Giardia in dogs is relatively common no matter where you live. It is an unpleasant parasite that dogs are susceptible to. Though it is more commonly found in dogs younger than one year of age, it can also affect older dogs.
Suppose you are worried that your dog has contracted Giardia or simply want to prevent contact with this parasite. In that case, you need to know how to naturally cure Giardia in a dog.
Fortunately, years of research on this area have provided many solutions to prevent Giardia in dogs, which have been tested repeatedly. However, the most important thing as a dog owner is to equip yourself with all that you can about Giardia, from its symptoms to medications. This way, you will know when to contact the vet and what clinical signs you should look for when protecting your dog against Giardia.
Do you have a specific question about how to naturally cure giardia in a dog? Then use the table of contents below to jump to the most relevant section. And you can always go back by clicking on the black arrow in the right bottom corner of the page. Also, please note that some of the links in this article may be affiliate links. For more details, check the Disclosure section at the bottom of the page.
Here's what we'll cover:
What Is Giardia?
Giardia can be described as a parasite found in the intestines of amphibians, birds, and mammals. There are various subspecies of Guardia, and they target specific groups of animals depending on this subspecies.
However, irrespective of the type, all Giardia share the same transmission and life cycle mode.
During the lifecycle of Giardia, they have two stages. When the parasite is mature, it is in the form of trophozoites found in the small intestine of animals.
They then become cysts which is the infective stage, whereby they appear on the animal’s feces. When ingested in the cyst form, they resume their life cycle at the trophozoites stage.
How to Find out If Your Dog Has Giardia?
As a dog owner, you have to be incredibly mindful of your pet’s behavior and physical state. Any deviation from their normal behavior should be addressed immediately. The most common symptoms of Giardia include diarrhea, vomiting, poor weight, dehydration, and poor appearance of the coat. For receiving a final diagnosis of Giardia, visit a vet immediately.
Over the Counter Giardia Treatment for Dogs
Giardia symptoms are very similar to those of various other disorders that appear in dogs. It is always advised to visit a vet who can diagnose properly after providing the correct evaluation.
In the case of Giardia, no over-the-counter treatment options are approved. In fact, it can actually have detrimental effects on your dog. It should not be tried without the guidance of a veterinarian. Since over-the-counter treatment options are out of the question here, you must look into how to treat Giardia naturally.
Why You Shouldn’t Treat Giardia in Dogs with Medication
Giardia usually causes discomfort and diarrhea in your pet and requires your immediate attention. In most cases, veterinarians provide many medications that have to be followed rigorously. These drugs include Fenbendazole (Panacur), Albendazole, and Metronidazole (Flagyl)
However, the drugs to be administered in treating Giardia are often associated with various side effects. In fact, all of these are not FDA-approved for animals. In some recent studies, Azithromycin has also been implicated in treating Giardia.
These side effects can actually harm your dog even further, for which reason giardia natural treatment options are generally favored amongst many pet parents.
What Naturally Kills Giardia in Dogs
Since all relevant medications available for Giardia treatment are considered harmful for your dog, natural giardia treatment for dogs is the best option available for you. In most cases, the most popular natural remedies include Oregon grapes, cloves, garlic, and many more discussed below.
Natural Remedies for Giardia in Dogs
Natural home remedies for treating Giardia in dogs are discussed as follows:
Oregon Grape
Oregon grape is known for being a natural antibiotic agent and an effective liver tonic that can attack parasites. The recommended dosage is about 12 drops of tincture for every 20 pounds of your dog’s body weight. Be aware that the Oregon grape should not be administered if your dog is pregnant or has previous liver diseases.
Pumpkin Seeds for Giardia in Dogs
When three species of pumpkin seeds were tested for their ability to destroy giardia cells, it was found that they were 85% to 100% percent efficient, depending on the species. So, it is crucial to buy the proper variety of pumpkin seeds. Cucurbita maxima is the most effective in treating Giardia, although it might be challenging to find. Buy fresh seeds and grind them just before administering them to your dog.
Cloves
Clove oil is rich in a component known as eugenol, which is highly implicated for its anti-giardia properties. It’s been found that this component in clove oil can kill almost half the parasite population but in a time-dependent manner. However, administering clove oil is not the easiest. It can be dangerous if too much is administered at a go.
Grapefruit Seed Extract
The grapefruit seed extract is one of the most highly recommended and popular treatments for Giardia in dogs. Undoubtedly it has unprecedented effects in killing the parasite.
This has been proved time and again in various studies that have been conducted. However, you should be very careful to get your hands on the right variety of grapefruit seed extract. Often it is mixed with ingredients that can be harmful to your dog.
Garlic
Garlic is extremely effective in treating Giardia as it destroys the cell by altering the external and internal parts of the trophozoite. However, it is essential to remember that excessive consumption of garlic can be toxic to dogs. It is also better to provide your dog with fresh garlic and let it sit for some time for the allicin to release before administering it to your dog.
Goldenseal
Goldenseal is basically a golden yellowish root of a plant. This plant is in full bloom during the spring months. It has been known to be used to treat various conditions, including Giardia.
Coconut Oil for Giardia in Dogs
Many studies have indicated that coconut oil for Giardia in dogs can be used as a natural remedy for treating Giardia in dogs. Coconut oil is rich in lauric acid or dodecanoic acid, a saturated fatty acid.
This compound helps explode the giardia trophozoites that, by logic, kill all cysts as well.
In fact, it has been found that lauric acid has anti-giardia properties. Although there is no consensus about how much coconut oil should be administered, 1 teaspoon for every 10 pounds of your dog’s bodyweight seems reasonable.
Does Vinegar Kill Giardia?
If you are wondering will vinegar kill giardia, undiluted vinegar possesses anti-giardia effects causing 100% cyst death.
However, whenever your dog ingests vinegar with other food, it naturally becomes diluted, which is only about 50% effective in killing cysts. Hence treating your dog with vinegar might not be the best solution.
However, it can be combined with other more effective natural treatment options.
Can I Use Multiple Home Remedies for Giardia at the Same Time?
In most cases combining various natural remedies for Giardia has not been associated with any problems in particular. However, you must research the safest combinations available. E.g., coconut oil and pumpkin seeds that are used together. It can be reasonably understood that combining various compounds with anti-giardia effects should enhance and make your natural remedy more effective.
Treating Giardia is very important for maintaining your dog’s physical health. Take them immediately to the vet if you see any symptoms. When looking for treatment options, relying on natural remedies for Giardia in dogs is surely your best choice. Be careful with the administration and research every home remedy carefully before starting the dosage!
Thanks for the blog graphics: Canva.com
Thanks for the blog graphics: Canva.com
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