Giardia vaccine?

1459 Views 7 Replies 5 Participants Last post by michelleboston, Mar 23, 2009

michelleboston

Discussion Starter · Mar 20, 2009

My 20 week old Bichon x CKCS mix is scheduled to get the Lyme and Giardia vaccinations next week. As I live in New England, I feel that the Lyme vaccination is pretty important. I just read the listing of vet-recommended vaccinations that was posted on the boards somewhere and it stated that the Giardia vaccine is not recommended. This vaccination is included with my puppy's healthcare plan, so I'm guessing that the vet isn't just looking to make some extra cash. Does anyone have any thoughts on this?

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Pai

· #2 · Mar 20, 2009

I'd ask your vet, it depends on the individual situation of the dog and how likely it is for them to come into contact with it. It's spread in feces and urine, so if your dog lives in the backyard and poop isn't regularly picked up there and things aren't cleaned, that's generally where they get it from.

The reason it's not recommended is because there's actually no scientific study that shows it even works that well. No dangerous side effects though, so it probably won't hurt to get it regardless.

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sheltiemom

· #3 · Mar 20, 2009

We've had a total of three bouts with giardia now...if I had known there was a vaccine I would have tried it...not too fun to go through...if there are no negative effects and it's not too pricey, I'd do it...worst case scenario it just doesn't work and you're out the money.

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3212

· #4 · Mar 20, 2009

At the vet clinic I work out we give the vaccine to dogs that have recurring giardia. It's probably not recommended because it does not always get rid of the giardia. We have found that it gets rid of the symptoms of giardia well though (diarrhea and stomach upset). Instead of treating dogs over and over with antibiotics (fenbendazole and metronidazole) we give a vaccine to eradicate the symptoms. It's safer than the antibiotics anyway. We don't really recommend it as a preventative.

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Pai

· #5 · Mar 20, 2009

Well, even if a dog gets Giardia, it does not develop an immunity for it later on. So that's why the vaccine is questioned. Like it's been said, it has a specialized purpose.

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pawcurious

· #6 · Mar 20, 2009

If it works- which is questionable- it seems to halt the shedding of the disease but doesn't do anything to prevent infection, at least that is my reading of the literature (you can google AAHA vaccination guidelines to see their views on it.)

That being said it doesn't seem to be as likely to cause a reaction as, say, the lepto or lyme vaccine, so it probably doesn't cause much harm to give it.

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3212

· #7 · Mar 21, 2009

pawcurious said:
If it works- which is questionable- it seems to halt the shedding of the disease but doesn't do anything to prevent infection, at least that is my reading of the literature (you can google AAHA vaccination guidelines to see their views on it.)

Exactly. We only recommend it to treat dogs with the uncomfortable symptoms. I don't think anyone gets it as a preventative because it doesn't get rid of giardia completely.

Haven't seen a single reaction to it though.

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michelleboston

Discussion Starter · #8 · Mar 23, 2009

Thanks everyone. I live in downtown Boston so it's very possible for my pup to come in contact with poop--some people aren't so good about cleaning up after their dogs

As long as nobody has heard that it's harmful, I'll go ahead with it.

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