A 'Giardiasis Watch' for Choya

I put Choya on a 'Giardiasis Watch' for the past 14 days. She shared a space (a cafe) with a dog who had severe diarrhea, and he was diagnosed with giardiasis that very night. All our hearts sank. There's no point in going to the doctor now. I already know the risks of infection and such. ChatGPT provided a great summary for me. In many instances, ChatGPT is amazing. 

I already knew the dog had diarrhea, I didn't let Choya go near him during that hour. I cleaned her like crazy before we got into the car to go home. But she did step on the same floor that the dog did, and she licked her paws before I could stop her. At that point, I didn't know the dog would be Giardiasis Patient Zero. He might have shed giardia cysts on from his butt, fur and remnant fecal matter. The moment I knew the diagnosis, I cleaned house, and also bathed Choya with a medicated shampoo. 

The dog went to the vet clinic and was diagnosed with giardiasis and was doused with meds immediately. Excellent. He would heal fast with the right meds. What's horrifying to me is that the owners didn't heed the vet's advice to bathe him after the meds go in, or disinfect his bedding and the whole house. In fact, that dog hasn't been bathed for months, and it's quite obvious because he does smell. They went off for a much-awaited family vacation. I understood their choice. But I also realized that they had no idea what giardia is, what those cysts could do, and even if they knew, they didn't think anything much of the risks or this isn't on their priority list. I am not bothered to ask them what they think. At least they told me the diagnosis, and that he's being treated, and it's nothing more insidious (for the dog's sake). And that's all I need to know.  

Now, Patient Zero is on a course of antibiotics, which would be completed by the time his owners return from their vacation. If they get around to disinfecting the home and bathe him before the final dose of antibiotics, the chance of re-infection is immediately lowered. IF NOT, the danger is NOW, the 10 days after the final dose of antibiotics. There would have be plenty of giardia cysts shed and still existing in the home environment. Those little bastards are hardy af. The dog can pick it up again. In another week, if there is re-infection, it would happen then. 

It is the owners' choice to do what they prefer to. I'm not going to tell them what to do. It’s not my place to do that. 

BUT. It is my choice to not have Choya near said dog or their shared spaces till end September at the earliest to ascertain that no more giardia cysts remain on fur and surfaces, and her chance of being infected is kept super low. 

Need I also mention that giardiasis is zoonotic and can transmit to humans, especially those who are young, vulnerable and elderly, at risk of pneumonia and the immuno-compromised.

That's the burden of knowledge. If I didn't know, I didn't have to worry. But I know, so I worry. STILL. I'd rather know than not know. 

Giardia is highly contagious. It has no preventives and no vaccine (that is approved in SG). Next to leptospirosis, I'm deathly afraid of giardia and ticks. Giardia cysts and leptospira bacteria are insidious and can be picked up from a simple sniff of a contaminated area. The risks are high for any dog who walks and toilets outdoors. This is why I am anal about cleanliness at home, at entry points and I try to wipe Choya's paws before she gets to licking them. After she toilets and gets off of the grass and all, I wipe her paws as we sit down to dinner or a coffee. 

It has been a stressful 14 days of looking at Choya's poop, checking its texture, smelling it, giving her rabbits' ears with fur, probiotics and all trying to keep her stomach lining calm and easy, and hopefully drive out all potential giardia cysts before they even become trophozoites. She is not getting all an-clear till the weekend is done.

I calculated possibilities in an algebraic formula, drew up a skeleton of a 'Giardiasis Watch', and then I decided to let ChapGPT do it. It did a great job. Tehehehe. I checked in with Choya's doctor too. I also have friends who are veterinarians, but I do not bother to talk to them unless it's something major. Come on, you don't ask friends' for free advice or a free consult all the time when they do this (or other specializations) for a living. I respect our friendship too much to ask in this manner. My knowledge, complemented with Choya's doctor's advice, and ChatGPT's powerful core processing, resulted in a <5-minute draft of an excel sheet I wanted. LOL

As of today, the risks have diminished for Choya. I breathe easier.