From:
"Tressie"
Date: 2009-02-26 14:43:00 UTC
Subject: [ferrethealth] Re: Boo Boo update again & another problem
To: ferrethealth@yahoogroups.com
Hi Ella,
Giardia is one of those buggies that lives in the intestinal tracts
of numerous kinds of animals, humans included. It is considered
waterborne and it can live for months outside of its host and can be
found on soil, in water, and in food. It is highly contagious so
quickly spreads if one animal is infected with it.
Your vet's hypothesis that it was brought in on your shoes is
reasonable. However, your dog might also have brought it into the
house on her paws even if she herself is not infected. Other
possibility is if one of your ferrets came from a shelter or was a
rescue. Not suggesting the shelter is contaminated but wherever the
ferret came from before he/she arrived at the shelter might have been
contaminated. Not all infected animals show symptoms. If you've had
them all since kithood then the contaminant would not have been one
of the ferrets.
Do you live in a rural area? Is there a pool or other sources of
recreational water nearby? Common sources of contaminated water are
swimming pools, water parks, hot tubs or spas, fountains, lakes,
rivers, springs, ponds, or streams. These can all become
contaminated with feces or sewage from humans or animals. For
example, if your pooch was playing in a pond while out for a walk,
she may have brought it into your home.
Once everyone has been treated for it, I would suggest the human
family as well, a way to prevent re-infection would be to avoid
recreational water sources. That's a tough one. So other option is
to do a fecal check every few months randomly on your animal
companions to see if it shows up again.
Tressie
-- In ferrethealth@yahoogroups.com, autumn whispers
<autumn.whisperstome@...> wrote:
....the thing that stumps me beyond words is HOW in the world they got
this! My dog isn't testing positive, though we're demanding she be
treated since everyone else is being treated.
>
> Our vet also thinks that the only logical answer as to 'how' they
got giardia is that it must have been tracked in on our shoes. The
fuzzies don't have access to puddles or pools or bird baths or
ponds, streams, etc.
> It doesn't do justice to say I'm thoroughly confused as to
the 'how' of it
> all. And that is frustrating to no end because if I don't know
HOW, how can
> I prevent it from happening again?
>
> I would love to hear thoughts on this. ...
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