Beaver Fever Found in Lakes and Streams
My-Dog.info > Dog Diseases, Bites, Worms & Ticks
Beaver Fever is a disease that people can contract by drinking
water from a contaminated source, such as a pond, a lake, or even
a puddle. The disease is actually called giardiasis, and it is
caused by a microscopic single-celled parasite called Giardia,
that can infect the intestines of people and animals.
Giardia is found in bodies of water across North America and
the common name for this disease in people, "beaver
fever", originated when it was observed that beavers in
beaver-dammed waterways could spread the parasite. It is thought
that the organism comes from the feces of infected wild animals,
including rodents, and also from pets and humans. Licking their
paws after walking in a contaminated area may also infect pets,
especially dogs. This parasite has been found in municipal water
supplies in some regions, which may explain how some indoor
housecats develop giardiasis.
The giardia parasite is extremely hardy and can survive
outside the host for long periods of time even when the
environment is cool and damp.
Giardia is an important parasite for a number of reasons. It
poses a risk to human health because it can be transmitted to
people, causing severe gastrointestinal disease, especially in
immunocompromised people, including the elderly, newborns,
pregnant women, and cancer and AIDS patients. In some instances,
infected individuals can carry this parasite without any signs of
illness. It also affects pets and can cause vomiting and
significant diarrhea. The abdomen can also be gassy and bloated.
In pets that show no clinical signs, the parasite can
nevertheless be harmful by robbing the intestines of essential
nutrients during digestion, causing weight loss or lethargy.
Giardia has also been associated with allergies in some species.
Since it is almost impossible to keep dogs and outdoor cats
from drinking water outdoors, it is important to have your
veterinarian test your pet's stools on a regular basis,
particularly at the end of the summer. There is also a new
vaccine available for dogs to prevent this disease that is safe
and easy to administer. Consult your veterinarian about this
vaccine and other aspects of this disease.
Reprinted with permission from www.animalhealthcare.ca
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