Can't get rid of parasites! Giardia

I got a kitten in mid-July and she's about to start her third round of medication for parasites. First she had coccidiosis. When I took a stool sample after treatment to be sure it was gone, they found giardiasis. I took in another stool sample on 8/21 and it was clear. Today I took in another because she's still having very loose stools quite a few times per day and they still smell so much worse than normal poop. And I just got a phone call that she still has giardiasis! I don't know what med they're going to give her, she had panacur last time for 5 days and they are trying something different this time.

The vet tech said it can take a few rounds to get rid of everything, but is there anything else I can do for her? I scoop her litter box a few times a day, she eats a combo of wet foods, Fancy Feast, Weruva and I just added Natures Variety Instinct, Nutro Max Cat, and another I forget. I'm trying to get her off the FF but it's all she will eat consistently.

She's not dehydrated and is gaining weight well, she's 3lbs 7oz. I just hate that she must be uncomfortable and I worry her body isn't getting the nutrients she needs w constant diarrhea.

Yes, there is a lot you can do, a number of things you need to do.

First of all: One round of Panacur often is not enough to get rid of Giardia. My vet gives two round with an interval of about 10 days. Furthermore some types of Giardia are resistent to Panacur. Metronidazole can also be used against Giardia, but may have nasty side effects. Furthermore: all pets need to be treated, not just the one showing symptoms. So if you have other pets, make sure they get medication as well.

You need to know that the litter box and food and water bowls are the main source of reinfection. So you need to clean those thouroughly every day. What you absolutely need to do:

Clean the food and water bowls daily with boiling water

Empty the litter box daily (not just scooping), clean it with boiling water and fill it with clean litter. Do not reuse the litter. 

When your cat poops up to 100,000 giardia cysts are released. This is why you need to scoop vigirously during the day and why you need to throw the litter out after one day. Reinfection can occur if your cat ingest as little as 10 cysts. 

The opinions differ if you need to do more than this, Many vets here say that normal household cleaning is enough. I personally don't agree, but my cats were infected with a very resistent type. 

Giardia is not affected by normal detergents. The cysts can survive many months outside a body. About the only thing that does work and is safe for you and your pets is heat. The cyst does not survive prolonged exposure to heat. This makes the following your best friend when battling Giardia:

- a steam cleaner: you need one with at least 4 bar pressure

- the washing machine: high temperatures if possible

- the dryer: high temperatures if possible

- boiling water

Toys and sleeping places are another source of reinfection. If washed all their toys in either boiling water or in the washing machine and dryer. Not everything survived this, so I threw that out. I limited their number of toys and cleaned those daily. I washed the cat beds as hot as possible and stored them in a cleaned room where the cats did not have access. I used cheap linnen on their favorite sleeping places, which I washed every day at the highest temperature in the washing machine.

Using the steamer I cleaned my house with an emphasis on the flat surfaces and furniture. I washed everything that could be washed in the washing machine and dryer. If locked some rooms, so I did not need to clean those again during their treatment. I cleaned thouroughly every three days and cleaned the floor, table and stuff like that daily. 

Some vets say you need to wash your cats on day 3 and 5 of the panacur treatment. It depends on the cat if you want to do this. I used facial wipes for babies to clean the cats' bottom after they had used the litter box. When they have loose stool, often some poop stays behind and you want to prevent them from ingesting more giardia cysts by cleaning this up themselves. 

Last: Giardia is a zoonose. This means it can be transferred to humans as well. So if you get any symptoms yourself, make sure to contact your doctor.

Good luck and lots of strenght with battling Giardia. 

Have faith, though.  Sugar had to have a second treatment for Giardia.  She is now healthy and almost the same size as Sheba,  just not as plump.

See if they're going to use metronadizole (flagyl). This is the standard treatment used here (northwestern NJ) for giardia. When the first treatment doesn't clear it up, they bump the amount given and length of time.

I KNOW it's frustrating! We work with ferals and kept the health compromised ones. But you're taking all the right steps, and you'll be well rewarded! Hang in there!!!!

Flagyl is also given to humans with c.diff. It is NASTY tasting stuff.

Yes, her new med is Flagyl and she HATES it! She foams at the mouth, licks her chops for about 10 minutes after I give it to her, then she's mad at me for a while and hides. No change yet in her stools but she's only had 2 doses. She's getting 1.4cc every 12 hours. I also gave her 1/2tsp pumpkin this morning bc when I held her to give the Flagyl, she lost control of her bowels and made a huge mess. I feel so bad for her, her tummy makes loud rumbling noises sometimes.

I got her from a breeder who has a great reputation among other breeders and at shows. Would you be concerned that she had coccidia and giardia? And the vet assumes my other cat got his URI from her too (he's 8 and been through a lot and never had one before, then he got sick 3 weeks after the kitten arrived. She shows no signs of URI though). I saw the cattery, it was clean, the other queens looked healthy and happy, there were no red flags about it or the breeder. Would you expect such a kitten to be free of parasites? I know they can be "normal" in animals kept in close quarters with other animals, but I assumed that mean more like shelters or rescues where sick animals are more common. I talked to the breeder after the first time and was told I could bring her back if I wanted, but that she wasn't sick when I got her. *eyeroll* I get the impression he thinks she picked up the bugs here. I have zero intention of taking her back. She's happy and soon will be healthy and we are in love with her.

Ask the vet for the flagyl in pill form!!!!

LDG said:

Ask the vet for the flagyl in pill form!!!!

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That's what I'll do if she needs another round. My vet doesn't carry flagyl (or maybe the dose she needs bc she's small?) and they had to get it from a compounding pharmacy. It cost me $40, so I'd hate to waste it, plus more on the pills!

Well, let's just hope this round does the trick for all your kitty's issues.

And wow - pretty hard to believe she came from a breeder! But I wouldn't take her back either. I'm very surprised at the breeder's response.

So day 4 into the flagyl and she seems to have improved. Stools aren't loose, no strange odor. She does appear bloated by the end of the day but looks normal in the morning. I don't know if she's overeating or not pooping enough until overnight??? Fingers crossed her next fecal test comes out clear! I think I'll take it in on Tuesday.

How many days is she going to be on Flagyl? She should be on for a good 10 days, make sure of that, otherwise you will be going back with the same issue soon....

Uh oh, the vet said 5 days...

williecat said:

Uh oh, the vet said 5 days...

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I would highly recommend you going back to the vet and getting an extra 5 days..... You have very good chances of not treating Giardia in 5 Days....

Oh, this time, get it in pill form - MUCH easier to give! Even on pills, it is so bitter, it is good to put it inside of a gel cap, or cut a piece of pill pocket and wrap it in it (don't feed it as a treat - pill it). This is just about the most bitter medicine ever!!

Carolina said:

I would highly recommend you going back to the vet and getting an extra 5 days..... You have very good chances of not treating Giardia in 5 Days....
Oh, this time, get it in pill form - MUCH easier to give! Even on pills, it is so bitter, it is good to put it inside of a gel cap, or cut a piece of pill pocket and wrap it in it (don't feed it as a treat - pill it). This is just about the most bitter medicine ever!!

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What do you mean don't feed as a treat, pill it? I've never used pill pockets before.

williecat said:

What do you mean don't feed as a treat, pill it? I've never used pill pockets before.

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Pill pockets are little treats, look like a little bag - it is open, you put the pill inside, close the treat and feed it as a treat.
However, because Metronidazole (Flagyl) is SO bitter, you don't want to run the risk of the kitty chewing the treat. You are only using it so the kitty doesn't taste the pill at all. Just cut a piece of the treat (it's really soft), and wrap over the pill. Then pill the kitty like that

My vet told me I should wait 2 weeks after antibiotics before I could test again.

I am bumping this thread because my cats have been infected with Giardia. They are under a treatment now, but there is a strong possibility I have been infected as well. 
All the symptoms are present. I went to the doctor and I am going to get the sample tested on Monday. 
What I need is advice on how to decontaminate my apartment. Post #2 is great, but I live in a one bedroom apartment, it will not be so easy for me. And I don't have cheap linen for my cats to sleep on. I am unemployed and flat broke.  What do I do?

May I please ask how you decontaminated your place?  I too live in a small apartment and am currently going through giardia with my kitten. She stays in a carpeted bedroom so I really don't know what I need to clean and with what.

Please help! I adopted my cat from the humane society in February and she was very sick with giardia (which no one told me). She had one 7 day course of Flagyl and it didn't help at all. She has just finished a second 7-day course, and was better for a few days--even started pooping in the litterbox. However, now it's coming back--her poop smells bad and is looser, and she just went on the bed! I don't know what to do, I'm desperate. I had to get a large dog crate for her because she was going everywhere....and now that she just started to use the box, I have to put her back in her crate. I don't want to put her on Flagyl again as it did not agree with her and it made me nervous. I took that drug for a C.diff infection, and it was horrible on my system (In fact, I have lifelong complications from it, so it would be pretty bad if I also contracted giardia). Is there anything else? Does anyone have some advice for me? I love my kitty but I live in a small apartment with a roommate and I can't live like this anymore (in fear of poop on the carpet). I just want her to feel better. She also has dental issues but that is the least of the problems right now. Thanks in advance

caroline316 said:

 
Please help! I adopted my cat from the humane society in February and she was very sick with giardia (which no one told me). She had one 7 day course of Flagyl and it didn't help at all. She has just finished a second 7-day course, and was better for a few days--even started pooping in the litterbox. However, now it's coming back--her poop smells bad and is looser, and she just went on the bed! I don't know what to do, I'm desperate. I had to get a large dog crate for her because she was going everywhere....and now that she just started to use the box, I have to put her back in her crate. I don't want to put her on Flagyl again as it did not agree with her and it made me nervous. I took that drug for a C.diff infection, and it was horrible on my system (In fact, I have lifelong complications from it, so it would be pretty bad if I also contracted giardia). Is there anything else? Does anyone have some advice for me? I love my kitty but I live in a small apartment with a roommate and I can't live like this anymore (in fear of poop on the carpet). I just want her to feel better. She also has dental issues but that is the least of the problems right now. Thanks in advance

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Flagyl is Metronidazole, often it's too mild and only helps while theyre taking it, only for the ghiardia to come back full force.

Ask for Ronidazole, it's stronger amd works well.

She may also have tri-trich, it will often accompany ghiardia but not always.