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.
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.