dont have a hose near by......

BOTTOM line I hope I can see the light after the dark tunnel..

 Okay I think I rambled on and on and enough is enough already ....

Thanks for the help ...I need all I can get!!!

 Doodle's mom!!!

Two of my dogs had Giardia, and our vet told us it is a parasite that loves stagnant/standing water and thrives there. To get rid of it, he suggested using bleach to clean where they stay. At that time they were housed in a run, and had picked up the parasite from a dog park. It is contagious to humans too, and our vet said he had it once and would not wish it on his worst enemy. Take care to clean thoughly, I would even pour some bleach on your driveway too. I had cleaned the run my dogs were in, and the two surrounding their's. It took about 3 weeks for them to fully recover, they had to be on antibiotics during that time to kill it.  

Well I got the Giardia Vaccine for Doodle's and we did blood work now, I was told by the vet that Doodle's has over growth bacteria in his small intestine and inflamation in his pancreas, he is on Tylan and Protyme ( spelling ) for 3 months, the reason why Doodle's could not shake the Giardia was because he had other issues....so that is where I am at this point , one week on medicine and I see an improvement already.

It has been a nightmare but I do see the light after the tunnel, well I am thinking that is what I see.....lol

 NOw I need help by store owner to pay for the vet bils and my DOG to be healthy for once and I will be so much happier!!!

 Thanks for th replies!

Doodle's mom!!

I have a very similar problem. We bought Gracie (Puggle) when she was 9 weeks old from a local Kennel. She seemed healthy and wonderful...after getting her home the next day her stools were loose. We were informed this may happen due to "stress". I too am a first time dog owner after having 2 cats. After they passed and out children were old enough we thought a dog would be a great addition.

 Took her to the vet on the third day. Coccidia...and Kennel cough. Put her on meds...cough gone...coccidia still there, more meds...took her back...coccidia gone :) now she shows Giardia....AHHHH...more meds...bring her back...still giradia....more meds!!! Not only that she tends to taste her poop...so I need to be watching her like a hawk...

 She has a spot in the back yard she goes on...we pulled out all the grass to make clean-up easier...clean...clean...clean...my hands hurt...my kids have to be extra careful....

 She does not go back until next week, but her stools are still loose so I am sure it is not gone. I have been dealing with this since July 27th and it is now Sept 3rd. I know what you mean by the light at the end of the tunnel. My vet said not to worry...she is "healthy"...eats well...looks good otherwise and this WILL pass in time...may be a while though.

Please keep me posted how you and your pup are doing. We are so stuck! Can't go for walks...can't meet other dogs...kids are limited...it is soooooo hard.

 Good luck

OH MY we are so at the same spot, first dog, and what a nightmare and I am still going through it...medicine is $70.00 for less then a month supply another medicine is $24.00 for a months worth.....and my doggie like yours is in good shape , gaining weight, trained really fast, is the JOY in my family.....but he has been having problems with Giardia and now intestine and pancreas and I SAY when does it end........

I could of went out and bought $1,400.00  PUP at this rate.....

Went to call the pup store and they are closed down( only in business 6 months HOW Stupid was I to buy there ), finally got the owner on her cell phone ( which she gave me the day of purchase , thank god ) and she said she would pay the bills $550.00 so far and will cost another $400.00 in the next few months for more medicine and I go to meet her at the store and she is a no show, and she has not been answering my calls since......

If she pays the $550.00 I will never bother her again, just give me something,  I paid $480.00 for Doodle's, he was $1,300.00 but she made him cheaper because he was a huge dog and was 4 months old and everyone wanted a small dog.....and Doodle's sat at the PUP store as a mascot!!

You know the money will help and who can't use $550.00 but overall I love my Doodle's and will move on , right now I just want him healthy...I really mean that!!!

Like you I managed to hit the groomers once but nothing else...no classes, no other dogs in contact, no dog events, nothing!!! Kinda BORING!!!

And yes clean up is a pain ...but cleaning up it is a good start with medicine for the gairdia to clear up!! Doodle's only knows how to peep and poop on my driveway now.....

Keeping him from pooping on the grass is your best bet!

I do want to say he is on medicine and it has been since 8-23-07 for Tylan and Protyme ( spelling ) so 2 weeks and his poop is harder, which is a JOY believe it or not and so I hope that things are gonna get better, I have another 2 1/2 months to go!!!!

At 3 months I will get another set of blood work and I hope Doodles's better..until then we go through the steps and the process and keep my patience!!!!

Now if you dont feel right about it PLEASE take it upon yourself to convince the VET, that is what I did to get him to understand in my case it was more then Giardia and that is when the blood work really work, it was $100.00 for one TEST 149.00 for the other but it got me to KNOW what was really happening!!!

One cleaning tip, wipe his paws with a baby wipe everytime he comes in the house from pooping, that worked for me, wash your hands also.....we can get it too, so I hear.

I know about the lack of walks, I did it first 3 weeks of getting Doddle's , I would make him poop and pee on my property before heading anywhere but once and awhile he would have to go , I would carry an extra water bottle so I can wash away what I couldnt pick up, it was nasty and gross...and I would never leave that mess at someone's house....

Doodle's poop has been harder and so much better so I plan on walking with him again on a daily basics...

Doodle's needs exercise because I know the next thing is PUT him on a diet he is too big.......HELLO you walk him and clean up that mess!!! ha ha ha

And I always hear pup should get out there and be in the public and social VERY IMPORTANT well Doodles knows family only I wouldn't want to infect some one's dog.....

Anyway there I go again talking someone's ear off , but it is really upsetting ..and I hear your pain!!!!!

Listen hardly anyone comes here to write Icheck it all the time and NO ONE so I was happy to see you wrote.....so please write to me on my aol address: TheRuscingnoZooo@aol.com and maybe we can be friends and share our stories and thoughts.......

Doodles' mom (AKA Kris from NJ)

Hi Doodles Mom,

 I've been following your posts.  I live in Northern Virginia and came across this site through a friend.  I think it's a great site, but how do we get the word out!?  More people need to post here.

 Perhaps if we tell them they may listen?  Any suggestions? Just an idea.  

I have a little doodle.  a cockapoo.  Crazily enough there are 3 cockapoos, one goldendoodle, just over a year old and a labradoodle in the neighborhood.  I say Doodle Mania. 

 

 

Hey, I am not sure how we can get more DOG people here, I am so new to this and the other forums confuse me believe it or not... this seems simple and user friendly.....

Every day I come here to nothing, today I saw two new posts I fell off my chair..

 Have a good night, Talk Soon , I hope!!

Doodle's mom!!

Hello,

I'm new to the site, but I've been researching like mad as our 12 week old Goldendoodle Pearl has had loose stool for going on two weeks now.  The vet checked her and said she was fine, but I noticed the loose stool wasn't going away.  I called and he ended up saying there was some coccidia in her stool, but not enough to make him worry although it could be the cause.  We are on the last day of dewormer for the 2nd time, but no change. 

I'm wondering if it's not Giardia or something else?  The vet claims dogs stool is affected by stress and she is likely just adjusting to her new home as she moved from the country to the city, but we've had her for four weeks?? Any suggestions on tests to ask for?  What type of food have you been feeding your dogs? 

you could get a second oppinion from a different vet, I would. There are many different things that can effect a dogs bowels and stress is one of them, but if you have had her for four weeks, she should be ok. So it is raising a red flag to me. (Im not a vet, just been around animales all my life)

Giardia is a single celled oganism that rapidly reproduces, mostly in water. It is a mucus membrain contact, and is highly contagious to humans and any other pets. Clean everything everyday with bleach specialy dog water and food dishes, wash your hands. Ask your vet to treat for three weeks instead of the recomended two week period.