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How Not to Transmit Giardia to Your Pet Once You've Been Exposed

Giardia is a microscopic organism that can cause diarrhea and illness in people and a wide variety of animal species including dogs, cats, birds, ferrets, guinea pigs, gerbils, many other rodents, goats, sheep, cattle, horses, pigs, beavers, raccoons, coyotes and monkeys. People who work in animal shelters and boarding kennels may be exposed to giardia and must take active steps not to transmit it to their pets at home. People can also be exposed through contaminated water while camping or overseas.

  1. Personal Hygiene

    • Wash your hands thoroughly with soap and water before handling or stroking your pet. If you have giardia on your hands and it gets on their coat, they can lick it and become infected. Wash your hands before preparing their food, handling and filling their water and food bowls, and even before you clean their litter tray or change their bedding. Do not allow your pet to lick you, especially if you have been exposed to other animals that have giardia, and minimize your contact with them.

    Clothing

    • Giardia can be carried on clothes and shoes. You may have stepped on soil contaminated with fecal material that can carry giardia back to your pets. Change your clothes and shoes before handling and feeding your pet. Clean the soles of your footwear with disinfectant, bleach or Lysol and wash your clothes as you normally would. Wipe your shoes with bleach before cleaning. Do not leave dirty clothing on the floor if you cannot wash it straight away, as a pet could get access to it. Place it in a bag or hamper until you can wash it.

    Floors

    • If you have been exposed to giardia and have walked into your home before changing your footwear, you will need to clean the floors. Wash hard areas with an all-purpose disinfectant or a one-in-10 solution of bleach in water, and allow it to dry thoroughly. Vacuum carpets and steam clean them as soon as possible, as giardia can work its way into the carpet and infect pets that walk there.

    Shared Areas

    • Some cats, dogs and other pets share beds and other furniture with their owner. If you may have giardia, discourage such arrangements until you are clear of infection. It is also important to close the bathroom door if you have a larger dog or cat that you know sometimes drinks from the toilet bowl. Also disinfect the basin where you wash your hands, as cats often explore basins.

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