Giardiasis - sorry it's long and maybe gross...

Ku Ku is diagnosed with Giardiasis yesterday and been on Metronidazole.

Started early morning of 3 days ago, she had diarrhea. She was having a cycle of constipation & diarrhea once in a while but other than that, she's been fine. I left for work on that day. When I came home, the room was a mess, her poops were on the floor everywhere. I actually saw her scooting and leaving line of brown stain(ugh...sorry it's too graphic) on the floor... Since Ku Ku had a surgery last year for removing bladder stone, I decided to bring her to vet first thing in the morning on the following day.

Her diarrhea seemed a little subsided in the morning but she was still scooting every few minutes or so. I had hard time putting her into a carrier(as usual) but somehow managed to do so with a help of my neighbor. The difference I noticed on this day was, she usually resists even after she got trapped in a carrier but she didn't do that in the morning...instead, she weakly meowed a couple of times as if saying "meowmy, what's going on? I'm worried"

She had to be sedated to get an exam.
Vet was trying to do fecal exam on her but wasn't really successful since Ku Ku had not much left in her system after days of diarrhea. They had to keep Ku Ku overnite to collect fecal samples.

Yesterday morning, vet called and told me that they found Giardia from Ku Ku's stool. Ku Ku should be on Metronidazole for the next 8 days and see how she'll respond to it.
I went to pick her up. As soon as receptionist called the back office announcing Ku Ku's discharge, I heard this loud "grrrrrrrr~~~".
Few minutes later, one of a nurse came out with Ku Ku in carrier.
She explained to me the diagnosis, medication Ku Ku has to be on for the next 8 days, and a follow-up fecal exam once the med's finished.

I've searched on-line for the cause & all but still do not understand how and why she got it from. Ku Ku's been strictly an indoor cat. She's had fecal exam prior to arrival into Hawaii and been(supposed to be) parasite-free.
I do not and never walk around home with outdoor shoes on. Also, I have a doormat outside the door, always clean the sole of shoes everytime before entering room from outdoor. No carpet in the house. I sweep floor and maintaining it dust-free while I'm at home...I really can't understand how and why it got transmitted to her.

I gave her Metronidazole this morning. She got diarrhea again right after that. She strained in the litter box but she couldn't push it off(sorry it's too graphic). She jumped right out and was running around with extremely dirty butt(was stinky, too!). I had to chase her to wipe her butt off...

She resisted and growled at first but I guess warm & moist paper towel felt comfy for her. She let me do so as soon as she felt the warm wipe.
Now she's quietly sleeping right next to me...

Ok, here's my questions.

1)What can I do to prevent her from getting it again?
2)I'm worried that I may be getting the infection as I've read that Giardia may be transmitted to human being.
What's(are) the things I can do to prevent it?
I'm religiously using antibacterial products(soap, wipes, sanitizer, and sprays) and ALWAYS cleaning hands especially before handling or eating food, everytime I come home from outside, everytime cleaning litter box, and now, everytime I touched Ku Ku etc etc...

Also, I already disposed off the litter remained in her litter box, and filled it with new.

Anything else I should do?
Thanks in advance for your input.

Now that you've taken care of your furbaby, call your doctor and let him/her know that your cat has giardia. They will be able to help you avoid getting sick - though keeping everything clean definitely important! You might also want to clean her litterbox and food dishes, toys, or anything else she might put in her mouth with bleach. Anywhere she has pooped will need to be cleaned well also.

That's really odd that an indoor cat got infected... is there any chance she could have drank some contaminated water? Do you have any other pets? Did you ask your vet what might have caused her to get sick?

for KuKu to get well soon, and for you to STAY well!!

KKH, Metro might not be the best thing for Giardia... Send a PM to Kai Bengals (Nial), I think he does know something better... I remember him saying so... You of course need to discuss with your vet. I might be wrong but I think he knows the subject well.

The reason why you didn't catch Giardia on the fecal exams before, is that it requires special testing - it doesn't show on the regular fecal...

Giardia is tough to beat, so 8 days of Metro might not do it... It might put it down for a while, and then it might come back...

Good luck!

Thank you for the advise re: doctor. I don't have doctor here in Hawaii yet(moved from the mainland 2 years ago) but I'll find one to have myself checked just in case.

I already cleaned or washed literally everything that was on the floor before she returned home yesterday, including bathmat & rug. I used disinfectant to wipe entire floor, too.

I also cleaned her food & water dishes, her bed, as well as a fabric matting placed in her carrier(after she returned home) but haven't thought about her toys! Most of her toys are fabric materials...I don't know how I could clean them besides Febreze. I usually spray Febreze on it but would it help?
Or should they be washed in hotwater with baking soda?

I really have absolutely no idea as to why & how Ku Ku got it. I asked my vet but even my vet was scratching her head, too.

Can insects from outdoor(ants & roaches) carry this somehow?
They often crawl in. I've seen Ku Ku chasing and licking them

Originally Posted by carolinalima

KKH, Metro might not be the best thing for Giardia... Send a PM to Kai Bengals (Nial), I think he does know something better... I remember him saying so... You of course need to discuss with your vet. I might be wrong but I think he knows the subject well.

The reason why you didn't catch Giardia on the fecal exams before, is that it requires special testing - it doesn't show on the regular fecal...

Giardia is tough to beat, so 8 days of Metro might not do it... It might put it down for a while, and then it might come back...

Good luck!

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Thank you.

Ku Ku was feral(approx 4 years ago)...should there be a possibility that she's had it for a long time?

I'll contact Kai Bengals, thank you for your advise.

At the shelter, we've used both Metro (aka Flagyl) & Panacur to treat Giardia. Kai bengals knows of something else that can be used, however it is unavailable in the US (I believe). Some people say Panacur doesn't work for giardia, some say the Flagyl doesn't work well. I do know the Flagyl is a very bitter medicine.

In all the contact I've had with giardia cats at the shelter, and my own fosters - I've never once gotten giardia in 5 years.

I don't know anything about giardia requiring a special fecal test - when the vet here tests stool samples they check for worms/coccidia/giardia all at once. I know there are specific tests for just coccidia, or just giardia.

I do suggest that once you do get a negative fecal, about a month after that re-test a stool sample just to be sure.

Originally Posted by white cat lover

At the shelter, we've used both Metro (aka Flagyl) & Panacur to treat Giardia. Kai bengals knows of something else that can be used, however it is unavailable in the US (I believe). Some people say Panacur doesn't work for giardia, some say the Flagyl doesn't work well. I do know the Flagyl is a very bitter medicine.

In all the contact I've had with giardia cats at the shelter, and my own fosters - I've never once gotten giardia in 5 years.

I don't know anything about giardia requiring a special fecal test - when the vet here tests stool samples they check for worms/coccidia/giardia all at once. I know there are specific tests for just coccidia, or just giardia.

I do suggest that once you do get a negative fecal, about a month after that re-test a stool sample just to be sure.

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Thank you. I just PMd Kai bengals. Hope I can get some info.

I gave Ku Ku the med(metro) this morning.
She really hated it...I could tell from how she reacted
Vet told me that I could mix it in with food but I doubt if Ku Ku will ever eat anything with it.

Glad today is Sunday & tomorrow is a day-off.
I'll have to spend all day, either chasing after Ku Ku to clean her butt and/or sweeping floor.

Originally Posted by white cat lover

I don't know anything about giardia requiring a special fecal test - when the vet here tests stool samples they check for worms/coccidia/giardia all at once. I know there are specific tests for just coccidia, or just giardia.

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Some places don't Nat... at my vet for example, he does a basic fecal, and for Giardia he needs to send it out... I am sure different places work differently.

Originally Posted by carolinalima

Some places don't Nat... at my vet for example, he does a basic fecal, and for Giardia he needs to send it out... I am sure different places work differently.

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That's what I wondered - so I guess if I ever use a different vet I'll be sure to specifically ask what they test for. I'm so used to my vet knowing what I want, I'm spoiled with them.

Originally Posted by white cat lover

That's what I wondered - so I guess if I ever use a different vet I'll be sure to specifically ask what they test for. I'm so used to my vet knowing what I want, I'm spoiled with them.

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Yes you are... Super-spoiled! - and on the top of it, you pay a fraction of what we mortals pay Why would you EVER go to another vet?? I am almost moving to Minnesota just for your vet!
No.... I think your place is probably a larger place... like a hospital, or part of the shelter you work at? You have much more resources as far as lab goes than a clinic, as in my case, and in other people's cases too .
But yes, it is good to check - I was surprised to find out when I asked my vet to test Bugsy for Giardia, and it couldn't be done there - it had to be sent out.

Do you have any house plants? Other than that, maybe get your water checked. Could be unlikely but one never knows. My town doesn't treat the water properly here, they repeatedly get fined for it. Aside from water source being contaminated it could also be a pipe supplying your home.

You may also want to pull your kitchen drawers out and do some thorough searching under them for rodent droppings.

That's what I started wondering...although I do not have plants at home, I often get catgrass(wheat) for Ku Ku from Home Depot. Even though wheat grass is always sold at vegetables & herbs section, what if the soil was contaminated? Who knows for sure. My neighbor who also has cat mentioned that to me, too.

Besides... Water...I think water here is relatively clean & safe but then again what if the pipes are not clean...hmmmm....
I always drink filtered water but for Ku Ku, it was always tapped water.
I started giving Ku Ku the same for now on.

I've been thinking of other possibilities....actually, I saw Ku Ku licking & then munching(well, not quite but almost about to, of course I stopped her, though) tiny grains of sands that's possibly dropped from my shorts(or maybe swim-suits when I bring it home?) when I came home from a beach. Although it's not openly legal to bring animals to the beach I regularly go to, I saw dogs running around there few times. AND, dogs are often prone to Giardis...correct?

About rodents dropping. I always clean it whenever I see it. Using either disinfectant wipes or spray after that.
Not too sure about rodents...unless Ku Ku catches & eats it while I wasn't looking(she usually plays with it, hopefully not meant to eat it)
Of course, I wouldn't let her eat it if I see her chasing after it.
She often brings it to me if I was at home

KuKu doesn't go outside?

It's possible she's had it all along, and the stress of moving brought it out. My vet says that virtually every cat has it; they routinely treat every shelter cat that they hold for us for it. They use Panacur; three days of treatment will take care of it.

^My kittens were tested for it and came up clean. Which actually surprised my vet. But they were living in a petfood warehouse - aside from spilled pet food it's kept very clean.


I'm just concerned that there may be something in the home that could not only reinfect KuKu, but could sicken the OP, too. It honestly wouldn't hurt to have the water checked just in case.
And if the OP is having any sort of rodent issues in the home. Call someone in to take care of it! Traps are the last line of defense, the first line is making sure they're not getting in to begin with. This means finding and patching any entrances. Again, not just for KuKu's safety, but for all humans in the home, too.

Originally Posted by mrblanche

KuKu doesn't go outside?

It's possible she's had it all along, and the stress of moving brought it out. My vet says that virtually every cat has it; they routinely treat every shelter cat that they hold for us for it. They use Panacur; three days of treatment will take care of it.

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No she is strictly an indoor cat. She WAS feral but that was almost 4 years ago.

Hmmm...stress could be another possibility, not only relocation but also her meowmy's stress level. She may feel it somehow. Besides UT problem, she was healthy when we were in FL.

Originally Posted by strange_wings

^My kittens were tested for it and came up clean. Which actually surprised my vet. But they were living in a petfood warehouse - aside from spilled pet food it's kept very clean.


I'm just concerned that there may be something in the home that could not only reinfect KuKu, but could sicken the OP, too. It honestly wouldn't hurt to have the water checked just in case.
And if the OP is having any sort of rodent issues in the home. Call someone in to take care of it! Traps are the last line of defense, the first line is making sure they're not getting in to begin with. This means finding and patching any entrances. Again, not just for KuKu's safety, but for all humans in the home, too.

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I'm sure there's gaps & cracks in somewhere invisible at this home.
Even having all the windows & door closed, I still see roaches & other insects, as well as mice crawling in from somewhere that I've no clue. Prior to moving in, I checked around the home and saw no visible problem or damages, though.

Wow, poor KuKu! My Genever had Giardia, I think she probably had it from when she was at the shelter even, I just didn't know about it until almost 5 months after we had her and she lost a pound and a half. She always had stinky poos, but i thought she just had stinky poos! But with the weight loss the vet tested for Giardia and yep it came back positive. BF and I fought for 10 days giving that Metronidazole twice a day. Genever will tolerate pretty much anything, but not a pill, and definitely not those bitter pills. We ended up glopping margarine around it, and BF held her mouth open while I shoved it in the back of her throat so it would slide down. It usually worked. Poor girl! It worked though, her follow-up fecal test was negative for giardia, and she's had solid non-room-clearing poops ever since, plus she gained back a pound.

Also, there are different strains of giardia, so there's a good chance you probably wouldn't catch it from your cat. But still wash bedding and hands and all that just to be safe. And as was mentioned, cats can carry it without having symptoms for a long time, so it is possible she's had it for a long time.

Good luck!

Originally Posted by KKH

I'm sure there's gaps & cracks in somewhere invisible at this home.
Even having all the windows & door closed, I still see roaches & other insects, as well as mice crawling in from somewhere that I've no clue. Prior to moving in, I checked around the home and saw no visible problem or damages, though.

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Pests can drive us crazy. Even if you have an inspection done on the home before purchase/moving in, stuff can be missed. If you can get a good professional in, it could help.
I really hope that isn't the problem, but you need to keep yourself healthy, too, which I'm concerned about.