The chances of getting sick with a Giardia infection from your dog or cat are small
. However, there are some steps you can take to minimize your exposure to Giardia if you have dogs or cats: Wear gloves when gardening to reduce the risk of coming into contact with infected poop or soil.
How did my indoor cat get Giardia?
Giardia is a single-celled organism that colonizes the small intestines of cats. Cats get it by
ingesting cysts in contaminated water, dirt, or food bowls
. Symptoms include persistent diarrhea, vomiting, weight loss, and lack of appetite. Routine fecal screenings are the best way to catch giardia infections.
Can Giardia be passed from cat to cat?
Giardia is highly contagious between cats
, and transmission is also possible between cats and dogs. The exact strain found in humans is not the same as the one found in cats, but it’s always better to play it safe and assume there is a possibility of transmission, even if it’s a very small one.
Can I get Giardia from my cat licking me?
No. Giardia is found in dogs, cats, and most wild animals (e.g., ducks, geese, raccoons, squirrels).
It can also be transmitted to humans
(letting an affected dog lick your face), so it’s important that everyone in the family follow safety precautions.
How long is Giardia contagious in cats?
The time it takes from ingestion of cysts to passage in feces is 5 to 12 days in dogs and
5 to 16 days
in cats. These cysts are immediately able to infect another animal.
How do cats contract Giardia?
TRANSMISSION AND LIFE CYCLE OF FELINE GIARDIA
Giardia is transmitted
via the fecal–oral route
. Cysts are shed in the feces and are immediately infective when passed. Cysts may be ingested directly from an infected host, in contaminated food or water, or from contaminated fomites within the environment.
How hard is it to get rid of Giardia in cats?
Complete elimination of Giardia is difficult
because cysts are immediately infective when shed, making reinfection highly possible. Therefore, preventing fecal contamination of the environment is crucial to preventing reinfection. Bathing to remove fecal debris containing cysts from the fur is recommended.
How do I know if my cat has Giardia?
- Diarrhea. If your cat suddenly starts to have more frequent bowel movements, or you notice that his feces is more watery than usual, it could be the beginning of acute diarrhea. …
- Abdominal Pain and Bloating. …
- Vomiting. …
- Nausea. …
- Weight Loss.
How do I disinfect my house from giardia?
How do I disinfect my house? -Always clean surfaces with soap or other disinfectant until visible contamination is gone. –
Use a bleach solution of 3⁄4 cup bleach to 1 gal of water. Allow solution to stay in contact with the surface for AT LEAST 1-3 minutes before rinsing with clean water
.
How do I disinfect my lawn from giardia?
The most readily available disinfectant is
bleach diluted 1:32 in water
. Studies have shown this dilution to require less than one minute of contact time to effectively kill giardia cysts. As for areas with lawn or plants, decontamination may not be possible without the risk of killing the foliage.
How long does giardia live in the yard?
Do not allow any new animals, especially young ones, to enter the yard or other outdoor space until advised by your veterinarian. How long does Giardia survive in the environment? o In cold temperatures (around 4°C/39.2°F), Giardia can survive for approximately
7 weeks (49 days)
.
