Hi put this on the health forum 2 -- I have been asked by my vets to provide stool samples for my latest litter (they r 6wks old). He wants them tested 4 campylobacter and giardia as nothing else seems to work and he doesn't want them 2 have antibiotics until they are tested --- As I'v never come across either of these b4 I'm wondering if it's anything I'v done or could have avoided-- if any1 has more experience I would b really grateful to hear it

thanks

I've had giardia and so has one of my dogs (as a 4 wk pup). I've also had campylobacter & so has one of my dogs ... she infected me with this one. Sadly she was infected by someone else!

Neither are nice, but both are very curable. If you trawl the internet you will see that campylobacter is the commonest form of food poisoning & can be transmitted human to animal and vice versa. However, it is not only transferrable via food, in the case of my bitch we reckon she'd got contaminated poo on her whilst out on a dog walk and was probably infected through her cleaning herself up. As simple as that.

Giardia is a protazoa, I got it through drinking bad water abroad, we suspect my bitch got it through where she was raised. Not poor hygiene, just the fact that rescue dogs had been brought onto the property in previous years. The Guide Dogs for the Blind have had a massive problem with giardia in their kennels over the years. It can live in the environment for 2 years, and is very resistant to disinfectants.

Giardia has a very distinctive smell, sulphur poos! In answer to your question, neither are run of the mill infections as a result of lack of hygiene on your part, you could have got them by any number of methods, including animals coming onto your property (although, as said, campylobacter can be as a result of poor food storage, only you know that one). I'd just read up about both for your info, not worry and get whatever treatment is recommended. If it does turn out to be either, then chances are for Giardia you'll be recommended panacur, and for campylobacter a series of anti-biotics followed by another stool sample to ensure completely cleared. :-)

Hope all goes well.