GliderCENTRAL

What is Giardia?

Posted By: USMom

What is Giardia? - 09/02/08 01:17 AM

Okay, I'm not a newbie, and I don't have any sick gliders (thank God). I am trying to put together some notes for myself here, and any of you experienced with this, if you could give input, that would be awesome!

So, what is Giardia? Signs/symptoms?
How is it diagnosed? Best tests?
How is it spread?
How do you contain it?
How do you treat it (general med info, no dosages, please)?
Posted By: Anonymous

Re: What is Giardia? - 09/02/08 01:24 AM

I have only had one run in with giardia. My friend bought a glider and didnot know she was sick.
Some of her signs and symptoms were lethargy, diaherra and vomiting.
its best diagnosed by your vet running a fecal
its spread by contact with affected food and water or sometimes by touching where an affected animal has been.
its contained by treatment of the animal and cleaning and sanitizing the housing and bedding.
metronidazole is most commonly prescribed for sugar gliders as treatment.
Posted By: USMom

Re: What is Giardia? - 09/02/08 01:28 AM

On the Diagnosis, is that a float or smear? I hear that it isn't always seen on the first test. Is that true?
Posted By: Anonymous

Re: What is Giardia? - 09/02/08 01:32 AM

a fecal float
if the glider is actually demonstarting symptoms they usually show up in the first test- but they can carry it until something (like a move to a new owner or home) weakens their immune symptoms and they acting then get sick.
Posted By: saturngirl

Re: What is Giardia? - 09/02/08 01:55 AM

stress can trigger giardia....it can remain dormant in a glider up to 6 months.

I bought a suggie that had giardia and the person I got her from didn't know she had it. She had been vet checked and was fine. I got her home and she was so stressed by leaving her parents. She looked completely healthy but I started noticing that her stool looked a little watery. She was eating and playing fine. I think it was day 3 of her being home with me and I had her out playing on me and she pooped and it was a bright golden yellow color and in diarrhea form. I called the vet and they saw me the next day. Luckily, the vet said it was the at the beginning stage. The vet let me see the giardia under the microscope. Treatment worked great for my little Sophie. Luckily, I hadn't begin intros with her and Cooper yet and I washed my hands and used hand santizier after handling each suggie before handling the other one. So, the vet said this kept Cooper from getting it.

I would completely santizie Sophie's cage every night until I knew she was well. I had her in a smaller cage anyway and I would clean her cage set and toys nightly too. When I got Sophie out to play with her we would go into the guest bathroom since it's tiny and then I would santize and change clothes then have playtime with Cooper in the guest bedroom. So they were never out in the same room.
Posted By: Anonymous

Re: What is Giardia? - 09/02/08 02:01 AM

Thanks Tara! You said what i meant to say when i said "something" weakens their immune system smile i sort of got side tracked lol
Posted By: SugarBlossoms

Re: What is Giardia? - 09/02/08 02:06 AM

The glider we brought home 2 weeks ago didn't act sick, no diarreah, nothing...but tested postitive for Giardia at our vet. She's being retested tomorrow to see if it's gone yet. She had NO symptoms.

Our first two rescues had diarreah, bad odor when they peed or poo'd and acted sick. They both had Giardia.
Posted By: USMom

Re: What is Giardia? - 09/02/08 02:17 AM

So if they have it and are symptom free, ie, not sick, can they spread it to other gliders?
Posted By: saturngirl

Re: What is Giardia? - 09/02/08 02:33 AM

I would think another glider could still get it. I think if they're symptom free then it may just be the beginnings of the giardia.

My vet said that it's when another glider comes in contact w/the poop of the glider that has giardia is when a healthy glider can get it.

My vet also said that people and my other animals could get it from Sophie. So, that was another reason to keep her stuff clean. I would keep a thin blanket covering her cage to contain her poop.
Posted By: SugarBlossoms

Re: What is Giardia? - 09/02/08 03:42 AM

Yes, it can still be spread even without symptoms frown
Posted By: USMom

Re: What is Giardia? - 09/02/08 05:21 AM

Thanks, guys! I have a spreadsheet of information that I keep on my gliders, and have started an illness sheet. I've filled in what I have already dealt with, and am starting on the things that I have not personally dealt with. I'll be asking more questions, because the more you know...

But, if you have more information, please post it! Tips, tricks, hints, etc...
Posted By: Jackie_Chans_Mom

Re: What is Giardia? - 09/02/08 05:24 AM

I will do my best to organize my thoughts on this so that it doesn't sound like rambling.

What is Giardia?
Giardia is a protozoan parasite that is quite common in humans and animals. It is the most common parasite found in dogs, cats, birds, cows, etc.

Giardia colonizes in the small intestine. It is not spread through the bloodstream or through other parts of the gastrointestinal tract.

Once colonized, giardia absorbs nutrients from the walls of the small intestine.



HOW Is it spread?
Giardia can be spread by the injestion of contaminated water or food, or through "poop to mouth" contact. In other words, in places where there is poor hygiene. We all know that our gliders are not the most hygienic. So, if giardia exists in the poop of one glider, and the glider comes in contact with that poop and then goes to give him/herself a bath, the giardia is spread.

It can also be spread to humans if you don't wash very well after coming in contact with a glider or cage that is infected with giardia.

Not all giardia infections are symptomatic. So, it is possible for yourself or your pet to be an unknowing host.

Cysts are excreted in the feces. Giardia cysts are VERY hardy and can survive months, even in cold or heat. Cysts also can survive without "hatching" in the small intestine of a glider for long periods of time (dormancy). Stress cna trigger a chemical reaction that will move the giardia out of dormancy.


WHAT are SIGNS/SYMPTOMS?

Colonization in the small intestine results initially in inflammation. We can't see this in our gliders, so often the very first sign we have is a change in behavior since the glider will be uncomfortable.

Other symptoms include:
* diarrhea
* malaise
* nausea
* decreased appetite
* weight loss
* foul smelling stools (may smell sulphuric)
* pain - this is often the cause of SM. ALL CLOACAL SMING GLIDERS SHOULD BE TESTED FOR GIARDIA.

It is important to note that gliders may not exhibit ALL symptoms, so a vet visit is warranted when any symptom is noted.

While not fatal to humans, Giardia is known to be fatal to smaller animals.

Fast and effective treatment is necessary!

What is the TREATMENT for Giardia?

Treatment is usually flagyl (metronidazole)

PREVENTION?

To prevent recurrence and to aid in treatment, CLEAN, CLEAN, CLEAN.

* Cages, toys and bedding should be cleaned with bleach and/or other disinfectants. Minimize toys and items in the cage until the infection has passed.

* QUARANTINE. This is VERY important. Gliders must be kept in a separate cage. It is best if they are also in a separate room.

* Utilize a cage cover to minimize the chance of Poop being thrown outside of the cage

* Provide only bottled water

* Wash VERY well after handling a glider or cage infected with giardia. Change clothing that might have come in contact with infected surfaces immediately after handling the glider or cage. Disinfect door knobs, etc (any surface you might have touched) after as well. It is best if you wear gloves to do this type of cleaning.
Posted By: sugarlope

Re: What is Giardia? - 09/02/08 06:33 AM

When I dealing with Giardia in my house, it was recommended to me that I change shoes at the door (have a pair of shoes worn only in their room) so that I didn't track anything out. And to bleach everything. As Val said, Giardia (when in liquid or moist poo) can stay viable for a very long time, so be aware of not only what is in the cage but what is on and around the cage particularly if you have other animals that could easily come into contact with it.

As for symptoms, Maia started eating less and then became very lethargic and dehydrated - she never had diarrhea or soft stool at all. One of my others started having diarrhea after they started being treated.

One of my gliders had a serious reaction to the Metro, so my vet looked it up on VIN and they told her that Metro (Flagyl) was the only med that could be used to properly treat Giardia.

As a side note, in animals with depressed immune systems or other similar health problems, Giardia can become chronic and they become carriers. After treatment, it is also very wise to check, recheck, recheck and recheck. The vets I have spoken to suggest rechecks every 3 months (symptoms or not).
Posted By: Xfilefan

Re: What is Giardia? - 09/02/08 09:59 AM

I would add that if one glider in a cage has it, all should be treated in that cage even if no others show symptoms. Otherwise they could pass it back and forth and chronically reinfect each other.
Posted By: SugarBlossoms

Re: What is Giardia? - 09/02/08 06:05 PM

Originally Posted By: sugarlope


As a side note, in animals with depressed immune systems or other similar health problems, Giardia can become chronic and they become carriers. After treatment, it is also very wise to check, recheck, recheck and recheck. The vets I have spoken to suggest rechecks every 3 months (symptoms or not).


This is VERY important!!!! Even after a negative test, Izzy showed positive a month later. Since she has a tumor also, her immunity is down.
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