You can get your dog inoculated against Giardia. Talk with your vet
about this. My dog is always eating mulch. Plus with the water
turned off at most dog parks in Arlington and park users bring water
to Ft. Barnard Dog Park up on Walter Reed Dr. However, the bowls
don't get rinsed out at all and Giardi has gone around that park
recently.

I recently started my coonhound Jaleo on Giardi preventive care.
The first round is one injection followed by a second booster 3 weeks
later. Then after that, once a year.

Best of luck,

Margo t t Weltin


At 5:09 PM +0000 1/18/07, agrasman wrote:
>I recently started going to the Shirlington Dog Park. I have 2 dogs
>who love to run and play in the water. A few weeks ago they both
>began to get sick. I took them to the vet and they both contracted
>giardia from the stream water in Shirlington Park. They did not have
>access to any other water besides at the Park. The vet told me it is
>not the first case she has seen from the Shirlington Park.
>
>I wanted warn other dogs owners of this problem and also propose that
>there be action taken to protect our dogs.
>
>I contacted the county and made them aware of this problem.
>
>Any suggestions regarding what to do? I know the water is a real
>asset to the park, but maybe we could post a sign or request a fence
>with a gate to allow the owners to choose to let their dogs down
>there instead of letting the dogs free access. I know my dogs get so
>excited that the first thing they do is run to the water. Although
>they come out when called, they love that initial sprint to the
>river. I have resorted to going to a park that is farther away from
>my house and much smaller.
>
>Any comments?