Giardia information

In Florida, Giardia is especially common in dogs due to our warm temperatures, frequent rain, high humidity, and abundant wildlife. These conditions allow Giardia cysts to survive longer in grass, soil, and standing water — increasing the likelihood of exposure during everyday activities like walks, backyard play, and trips to the park.

Many pet parents associate Giardia only with dog daycare or boarding, but the reality is that dogs in Florida can encounter Giardia almost anywhere, even if they’ve never been in a social setting. Understanding how Giardia spreads — and why testing can remain positive after treatment — helps reduce confusion, frustration, and unnecessary worry.

At Dogtopia of Viera, we believe education is key to keeping dogs healthy and safely social.

What Is Giardia?

Giardia is a microscopic intestinal parasite spread when a dog ingests contaminated feces, water, soil, or surfaces. Some dogs develop symptoms, while others carry Giardia with no visible signs at all.

Common symptoms may include:

  • Diarrhea (often soft, greasy, or mucus-like)

  • Gas or bloating

  • Weight loss

  • Occasional vomiting

  • No symptoms at all (very common)

How Dogs Get Giardia in Florida (It’s Not Just Social Spaces!)

While Giardia can be spread in areas where dogs gather, those are far from the only risk environments — especially in Florida.

Dogs can be exposed to Giardia from:

  • Drinking from puddles, ponds, or standing water

  • Licking paws after walking on contaminated grass or soil

  • Shared outdoor water bowls

  • Wildlife feces from raccoons, birds, or squirrels

  • Dog parks, sidewalks, and apartment grounds

  • Backyards, particularly after heavy rain

  • Surfaces or items tracked indoors on shoes or paws

Giardia cysts are extremely resilient and can survive weeks to months in cool, damp environments. In Florida’s humid climate, that survival window is often longer, making year-round exposure common — even for well-cared-for dogs.

Why Clean, Sanitized Indoor Environments Matter

One important factor many pet parents don’t realize is that outdoor environments cannot be sanitized — but professional indoor facilities can.

At Dogtopia of Viera, our playrooms, boarding suites, and shared surfaces are cleaned and disinfected continuously throughout the day using veterinarian-recommended products and strict sanitation protocols. Waste is addressed immediately, and daily deep cleaning helps reduce environmental exposure.

By contrast, outdoor areas in Florida — such as dog parks, yards, sidewalks, and grassy spaces — cannot be disinfected. Rain, humidity, and wildlife can quickly contaminate these areas, and Giardia cysts can persist in soil and standing water with no way to control exposure.

This is why dogs can contract Giardia even if they don’t attend daycare or boarding — and why a professionally managed, indoor environment can actually reduce risk compared to outdoor spaces.

Why Dogs Can Still Test Positive After Treatment

One of the most frustrating aspects of Giardia for pet parents is a continued positive test after treatment. A positive test does not always mean active infection or treatment failure.

Common reasons include:

1. Residual Antigens or Dead Cysts

Some tests detect Giardia antigens that can remain in the digestive tract even after successful treatment.

2. Environmental Re-Exposure

Dogs in Florida are frequently re-exposed through grass, soil, yards, and outdoor surfaces — even their own backyard.

3. Intermittent Shedding

Giardia is not shed consistently, meaning test results can fluctuate without a new infection.

4. Carrier State

Some dogs carry Giardia without symptoms, and veterinarians often focus on clinical signs, not test results alone, when determining next steps.

Why Bathing Is a Critical Part of Successful Giardia Treatment

Medication alone is often not enough to fully resolve Giardia — especially in Florida.

Giardia cysts can cling to a dog’s coat, particularly around the hindquarters, legs, and paws. If these cysts are not removed, dogs can re-ingest Giardia while grooming themselves, leading to continued positive test results even after completing medication.

For this reason, veterinarians commonly recommend bathing dogs during treatment and again after treatment is complete as part of a successful Giardia protocol.

How Bathing Helps

Bathing:

  • Physically removes Giardia cysts from the coat

  • Reduces reinfection through self-grooming

  • Lowers contamination inside the home

  • Supports faster symptom resolution

In Florida’s year-round outdoor environment, bathing becomes especially important because dogs are continually exposed to grass, soil, sidewalks, and shared spaces.

Bathing + Cleaning = Better Outcomes

Effective Giardia management often includes:

  • Completing all prescribed medication

  • Bathing during and after treatment (per veterinary guidance)

  • Washing bedding, toys, collars, and leashes

  • Cleaning food and water bowls daily

  • Prompt stool pickup

When medication, bathing, and environmental cleaning work together, outcomes are significantly improved.

Frequently Asked Questions About Giardia in Dogs in Florida

Is Giardia more common in Florida dogs?
Yes. Florida’s warm, humid climate allows Giardia cysts to survive longer outdoors, increasing year-round exposure.

Can my dog get Giardia just from going outside?
Yes. Dogs can be exposed through grass, soil, puddles, wildlife feces, and shared outdoor areas.

Why does my dog feel fine but still test positive?
Some dogs are asymptomatic carriers, or the test may detect residual antigens rather than active infection.

Should my dog be bathed if they have Giardia?
Yes. Bathing during and after treatment helps remove cysts from the coat and reduce reinfection.

Does a positive test mean my dog is contagious?
Not always. Veterinarians evaluate symptoms, timing of treatment, and overall health — not test results alone.

Clarity, Confidence, and Care

Giardia is common in Florida, manageable, and not a reflection of poor care. Understanding how it spreads — and why treatment includes medication, bathing, and cleaning — empowers pet parents to make informed decisions without unnecessary stress.

For pet parents in Viera and throughout Brevard County, education, sanitation, and veterinarian guidance are the keys to keeping dogs healthy and safely social.

If you have questions about Giardia protocols, bathing support, or readiness for daycare or boarding, the team at Dogtopia of Viera is always happy to help.