My 11 months old aussie was found to have giardia at 10 months vet recons she had  it since she came over at 4/5 months. It seems to have held her back her coat is very poor and she doesn't seem to have the substance as a 3/4 months old. She was treated as soon as we realised but because she wouldn't eat and was eating her own poo she was reinfecting herself. Can anyone help with advice what would be the best to feed her to help with her coat and is she likely to get the substance back and feel out in head.

One of my two came to us with this, at 4 months.    He was producing rotten stools which took him and me to my vet where this was discovered, along with roundworm eggs despite my being assured he'd been wormed.    He was given Panacur which did nothing.  In the end he was put on Metronidazole (Flagyl) which finally produced several clear fecal tests.  He would still produce a good stool first thing, but by the end of the day ............. yuck.    In the end, a visiting vet from the sister practice I was using suggested he had a tray of Hills I/D after which I was advised to make up a fish and potato diet which I did, and the result was a m a z i n g.   And such a relief to be able to not be thinking about stools all the time     Eventually I switched him onto a commercially made Fish and Potato diet - Arden Grange Sensitive and he continued to be absolutely fine, with a good appetite.   I can't recomment this more.   Actually after some years on this, I made a mistake and ordered their Fish and Rice which is slightly cheaper, and he is still fine.

If she's producing clear fecals, she can't reinfect herself btw.   I did have a few tests done (and my Whippet too just in case) before I was satisfied that he was clear.   Not having experienced Giardia before, I checked and understand that most of the protozoa will be killed off with treatment but some will burrow into the gut, remaining dormant unless the dog is stressed.

I hope you take all the necessary precautions with this as humans can get this - so normal hygiene must be observed - and not that it did much for the grass outside, we used Jeyes Fluid to clean up where he'd messed too.

She was treated with Panacur and a further fecal test proved totally clear it is just that when she arrived she wouldn't eat I thought it was just change of environment but then she came into season and still not eating well it wasn't until 2 weeks after the season still not eating hardly anything I decided to do the test as someone had mentioned it and than's when we found it. Her coat is very sparse and she hasn't got the substance she had when young I am wondering it that will every improve and also Her coat.

I woild.either look for a high quality kibble grain free something like eden  or raw feed. I would also make sure u include omega 3 in her diet which is good for coats and skin  from something like yumega which has a good.reputation
.. The occasional.egg will be good if u go.raw although some do include.the  odd egg in a kibble.diet .in a raw diet u could.use a small.amount of small oily fish no more.than the equivalent of one meal.a.week and green beef  tripe. All.helpful.for weight gain and skin and coat quality . A probiotic may help too .kefir is easy to obtain from most supermarkets or.u can grow you own if.u get some grains.mercola do a good one but not cheap

I'm really sorry to hear about this Peppe, take into account it is also infectious to other animals, hope you get rid of it quickly

My understanding is that the dog has now tested clear and op  is asking advice to build her health again

OK, I was preoccupied with the 'transmissable to numerous other mammal species' aspect of this, first time I've heard of this.

As far as building up health goes, I think enough has been written by others, if I were in that position to many options would just lead me confused as what to try for the best. I'll just add that cooked chicken is very easy to digest & a good protein source, tripe is another option I would probably use either added to whatever kibble poster favors, frozen tripe is available for pets at home
.

I'd have more than one fecal test done even if you get a clear one just in case at the time of the clear fecal, there was no shedding going on.  I remember having 3 done.   I would just say that a no point was my hound's appetite affected, just the stool quality.

Re the coat problems, I'm just wondering whether it might be worth having her thyroid checked
- https://www.petful.com/pet-health/thyroid-problems-in-dogs/

Good point mamabas certainly worth checking thyroid

Thanks for all your help. She is eating well. We did have three done over consecutive days my other one was treated and we were also checked. The vet would not give her antibiotics and panacur. I brought her for showing so not sure she is going to make up the substance she had as a baby. But hope her coat will thicken up.