Giardia is a parasite that can infect cats and cause severe intestinal distress. This condition is known as “Giardiasis,” and it has been linked to many cat diseases, including poor appetite, diarrhea, weight loss, vomiting, and dehydration.
The most common prevention strategy for Giardia in cats is the use of a veterinarian-prescribed medication called Panacur. However, there are natural remedies that you can do at home to get rid of Giardia in your pets with no side effects or risks involved. This article will discuss how to get rid of Giardia in cats naturally with some steps involved.
Contents
What is Giardia in Cats?
The Giardia parasite is a tiny organism that can infect a cat’s intestinal system. A cat with this parasite may have diarrhea, which can cause severe dehydration and other diseases.
The life cycle of Giardia is sometimes complicated as it needs to rely on two hosts to complete its whole development and reproduction process. These are the carrier host (mostly an animal) and the definitive host (typically a human).
There are some environmental factors that are favorable for survival. For example, high humidity is necessary for transmission between animals. However, a suitable environment for human infection can be any food or water contaminated by fecal matter containing cysts. It usually takes 2-20 days for symptoms to appear, but treatment must be given immediately, as the parasites may survive in the environment for up to 3 months.
Causes of Giardiasis
There Are Many Causes of Giardiasis in Cats, Such as the Following :
- Poor Hygiene & Unsanitary Environments
- Unclean environments or living spaces increase the risk of any cat being infected by this parasite. This is why you need to make sure that your cats and kittens have a safe place to live in.
- Walking or playing in public places
- Consuming contaminated food and water
- Biting flies, mosquitoes, or any other insects that consume the feces of infected animals can also transmit the parasite to cats and cause Giardiasis.
- Touching surfaces where flies have been known to land on with your hand before touching your pet. The parasite can be transferred from your hand to the mouth of your pet through licking or eating habits.
12 Ways on How to Get Rid of Giardia in Cats Naturally
Ways 1 : Increase Water Intake
Increase water intake in your cat is the most basic and easy step that you can do to help protect them from getting infected by Giardia. It’s highly suggested for outdoor cats to drink more water than indoor kitties.
Ways 2 : Add a Pinch of Salt to Their Drinking Water
If your kitty is not drinking enough water, you can try adding a little bit of salt to his food. This will help because salt attracts liquids and will make your kitty feel full quicker. However, don’t add too much salt because it can be bad for your kitty’s health if he eats too much of it.
Ways 3 : Give Fresh Fruits or Vegetables as Treats
Fruit juices rich in fiber and nutrients have been shown to flush out parasites from the body. Vegetables are also a good source of fiber, which helps your cat pass out any parasites stuck in his intestines.
Ways 4 : Add Soybean Flour to Their Food
Soybean flour is a good source of protein that strengthens the immune system of your cat. It will also make him feel fuller for longer periods of time, making him drink more water due to increased stomach volume. This will help clear up Giardia from your pet’s intestine since they have so much liquid inside them at any given time.
Ways 5 : Try Using Apple Cider Vinegar or Mustard Greens Juice
These natural products can be found in grocery stores, usually sold near the vinegar section (just double-check for allergens). You can give this mixture to your kitty every morning. Just make sure you mix it with their food or water, so it is easier for her to consume.
Ways 6 : Give Her Some Garlic
Garlic is rich in the compound allicin, which has properties that can help get rid of Giardia in cats naturally and efficiently. Allicin contains sulfur that helps eliminate and flush toxins from the body, clearing up diarrhea caused by Giardia infection.
Just give them a small piece of raw garlic once daily or crushed into some food at least 2 times a week until your cat shows positive signs of recovery (i.e., normal bowel movements, increased appetite, etc.).
Ways 7 : Use Baking Soda
Add a teaspoon of baking soda to your cat’s water bowl and wait for her to drink it. You can also use a gel-capsule version if that is easier to administer. This is an easy way to protect your feline friend from Giardia because baking soda will help neutralize the effects of this harmful parasite in their digestive system.
However, do not give too much, or they could get sick due to sodium overdose. I suggest starting with just 1/4 tsp and increasing the dosage slowly until you find out what works best for your kitty.
Ways 8 : Add Garlic Oil Extract Into Food
Garlic oil extract contains allicin which helps expel parasites from your cat’s intestines. You can easily buy garlic oil extract online or at your local health food store.
Ways 9 : Give Your Cat Herbal Tea
Catnip, peppermint, and chamomile are just some of the herbs that you can include in your kitty’s diet to help get rid of Giardia in cats naturally and efficiently.
Also, check out online how to cure constipation in cats for more herbal remedies on this topic. The main goal is to increase their digestive track activity so pathogens won’t have a chance to grow inside them.
Ways 10 : Give Her Young Living Essential Oils
If you feel that your cat is too weak, the best way to help him recover from Giardia infection is by giving this a try. When giving essential oils to cats, just make sure they are 100% pure and safe for pets (e.g., Young Living).
Ways 11 : Improve Your Cat’s Diet
You can also help prevent future Giardia infections in cats if you make simple changes such as putting them on a special diet or feeding them with organic foods. Cats who eat processed foods are more likely to get infected by harmful parasites than those who eat organic food.
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Ways 12 : Avoid Chemical Deodorizer in the Litter Box
Since Giardia is an intestinal parasite, it makes sense that this organism thrives in areas with many feces and dirty water.
Therefore, it’s best to avoid using chemical deodorizers in the area where your cat defecates since they will make her feel uncomfortable when she uses their litter box and promotes deadly infections such as Giardia.
Follow These Steps To Prevent Giardiasis From Your Cats
- Use water that has been boiled and cooled for all oral hygiene needs.
- Avoid kitty litter made of clay or corn as both can harbor the parasite and use pine or newspaper alternatives.
- Make sure to keep your cat’s nails clipped short, especially if it scratches a lot. This will help prevent any infected material from being scratched into their paws, which they may swallow while cleaning themselves
. - Keep grass and weeds cut low in areas where cats like to use the bathroom so that they don’t contact feces from other feline carriers of this parasitic disease and/or human carriers who may walk through these same areas.
- Treat Tapeworms Naturally
- Learn about and practice safe flea control methods. Avoid common over-the-counter medications, especially those containing permethrin.
- Practice safe rodent control. Make sure to purchase a high-quality snap trap like the one listed below that will kill quickly with minimal chance of injury to your cat. Also, make sure you keep your cats indoors, so they do not contact wild animals that carry this disease.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Can Giardia Spread to Humans?
A: Yes, Giardia is a parasite that can infect humans. In fact, it affects more people than any other intestinal parasite in the United States.
Q: How Common are Giardia Infections?
A: They’re common enough to be labeled an epidemic by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). According to the CDC, Giardia is the most common intestinal parasite in humans.
Q: Why Is My Cat Getting Giardia?
A: Since cats are regularly exposed to infectious diseases during their lives, they are much more resistant to them than we are. For example, you might get a cold or stomach flu only once in your life, but a cat who has been exposed to the same virus might never get sick from it.
However, when a cat is regularly exposed to Giardia (from using contaminated water bowls, for example), its immune system becomes less and less able to fight off the infection. Eventually, they are so badly infected that symptoms show.
Conclusion
One of the most common ailments in cats is Giardia, a type of intestinal parasite that can be transmitted to humans. So it’s imperative for cat owners and pet lovers alike to know how to get rid of it naturally before more harm is done.
Fortunately, there are plenty of natural ways you can do this on your own without having to go through expensive vet bills or prescription medications. Here in these blog posts, we have discussed some home remedies on how to get rid of giardia in cats naturally that have been proven effective over time.
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