Our 11.5yo dog has one of her occasional giardia episodes. Well, I say giardia - once we did a poo sample many years ago and it came back as giardia, so us and our vet have always treated it as such because she gets the same thing every couple of years or so. It was more frequent when she was a pup. The theory is that she always has it and when her immune system is down, it takes over. (Rather than that she repeatedly reinfects herself. Since our other dog has only once had it & they are both walked in the same places. We've also moved house to a totally different location hundreds of miles away and she still gets it, so I don't think she's infecting herself from the environment.)

Out vet gave us metronidazole for it years ago and since the first 3-4 episodes of it, we would just phone up and he'd leave it at reception for us to pick up. It has always worked in getting rid of the giardia.

So now:  Before we mated our 2yo girl, this 11.5yo dog got her same symptoms again. So we put her on a 5 day course of metronidazole as usual. All was fine on the med and for about 5 days after, then the symptoms came back again. This has happened once before and the vet advised to do a longer 10 day course. So that's what we did this time. Again, all was fine for the 10 days on the metronidazole and now she's been off it 3 days and it seems to be back again.

All this would be happening over a bank hol weekend....

I have some Panacur here and I've just put her on that for a 5 day giardia course. In the past, Panacur hasn't worked. But if Panacur doesn't work now and the giardia is resistant to metronidazole then I've no idea what we do.

I will see how the Panacur does and take her to the vet on Tuesday if it's no better. I don't have enough metronidazole for a full course, now, I only have a few days left. (Tempting to use it though it is - multiple toilet trips a night are not great.)

But of course I'm really worried that our pregnant (hopefully) girl is going to get it. And we can't give her meds. I guess I can take her out to a field to toilet but they still share water bowls, pick up toys etc.

Why does this have to happen right now, when our other girl is hopefully pregnant? It's been about 2yrs since she last had it. Arrrrggghh.

I think it was Bank Holiday last Monday?

Where I live, there's also a bank holiday this Monday unfortunately! 

I would get her tested again before giving her anything more. At least then u know exactly what u are dealing with and can take the necessary precautions should that be needed

Gosh do you get the one at the end of the month too?when I was working I loved Bank Holidays- now they can be a nuisance with doctors and vets being closed for 3 days!

Yes, it's like 3 weeks with 4 days a week here!!

The problem with testing, is it doesn't always show. We've done it 2-3 times with her at different times in her life. Only once did it find anything (giardia).  Then it takes about 2 days to get the samples (different poos) and X number of days for results.

I've been giving her pro-kolin & forte flora constantly since stopping metronidazole both times too.

But yes, if the Panacur isn't working by Tuesday, I'll take her to the vet and see what they say.

I guess I was just asking mainly about contamination and trying to prevent my pregnant dog from catching this.  Part of me hopes she's not going to, whatever, and has immunity to it (I think the older dog has a susceptibility to it or always has it). Over the last 11yrs of this, only once has our middle dog caught it. But I'm trying not to take risks with the youngster who's pregnant... Arg. Why does it have to happen now?!

From the other thread (I'll go back and delete)

About Giardia.  Our current hound came to us at 4 months and was producing nasty stools.   The fecal result - Giardia (and roundworm ova).  This is the first time in all my years that I've had a dog with this - I KNOW he didn't pick this up with us..... it can be in standing water but it was February when he came to us, and the ground had been frozen for some weeks.    And my other hound was clear (I had her checked!). 

Panacur didn't work but Metronidazole did.   After a few neg. fecals, we hoped it was gone BUT I then read up on this and found that whereas medication will kill most of the protozoa, some will burrow into the gut and stay dormant until the dog is stressed.   I can't remember how long the Metronidazole dose was.  

He recently had a 'routine dental' and started producing bad stools because despite the dental being routine, just cleaning and polishing and no extractions, he had been in the vets from 9 am until almost 7 pm - they had to delay the work because of emergencies (they do dentals last in any case) so he was well stressed by the time he came home.    I had a fecal done and it was clear.   They felt he'd gone to colitis.   This boy will have nasty stools easily and for this reason, is on Arden Grange Sensitive which seems for the most part, to keep his stool quality good.  

So are you SURE this is Giardia again?    Have you had more fecals done to confirm?   Fact is my boy, before the fish diet, was producing good stools first thing, and far from, last thing.    As for it spreading - obviously you have to pick up as soon as .... we were using Jeyes Fluid (the grass didn't like that!) at one point to clean the areas he was going outside and of course, this can transfer to humans .......   I was mad as heck about this happening because he came from a breeder I'd know for years and years.  Of course she denied everything but where did it come from, it not from her place!

ps -   Yes you can get negative fecals even if the protozoa is still present - but not shedding.   Which is why after the initial bout, we did several fecals, all coming back negative though.

Thanks MamaBas...

>Panacur didn't work but Metronidazole did.

That was our experience way back when she first had this.  I tried Panacur first of course, because I could without a prescription.  When that didn't work, the vet took a stool sample which said it was giardia.  And he prescribed metronidazole.  Which worked instantly from the first dose. 

Since then, we haven't really wasted our time trying Panacur again when it's happened - I think I tried it once, but again it made no difference.  We would just phone the vet up and he'd put the metronidazole aside for us.  (We had a nice vet!).  It always worked instantly from the first dose. 

>BUT I then read up on this and found that whereas medication will kill most of the protozoa, some will burrow into the gut and stay dormant until the dog is stressed.

Exactly, that's our theory about how it reoccurs for her.  Since I don't think she is reinfecting herself from the environment.

>So are you SURE this is Giardia again?    Have you had more fecals done to confirm? 

No, we haven't - that will be the next step - but in the past times this has happened, we have had fecals done and they haven't found anything.  But our vet then advised it was probably the same thing again, and to treat with metronidazole - and we have done, and it worked instantly. 

So, this time is a bit of an anomaly, because she is fine whilst on the metronidazole - all poos normal for 10 days - so if it wasn't giardia (or something else the metronidazole fixes) then you'd think the poos would continue to be bad whilst on the med...?!  As soon as we stop it, a few days later, it comes back again.  This has never happened before.  I don't know if the giardia in her is becoming resistant to the metronidazole after having had doses so often with it during her life...

Anyway, I am now being quietly hopeful after the first Panacur:  We had no toilet trips during the night, none first thing this morning after breakfast, and only one poo on her walk.  It was a very soft one, but not entirely runny and with no blood or mucous.  Her stinky farts and gurgling stomach also seem to have stopped.  So keep fingers crossed things keep getting better on the Panacur....

PS Just to add, I did read a past thread here where JeanSW said that she had used Panacur to fix giardia and it had worked for her.  And in my googlings, Panacur is allegedly better than metronidazole at treating giardia:  http://www.capcvet.org/capc-recommendations/giardia

"Metronidazole is the most commonly used extra-label therapy; however, efficacies as low as 50% to 60% are reported. Safety concerns also limit the use of metronidazole in dogs and cats."

"Fenbendazole (50 mg/kg SID for 3 to 5 days) is effective in eliminating Giardia infection in dogs. Fenbendazole is approved for Giardia treatment in dogs in Europe, and available experimental evidence suggests that it is more effective than metronidazole in treating Giardia in dogs."

Well although we've only had the one suspect poo today, she has eaten a hole in a blanket... She does this when feeling nauseous - it makes her eat inedible things.  She will probably now vom this blanket chunk up in the morning - that's what usually happens!  Also manically trying to eat her own toe nails...

I've been doing some research online about using Panacur for giardia, and although it says 3 days on the Panacur info, most vets prescribe it for 5-7 days and some even for 10 days.  When I've tried it in the past and it didn't work, I only did the 3 days it recommended on the packet - maybe I should have done more...

What I'd love to know is - anyone who's used Panacur for giardia - how long did it take after starting the Panacur, before you noticed an improvement in symptoms?  And how long before symptoms stopped totally?

When we start the metronidazole, all symptoms stop instantly - so I guess that's what I look for, with Panacur - but perhaps it doesn't work in the same way??

PS One more question... dosage...

The wording on Panacur sheet is really confusing.  My girl is 25kg

It says:
"Routine treatment of adult cats and dogs
1 ml per 1 kg body weight as a single oral dose (= 100 mg fenbendazole/kg body weight)."

So her normal worming amount is 25ml.

Then it says:
"Increased dosing for specific infections
For the treatment of clinical worm infestations in adult dogs and cats or Giardia spp. infections in dogs administer 1 ml per 2 kg body weight daily for 3 consecutive days (= 50 mg fenbendazole/kg body weight daily for 3 days)."

So I am giving about 13ml/day to her.  Is that right?  Or does it mean I should be adding 13ml to 25ml?  (It says 'Increased dosing' - but it's actually half the amount, albeit over more days than a normal worming.)

If Panacur is such a safe wormer and so on, can I give her the normal worming amount daily (25ml)??  I just really need this to work, if the metronidazole isn't going to. 

As your vet has all.her history imo a phone call.to the vet asap for confirmation of what dosage and which meds are best in this situation

Vets closed till Tuesday, bank holiday tomorrow.  Unless I pay emergency out of hours prices.

> <br />So I am giving about 13ml/day to her.  Is that right?  Or does it mean I should be adding 13ml to 25ml?  (It says 'Increased dosing' - but it's actually half the amount, albeit over more days than a normal worming.)

Believe it's I ml per kg of body weight as a single (one off dose)
for 3 days (sometimes I've done it over a week for lungworm) it's 1 ml per 2 kg of body weight. Our boys are (were) around 30 kg so gave them 15 ml a day for a week.

Thanks Lacy, so it sounds like I'm doing it right, I think??

I'm going to do more than 3 days though - a lot of people online reported being told to use it for 7-10 days for giardia by their vets, and as it's safe for lungworm for 7 days, I don't see why not...

I hate it when dogs have something wrong with them and you are struggling to get on top of it, and find a way forwards, it's so stressful...

I would be giving her 13ml but I would be going for 5 days minimum.  (Just from past experience.)

Thanks JeanSW, can I ask how long it was on Panacur before you knew it was working?  Thx!

I still think you need to get Giardia confirmed, or not (and do several fecal tests as indeed, it may not always show up at the time of one fecal) before dosing her any more Pan. or Metron.

And perhaps think about switching to a more gentle diet, eg the fish and potato diet - even if, as I did with Frankie at first, you make it up yourself using coley and mashed potato to see what happens.   When I was reaching 'the end' with my lad's stool quality, I had him back to the vet, saw another one standing in on a Saturday from the main practice.   He gave him an antiinflammatory to calm his system down, put him onto Hills I/D for a week and then to my home-made fish.   And I then bought him Arden Grange Sensitive which obviously is more convenient, and had more of that I wasn't providing with just fish and potato.

I would be at the vets, you have puppies due and a dog with an unconfirmed problem, why are you taking the risk ? Get to the vet, be it an emergency one or your own and get the proper diagnosis before you start home treatment.  I think you are just going to have to accept that it will cost you one way or the other and a forum is no place to try and get advice on such matters.
Do the responsible thing and get proper treatment. This forum is read by people who are possibly going to try themselves to treat problems without a costly vet visit and your posts could be dangerous advice.
Aileen

I was under the impression it was illegal to self diagnose and treat yourself without consulting a vet? i am aware that there are people on this forum with years of experience and who give very sensible advice but I agree with Merlot, with a bitch in the house who could be in whelp I just wouldn't risk it.
With all the time and money you've spent out recently it's not worth tempting fate.

We are very experienced at dealing with this problem, since this girl gets it once every couple of years or so - and only once has one of our other dogs ever caught it, in 11 years.  That is why I suspect it's something to do with her gut bacteria, and/or an immune-related thing.  (And in the past we've made no attempt to separate them...we are now, and they have separate toilet areas.)

If I ran to the vets every time, I would have spent thousands and be no nearer an answer.  Over the years, we have run fecal tests with no results (twice) because giardia doesn't show in every fecal test.  That is why our vet himself stopped recommending we even do them. 

I really do know when I need to see a vet - and no, it's not illegal to self-diagnose(!).  Panacur is a perfectly legal and non-prescription medication.

Nothing swift is going to happen if I see a vet today as an emergency on a bank holiday - it will be another 2-3 days of taking stool samples, followed by another 2 days for results.  (Which will probably show nothing.)  Then a trip back to pick up the meds - it's going to be a week, all in.  Seeing there's a chance Panacur can fix this immediately and seeing I have it (and by the way, we've now had a normal stool this morning), I would be stupid not to do something which could immediately resolve the problem - given I have a bitch in whelp here.

When people ask questions about things, it is probably best to give them the benefit of the doubt and assume there are more facts and reasons behind what they are doing - or at least to enquire after those, instead of judging them for acting immediately to fix a problem right now.

So why ask on this forum then??

I was checking the dosage, because I read on another forum that someone gave the max amount daily and wanted to be sure I've been understanding the instructions right. 

Honestly, if anyone has anything helpful to say, please say it (that meaning - answering the questions I've asked!), if anyone just wants to lecture and feel superior, please find another thread

I'm sorry if you think I'm being funny.... I just don't understand why, Bank Holiday or not< you aren't seeking proper, veterinary advice over the correct dosage to give your dog. It could be so easy to overdose an already upset stomach

I am not lecturing but  do think especially with an older dog, it's vitally important to have a correct diagnosis before you start giving what is in effect maximum doses (And YES it is illegal to home treat with POM without  these being prescribed for the current particular problem not  using something that was prescribed ages ago ) until you are sure what you are dealing with. The vet should be doing that. I have no idea and neither do you that your older dog is not compromised in some way and the huge doses you wish to give will not cause more damage especially if the diagnosis is not right. Medicating on the hope that it might do some good can be a dangerous hobby, it could compromise all sorts of other possible illnesses. Also you say she is eating weird things and chewing her feet to pieces. Please get a proper diagnosis.
Aileen

Goodness me, what a lot of judgement and "I know better than you, how to care for your dog".

I'm not giving "maximum doses" - please!  Almost everything you are saying is factually untrue:

>it's vitally important to have a correct diagnosis

My vet and I are in agreement that IT IS POINTLESS CARRYING OUT FURTHER FECAL SAMPLES.  Did you read that?  MY VET and I are in agreement.  That means I have spoken to my vet.  It also means we are not going to get a CORRECT DIAGNOSIS in this instance - at least, unless all else fails with trying meds first and we get desperate.  This is the way we have together agreed to manage her condition.

>before you start giving what is in effect maximum doses

Who said I am going to give maximum doses???  I am giving the smallest amount, out of the various different options available here!  I have consulted many different online forums, the Noah Compendium data sheet that comes with the product and also found an earlier post here on ChampDogs, where someone else asked exactly the same question and got answered politely and not slaughtered for daring to ask it.  Here it is, someone asking the same question about dosages and not getting slaughtered:  http://forum.champdogs.co.uk/topic_show.pl?tid=140418  I'm sure you will say that was ok, because they didn't also have a bitch in whelp or something. 

>And YES it is illegal to home treat with POM

Er, Panacur - which I am asking the question about - is not a prescription-only medicine.  You can buy it from any canine pharmacy without a prescription, and the guidelines for use with giardia are printed clearly on the data sheet accompanying the product.

>without  these being prescribed for the current particular problem not  using something that was prescribed ages ago

Well, you'll have to take that up with my vet, as we have an understanding that I can pop in and pick some up at any time.  This has been worked out over years of dealing with this condition.  I'm glad you get kicks out of feeling morally superior to others, but I'm afraid I'm not at fault here.  If you'd like to write my vet a letter to complain about his issuing of prescription meds without having examined my dog every single time, I'd be happy to give you his name and address so you can do that.  Otherwise, please go away - I have done nothing wrong because I am following vet advice.

> the huge doses you wish to give will not cause more damage especially if the diagnosis is not right.

Sorry, I've no idea what you're talking about.  Please stop exaggerating and twisting the things I've said, just to try to make your own case sound stronger.  I am not giving "huge doses", I am giving the lesser amount of the 2 options, and I'm using a drug which it is ridiculously safe to use even if you get dosages incorrect, for starters.

>Medicating on the hope that it might do some good can be a dangerous hobby,

Hmm, let's think this one through.  As specified above, MY VET AND I have agreed not to carry out further fecal tests because they don't show anything.  (If you google giardia, you will see this is the case and a known problem with diagnosing it.)  Therefore there can be no diagnosis, other than working on the previously one successful fecal test which was giardia confirmed and also based on the fact that the giardia meds have worked every single time in the past (which, my vet and I conclude, means it was giardia).  Again, if you'd like to object to this approach, I can give you my vet's name and address so you can complain about his alleged treatment of someone else's dog.  Otherwise, please be quiet.

>Also you say she is eating weird things

No, she ate one small piece of blanket.  This is common when she has giardia and feels nauseous.  A blanket is one "thing", not many.

>chewing her feet to pieces

She was nibbling at her own toenails, which she also does when she has giardia and sometimes when she just fancies a chew on something.  Not "chewing her feet to pieces".   (exaggeration to make the situation sound worse and therefore so you can be "right" again)

I am following vet advice.  My dog has an ongoing chronic condition, which my vet gives me some leeway in managing by myself - very successfully, until this point anyway.  If you have a problem with this, please write to my vet.  From my perspective, I'm really happy to have found a vet who is willing to credit me with enough intelligence to do this.

I resent having to sit here and take time explaining all this, when it has nothing to do with the help I've sought and the problem at hand.  Now please go away and find someone else on another thread to judgementally lecture.

My dog seems comfortable and improving, and we have now had 24hrs with just one normal stool - on PANACUR.  How glad I am that I started it, 2 days ago.

PS  - Just to add, the assumption has been that I don't want to go to the vet on a bank holiday because of the charges.  I'm not sure where that assumption has come from, but yet again, it is one made to paint the worst possible picture and without finding out more information.

My dog has had this condition since puppyhood and is now 11yo, as I've said - I have seen one vet throughout for this, and he has the full history.  For the sake of seeing a vet one day earlier, I don't really want to go in on a bank holiday and see whoever happens to be on emergency duty.  I think continuity of care is important and I make that choice for my dog.  It has nothing to do with charges or fees. 

FFS...

Good I am pleased she is feeling better.
However I stand by what I have said because you have no definitive diagnosis and you have admitted that fact. I worry that others who choose to read these threads and then take things into their own hands may put their animals at risk. This forum is read by many and I think it sets a dangerous precedent to give the impression that you have diagnosed at home without medical intervention and then come on this forum to ask for dosage instructions.
If you are happy with what you are doing then that's fine. But remember others read your posts Rabid.
It is never acceptable to self diagnose and medicate without a vets intervention, you do not make it clear in your post as to if you have consulted with your vet in this instance.
Aileen

Out of interest how did your vet originally diagnose Giardia all those years ago? Surely its through a stool sample.

I've read through the posts and cant believe that you aren't even calling your vets for advice on the phone bank holiday or not when the dog is elderly and you have a bitch who might be pregnant.

Its totally foolish to be asking and also people offering advice on what meds to give when your dog hasn't been to the vets on this occasion,diagnosis is a ? As you've put on the topic header so you have no idea this is what it is and if you've got any underlying issues going on in the dog. Potentially you could make things much worse by giving something which your vet hasn't agreed to or given an up to date diagnosis.

Call your vet for advice and atop asking questions like this on a forum where it really has no place. You are risking potentially your oldie and the unborn puppies

So clearly you haven't read any of my previous posts...

Yes, we did successfully diagnose giardia once through a stool sample, on one occurrence of this.  We have tried 2 other stool samples, across several days, since then - and found nothing.  We have always treated as if for giardia and it has always worked.  If it was not giardia, it would not work.  (Words of my vet.)

What exactly is calling a strange vet who has never seen my dog, on a bank holiday, for advice, going to achieve???  Will the vet wave his magic wand from the other end of the phone line?

I'm not asking people for advice on what meds to give, please tell me where I've done that...?  There are 2 meds which are used to treat giardia - metronidazole and Panacur.  My post was really to find out what other people's experiences are like with these 2 meds, and if anyone else had experienced a dog becoming resistant to metronidazole - as it seems ours has.  I'm not asking advice on what meds to give, I just wanted to clarify the dosage on a NON prescription med (Panacur) which I am using. 

>Its totally foolish to be asking and also people offering advice on what meds to give

It's totally foolish to tell people what they can and can't say, or ask or not ask.  If you don't like the question, don't answer it.

>I stand by what I have said because you have no definitive diagnosis and you have admitted that fact.

???  I'm sorry, my vet also has no diagnosis.  Sometimes it is not possible to diagnose things.  The fact that her condition has stopped immediately she started the metronidazole (this time and every other preceding time) is enough of an indication that it is giardia, so that is the diagnosis my vet and I are treating her on.  So what exactly are you standing by? Your decision to criticise the way someone else deals with their vet?  Someone else's vet's decision to have a working diagnosis without testing??  Please do clarify what you are 'standing by'....

>I worry that others who choose to read these threads and then take things into their own hands may put their animals at risk. This forum is read by many and I think it sets a dangerous precedent to give the impression that you have diagnosed at home without medical intervention and then come on this forum to ask for dosage instructions.

How other people interpret what I say, is not the reason I post on forums.  I post because I have questions and would like other's input on them.  It would be a pretty screwed up world if we had to always account for how everything we write could possibly be misinterpreted before deciding we can post it.  I can't be held to account for other people's (possible) misinterpretation of what I'm writing. 

I have indeed 'diagnosed at home', because I am under vet advice to do that - should I get these very familiar symptoms from my dog, I should phone up to get some metronidazole put by for me at reception.  If that doesn't work, then I will bring my dog in to the vet and we will go from there.  Unfortunately, this time the metronidazole 'didn't work' and it was a bank holiday weekend, so I have (off my own back) opted to treat her immediately with Panacur - thereby preventing any further shedding of infectious cysts into my yard, and reducing the risk to my pregnant female.  I'm sorry you think this was wrong, life must be very tough for you since so many people in the world will be constantly making decisions you think are wrong, it must be really stressful.

I'm sorry, but you have been very judgemental and "invented" facts to fill in the blanks, then started an entirely different thread about people seeking vet advice online.  Your questions and accusations have totally derailed this thread - the queries I had are now at the top of this thread, buried under a load of crap from you, criticising my decisions.

There is another thread which has recently been posted by admin about 'bullying' and how it will never be tolerated under any circumstances.  I'd appreciate you taking a read of that.

A previous post you said you liked this forum due to the directness and no fluffy responses, well clearly not unless its in agreement with you, you know best so not sure why you even both posting unless others agree with you.
I don't agree with you and I'm entitled to say as such.

There is a difference between directness and people being judgemental when not in full possession of the facts.

Well, this was very enlightening!  I now see why the other thread i have been patiently responding on was created.  What a pile-on.

Glad your girl seems to be on the mend rabid, i have been using this forum in planning for my new puppy but i'll be stuck here now at least until your girl whelps as i've been glued through the whole journey!

I don't believe I have bullied you at all. I have exercised my right to answer this thread to state that I think its foolish to medicate a dog without a definitive diagnosis. After apparently treating this episode with 2 courses of medication that have not worked you are now trying something else. And yes you have asked for opinions on dosages. It is quite possible your dog is suffering something else and a vets opinion should be sought. There could be any amount of reasons for the symptoms. You obviously have faith in your vet but maybe its time to reassess the whole situation now. Obviously the drugs are no longer working either because the dog has become immune to them or the problem is not what you though it was. As for my stress levels, don't worry they are fine.
To be perfectly honest I have replied to your post in order to highlight the fact that a vets diagnosis should always be sought before you take it upon yourself to home treat and ensure that those casual browsers of CD get a balanced view.
Aileen

Oh I see, so you're just replying in a general way, to use my case as an example to others?!?!  I'm sorry, but who do you think you are??  Just like anyone else here, I think I deserve to have the needs of my dog prioritised in the advice which is given and not be used as an example-setting generalised case! 

>I think its foolish to medicate a dog without a definitive diagnosis.

Yawn... Again, would you like my vet's address and name, so you can write to him and tell him how you, a non-veterinary layperson, think he is foolish to be prescribing meds to my dog without a definitive diagnosis???

>It is quite possible your dog is suffering something else

As I've explained above, the metronidazole she was on for both the 2 courses, has stopped all symptoms.  My vet's opinion is that, when the metronidazole works, it is giardia.  I know that because I've discussed this with him in the past.  It is quite possible my dog is suffering from something else, and it is quite possible that tomorrow my dog will get run over by a bus.  However, I am not avoiding buses on the basis of that.  And neither are me and my vet assuming this anything else if the metronidazole was working.  As it was, for the time she was on it.  Instead, she may need a higher dose of it or she may be resistant to it - all of which I'll discuss with him, when I next see him. 

>you are now trying something else.

Yes, let's think about that.  It was Saturday of a bank holiday weekend, when I realised the metronidazole wasn't working this time.  I can either go to a strange emergency vet, who doesn't know my dog's history.  I can wait 3 days, during which time my dog sheds contagious giardia cysts around our house and garden, putting my pregnant girl at risk.  Or I can use the giant pot of Panacur I have - when Panacur is actually the first treatment option for giardia and is actually more effective than metronidazole:  http://www.capcvet.org/capc-recommendations/giardia   As well as being non-prescription and incredibly safe (and used before, for this dog, with no adverse effects). 

Well, I'm sorry if you would have picked a different option there, but I picked option 3. 

With the end result that, after 3 days of Panacur - the bank holiday not even being finished yet, and before I could have even seen my regular vet - we have had zero bad stools and one normal one.  I am very glad I picked option 3. 

Thank you for trying to make me feel like crap, and a bad owner for it, though.  It hasn't worked.  I would pick option 3 every time.

> Yawn... Again, would you like my vet's address and name, so you can write to him and tell him how you, a non-veterinary layperson, think he is foolish to be prescribing meds to my dog without a definitive diagnosis???

Just wondering how  you know this?

Just wondering how  you know this?

By reading Merlot's profile?

But can we believe everything we see on a forum

How do we know what other careers people may have had?

Do you think Merlot is a secret vet?  Receptionist by day and then pops into a phonebox after work and transforms?

It's possible.  Somehow given the freedom with which a lot of the opinions have flown about i think if anyone was actually a vet that would have been disclosed, quite vehemently, at the start!

I believe that any members on here that are vets or veterinary nurses - and there are some - would never attempt to diagnose on a forum.

My reaction to all this is 'play nicely in the sandpit kids'.    However, if this was my situation (and part of it I have experienced with one of mine and Giardia) there is no way I'd be continuing to medicate on the 'assumption' this is Giardia.

And this is where 'science' can help - get the fecal(s) done to PROVE Giardia is still present BEFORE using any medication.   And if your vet is backing you up in this, without doing more testing, then I'd be off for a second opinion.   And fast if you have a pregnant b itch and puppies due.

I still think your dog has a sensitive digestive tract and that instead of all this medicating, your might be way better to be looking at diet?   Just my opinion based on my experience with my hound.

Note - http://www.petmd.com/pet-medication/metronidazole
This drug is used for more than just Giardia.

> My reaction to all this is 'play nicely in the sandpit kids'

My reaction is 'for goodness sake get over yourself' (not you mamabas) . We HAVE to remember that a lot of people just read the forum so all bases must be covered with advice given.