{"id":1583,"date":"2020-03-19T14:05:00","date_gmt":"2020-03-19T21:05:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.rocklinranchvet.com\/blog\/?p=1583"},"modified":"2020-03-19T14:05:00","modified_gmt":"2020-03-19T21:05:00","slug":"a-microscopic-menace-giardia-in-dogs","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.rocklinranchvet.com\/blog\/a-microscopic-menace-giardia-in-dogs\/","title":{"rendered":"A Microscopic Menace: Giardia in Dogs \ufeff"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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Your pet can\u2019t possibly have parasites \u2013 after all you haven\u2019t seen anything in their stool. Right? 
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Well, if you think that you can see all pet parasites with your naked eye, you would be mistaken. There are actually quite a few intestinal parasites that you can\u2019t see without the aid of a microscope. At Rocklin Ranch Veterinary Hospital<\/a> one of the more common parasites that we diagnose is Giardia in dogs, and it is definitely one that you won\u2019t be seeing without fecal testing<\/a>. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Gist of Giardia<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Unlike the traditional worm that you might think of when the phrase \u201cintestinal parasite\u201d is used, Giardia<\/a> is a single-celled parasite that calls the intestinal tract its home.
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Dogs become infected with this organism when they ingest fecal particles containing the protozoan or drink contaminated water. Many dogs will not be affected by this exposure, but those with lowered or immature immune systems such as puppies may become infected. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Giardia in Dogs<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Many dogs who have Giardia in the gastrointestinal tract will not have any symptoms. If this is the case, no treatment is necessarily required. Some dogs, however, will be symptomatic. Symptoms can include:
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