20-yr long dogfight operation shut down, tipster gets $5K | abc7.com
We must continue to stand up and fight animal cruelty. These types of crimes need much stiffer sentences. Think about it this was going on for 20 years. 1 year of jail time is not nearly enough. Support stronger laws - visit the ASPCA Advocacy Center to keep up to date on dog fighting legislation in your state.
Friday, January 27, 2012
Giardia
Keeping with the theme of water safety according to
the CDC top 5 causes of drinking water outbreaks are:
What is Giardiasis?
Giardiasis is a diarrheal disease caused by a
protozoan parasite Giardia that is infectious to both humans and pets. Giardiasis usually affects dogs, particularly
puppies, but can occur in cats. It's not
so much that Giardia is passed directly from animals to humans, but both come
into contact with the same contaminiated water source. Many dogs pick it up from puddles at the dog park (which is why I'm always telling Dreyfus not to drink from the puddles!). People get giardia by drinking contaminated
water or ice, swallowing water while swimming, eating uncooked food that’s
contaminated.
Once a person or animal has been infected the parasite lives in the intestine and is passed in feces.
Clinical signs
Most common clinical sign in both dogs and humans is diarrhea, which can be either mild or severe. Other symptoms include gas, nausea/vomiting, abdominal cramps and dehydration. In dogs usually the diarrhea goes away on its own and the pet is fine, but severe cases can cause weight loss and general lethargy. In people symptoms can last 2 to 6 weeks.
Contact your health car provider if you think you or your pet may have giardiasis.
Diagnosis
The infection is diagnosed with a fecal examination.
Treatment
Treatment in dogs with typically includes metronidazole and a broad spectrum dewormer called fenbendazole. If the pet is severely dehydrated from the diarrhea, fluid therapy may be necessary. Most pets don’t become seriously ill because of Giardia, so the prognosis is almost always good. However, if the pet has an underlying disease giardiasis can cause a more serious infection. However, even these animals typically recover with slightly more intensive treatment.
In people there are many prescription drugs available to treat giardiasis please contact you physician.
Prevention
Environmental and Dog Decontamination
I do recommend environmental decontamination for any dog that has been infected with giardia. The most effective disinfectant is bleach diluted 1:32 in water which required less than one minute of contact time to kill Giardia cysts.
- Giardia
- Shigella
- Norovirus
- Hepatitis A
- Copper
What is Giardiasis?
Giardiasis is a diarrheal disease caused by a
protozoan parasite Giardia that is infectious to both humans and pets. Giardiasis usually affects dogs, particularly
puppies, but can occur in cats. It's not
so much that Giardia is passed directly from animals to humans, but both come
into contact with the same contaminiated water source. Many dogs pick it up from puddles at the dog park (which is why I'm always telling Dreyfus not to drink from the puddles!). People get giardia by drinking contaminated
water or ice, swallowing water while swimming, eating uncooked food that’s
contaminated. Once a person or animal has been infected the parasite lives in the intestine and is passed in feces.
Clinical signs
Most common clinical sign in both dogs and humans is diarrhea, which can be either mild or severe. Other symptoms include gas, nausea/vomiting, abdominal cramps and dehydration. In dogs usually the diarrhea goes away on its own and the pet is fine, but severe cases can cause weight loss and general lethargy. In people symptoms can last 2 to 6 weeks.
Contact your health car provider if you think you or your pet may have giardiasis.
Diagnosis
The infection is diagnosed with a fecal examination.
Treatment
Treatment in dogs with typically includes metronidazole and a broad spectrum dewormer called fenbendazole. If the pet is severely dehydrated from the diarrhea, fluid therapy may be necessary. Most pets don’t become seriously ill because of Giardia, so the prognosis is almost always good. However, if the pet has an underlying disease giardiasis can cause a more serious infection. However, even these animals typically recover with slightly more intensive treatment.
In people there are many prescription drugs available to treat giardiasis please contact you physician.
Prevention
- Good hygiene – hand washing
- Avoid drinking water that may be contaminated
- Use a water purification method such as boiling, filtration, or iodine treatment before drinking surface water
- Avoid eating food that may be contaminated
- Prevent contact with contaminated feces
Environmental and Dog Decontamination
I do recommend environmental decontamination for any dog that has been infected with giardia. The most effective disinfectant is bleach diluted 1:32 in water which required less than one minute of contact time to kill Giardia cysts.
If your dog does become infected, it is important for your pet to
be bathed at the completion of treatment and retested to minimize the
potential for reinfection of the pet and of the humans in the house. Once again good hygiene, such as washing one's hands after handling the infected
pet or its waste and prompt disposal of feces, is the key to prevention.
Dog vaccine?
A Giardia vaccine is on the market but not to prevent infection. Instead to be used as an adjunct
to treatment and reduce the shedding of cysts.
The 2006 American Animal Hospital Association Guidelines list this vaccine as not recommended.
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