Giardia ???

5805 Views 36 Replies 12 Participants Last post by cinderflower, May 6, 2012

Mhelmandollar

Discussion Starter · Mar 1, 2012

My Savannah tested positive for Giardia

I have to bring him back in for a weight check and than they will give him a 10 day two drug regiment. I don't remember the names of the drugs because my mind went kinda blank after I heard the words possitive. How serious is this? I need to get a stool samble done on my Himalayan now. The vet said they get it from contaminated water. My cats drink filtered water and don't go outside. What's the likelihood of my Himalayan having it also. Could he have had it from the breeders? If yes that means he has had it for 5 months. Any long term problems?

Any feed back will be appreciated.

1 - 20 of 37 Posts

Victoriax

· #2 · Mar 1, 2012

I dont have any advise but I really hope he get's better really soon, could it be possible that there has been some mantainance done on the mains water pipes in your area that could have contaminated the water

I would contact my water supplier

I would love a Savannah - most beautiful specie's of domestic cat

yingying

· #3 · Mar 1, 2012 (Edited)

So sorry to hear it! And sorry to tell you the likelyhood of your Himmy having it as well may not be low. Giardia carriers may shed cysts and infect other animals, also if your Savanna got it from drinking water, then your Himmy who drinks the same water is most likely having it.

Now good news: Giardia is not that serious. It is not known for causing permanent damage to cats digestive system. Once correctly treated, there shouldn't be any persistent problem. So don't panic!

Could he got it from breeder? Possible, as cats can carry Giardia for months without showing symptom. But that is a very wild guess. It's more likely coming from your drinking water. Filtered water are not that good at filter out parasites. There was a big case in the news years ago that one entire city's water were contaminated (from the source) and passed through all filters. Lots of ppl got infected. That's why our family (and most Chinese families) only drink boiled water. This the safest way to kill parasites.

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Dave_ph

· #4 · Mar 1, 2012

My kitty Mia got Giardia. My vet blamed standing water. I assume she drank from a puddle out by my pool after it rained. I found it before it moved to the cyst stage. I isolated her from my other cat on my vets advice and my other cat didn't get it from Mia.

Two things you aren't goint to like. She'll probably be on metronidazole. It's a nasty pill to give and a nasty pill to swallow because it foams immediately on contact with kitty saliva. You have to plunge it pretty far down their throats.

The second nasty thing is that ghiardia is almost impossible to kill. If it matures to cyst form even chlorine won't kill it. You need to clean everything in your house as if there were plague victims about and then dry them in the sun. Especially anywhere kitty butts have been such as cat trees. Probably your bedding too since people can also contract ghiardia though it's unlikely you'll get the kitty strain.

After the first 10 day round of meds Mia seemed clear. A few days later it was back and we had to do round two. Now she's fine.

Other people here have been thru it and also had to go multiple rounds and their kitties are fine now.

Follow your vets recommendations. No holistic garbage. This is real and left unchecked can cause dehydration and death.

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Dave_ph

· #5 · Mar 1, 2012 (Edited)

Seperate litter boxes for the fur kids of course and dump them 2x a day. Clean completely once a day using window cleaner with amonia.

Also, a raw diet will not cure ghiardia anymore than a chiropractor will :razz:

The second drug might just be a probiotic like Fortifloa. A powder that goes on their food and they love it.

Signed,

Amateur Ghiardi Expert

Mhelmandollar

Discussion Starter · #6 · Mar 2, 2012

Simba doesn't have any symptoms at all, he has no loose stool, no diarrhea, no vomiting. The only reason we found out was I started going to a new vet that handles exotic breeds like tiger and lions, owls and eagles and things like that. He is a lot more expensive than other vets but so very good. He always recommends a fecal texts on all new patients. He doesn't require it, just recommends it. So I did and this is where we are today.

About the medication. He said both medications were a liquid, not a pill.
I will know more when I take simba in tomorrow afternoon.
Thanks

Dave_ph

· #7 · Mar 2, 2012

The metz comes as pill or liquid. They're both bad because they both foam immeiately. Like Menot in a bottle of coke.

Mhelmandollar

Discussion Starter · #8 · Mar 2, 2012

Dave_ph said:
The metz comes as pill or liquid. They're both bad because they both foam immeiately. Like Menot in a bottle of coke.

Great, trying to make a Savannah do what he doesn't want or like to do is not fun. Better make sure his nails are clipped.

catloverami

· #9 · Mar 2, 2012

You may have to wrap him up like a mummy to administer the meds. Good luck!

Mhelmandollar

Discussion Starter · #10 · Mar 2, 2012

catloverami said:
You may have to wrap him up like a mummy to administer the meds. Good luck!

He's going to hate me :sad

Dave_ph

· #11 · Mar 2, 2012

I ended up covered in foaming cat saliva every time.

I hated doinbg that to her.

Mhelmandollar

Discussion Starter · #12 · Mar 2, 2012

picked up the medication today. he is getting Panacur by OZ
and Metronidazole.
I'm about ready to give it to him.
wish me luck

doodlebug

· #13 · Mar 2, 2012

Callie was on metronidazole for months. It's nasty bitter tasting stuff (yes, it somehow ended up in my mouth). I tried tablets, liquid, treats and finally found the best way to administer it was to have it compounded into gel caps. Put it in a pill shooter and follow with a chaser of water.

Mhelmandollar

Discussion Starter · #14 · Mar 2, 2012

round one was a big failure, i got more on his face and all over the counters than in him.
he got his front paws loose from the blanket. Got those back in, than he wouldnt keep his head still. Finally got his head some what still and than he wouldn't open his mouth. with my dogs, even my 235lbs mastiff i would stick my fingers into his mouth towards his back teeth and cheek and force them open, i don't trust doing that with a cat that eats raw food and crushes bones.
so how do i do this?
I think I already hurt him with the eye dropper syringe thing they gave me because there was red mixed in with the white foam that he was spitting out.

doodlebug

· #15 · Mar 2, 2012

Assuming you're right handed....put your left hand over his eyes and use your middle finger and thumb to put pressure on the back points (hinge) of his jaw. Have you read the How to Medicate a Cat sticky at the top of this forum...good pointers there.

Mhelmandollar

Discussion Starter · #16 · Mar 3, 2012

Thanks,
I just read the sticky.

Dave_ph

· #17 · Mar 3, 2012

F/3 said:
round one was a big failure, i got more on his face and all over the counters than in him.
he got his front paws loose from the blanket. Got those back in, than he wouldnt keep his head still. Finally got his head some what still and than he wouldn't open his mouth. with my dogs, even my 235lbs mastiff i would stick my fingers into his mouth towards his back teeth and cheek and force them open, i don't trust doing that with a cat that eats raw food and crushes bones.
so how do i do this?
I think I already hurt him with the eye dropper syringe thing they gave me because there was red mixed in with the white foam that he was spitting out.

She had foamy saliva all over her, I had it all over my hands and shirt. She bled one. I bled once.

Gel caps. What a perfect solution. Why don't they produce it this way to start. It's all about the foaming saliva and that should cover it

doodlebug

· #18 · Mar 3, 2012

Dave_ph said:
Gel caps. What a perfect solution. Why don't they produce it this way to start. It's all about the foaming saliva and that should cover it

That's exactly what I said to the vet after going through every other type of delivery..."why did it take so long for you to suggest this?" But I know why....same jerk vet in my thread about Maggie having hyperthyroid.

Mhelmandollar

Discussion Starter · #19 · Mar 3, 2012

Second dose went much better. What I did notice for about 5 min after getting medication I find drool drops all over wood floors. Nothing on his face. I don't know if he is drooling a lot or spitting his medication up. I held him until I knew for sure that he swallowed it.

MowMow

· #20 · Mar 3, 2012

For me the hardest is the first dose of a round of medicine. I always forget just how strong MowMow is (Haven't had to medicate Book yet). If I don't get MowMow in just the right grip, man he can kick like a mule...

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