Puppy Has Giardia

by Jasmine
(San Diego)

I just found out that my 3 month old pup we adopted has giardia, and we do have another dog in our household. We live in an apartment so we don't have a yard to take the small one out so I use pads. I clean his poop right away, but he has had accidents on our carpet. I treated it with clorox bleach cleaner. My concern is do they shed this parasite like worms that come out of the rectum even if they don't poop? Can it be transmitted through urine as well or is it only through feces? He is on medication now but I would like to prevent him from contracting it again or our other dog as well.

Vet Suggestion on Puppies and Giardia


Hello Jasmine,

Giardia is primarily shed in the feces of infected dogs. It sounds like you are doing a wonderful job cleaning up, which should dramatically decrease the chances that your puppy becomes reinfected or your other dog contracts the disease. Also, healthy, adult dogs have much more natural resistance against the parasite than do puppies who are stressed and do not yet have fully developed immune systems. With any luck, your experience with Giardia will be short-lived. Make sure you practice excellent hand hygiene after handling your dogs and cleaning up any feces since people can also contract Giardia.



Best of luck,

Jennifer Coates, DVM