Giardia is an intestinal parasite that can be rather unpleasant for cats. This parasite most commonly affects kittens and cats with compromised immune systems.
Some infected cats won’t even show any symptoms of Giardia, while others might manifest some, such as vomiting, weight loss, foul-smelling diarrhea, and pale stool.
Giardia is transmitted if a cat ingests it directly from an infected host, or through contaminated food or water.
All cat owners that suspect their pets might have Giardia should contact their veterinarians to test their stool. But, there are also some steps you can take to get rid of giardia in cats naturally.
Let’s look at them.
1. Increase The Water Intake
Water intake is crucial for a cat’s health in general, but it’s especially important with some conditions, such as Giardia infection.
If your cat is well hydrated there is a good chance that she will pass out the parasites in her intestines more quickly.
If you notice your cat isn’t drinking enough water, you can try adding some flavor to it, such as tuna water.
This can make water feel tasty for her, and improve her hydration.
2. Apple Vinegar
A liquid you certainly have in your kitchen, and you use it for multiple reasons is apple vinegar. One of the purposes to use it is to get rid of the Giardia parasite.
Of course, you need to be careful with the amount of vinegar you serve to your kitten. According to PetMD, a teaspoon or two of apple cider vinegar, diluted, is unlikely to have a negative effect on your cat’s health.
This vinegar can also be used as a home remedy antibiotic for treating other conditions in felines, such as urinary tract infections, and hot spots.
You should use it as a Giardia treatment by adding a spoon or two of it to your cat’s water. The apple vinegar should help eliminate the Giardia parasite from your cat’s digestive tract.
3. Baking Soda
Another natural way of getting rid of Giardia in cats is by using baking soda.
In general, baking soda is considered safe for cats. Still, it’s necessary to be careful here. The Spruce Pets explains how smaller amounts of baking soda aren’t dangerous for cats, but, if a cat ingests too much of this substance, it can even cause toxicity in her.
Ingesting too much baking soda means there will be too much sodium in her system, which might manifest in clinical signs such as vomiting, upset stomach, and diarrhea.
Therefore, baking soda can be helpful as a natural remedy for Giardia in cats, but only when used with caution – a ¼ of a teaspoon of baking soda is considered safe for cats.
Baking soda should neutralize the Giardia parasite effects in your cat’s digestive system.
How Veterinarians Treat Giardia In Cats?
Some owners might notice signs of Giardia in their pets very early, while some will have a harder time noticing it, since their cats won’t have typical Giardia symptoms.
B. Mosallanejad and his associates [1] explain how clinical signs of Giardia are most commonly seen in younger animals from multi-cat households.
Together with the natural remedies you read about above, you should also know the ways veterinarians treat Giardia in cats.
If the vet confirms the presence of this intestinal parasite, he will recommend an adequate treatment.
VCA Animal Hospitals points out how metronidazole and fenbendazole are the two most commonly used drugs for Giardia treatment.
These medications are given orally to a cat for five to seven days.
During the treatment, it’s important you isolate the infected cat, and remove and dispose of her feces immediately after she defecates, since Giardia is very contagious.
Most cats will quickly recover from Giardia, however, kittens, older cats, and cats with compromised immune systems are at a higher risk for complications.
Final Words
Some steps you can do at home, such as increasing water intake in your cat, or giving her smaller amounts of baking soda or apple cider vinegar, can be very helpful in battling the Giardia parasite in her system.
However, I still recommend you first consult your veterinarian on the usage of these home remedies.
He might still prescribe medications such as metronidazole and fenbendazole for your cat to fully recover from Giardia.
Finally, you should always make sure your cat’s surroundings are perfectly clean to prevent Giardia infection in the future.
References:
[1] Mosallanejad B, Avizeh R, Jalali MR, Alborzi A. Prevalence of Giardia duodenalis Infection in Household Cats of Ahvaz District, South-West of Iran. Iran J Parasitol. 2010 Sep;5(3):27-34. DOI, Retrieved July 14, 2023.
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