How to Clean Your Home After Giardia in Dogs and Cats

Giardia is a tiny parasite that causes diarrhea in dogs and cats. It spreads through poop: a pet swallows a small amount from the ground, from water, or by licking its fur after it touched a dirty surface. That also means a pet that has been treated can pick it straight back up from its own bed, bowl or yard. Cleaning while your pet is on medicine is a big part of breaking that cycle. This guide covers how to clean your pet, its things, your floors and laundry, and what you can and cannot do about the yard.

The steps follow the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) pages on giardia and pets, giardia prevention and cleaning pet supplies, which are public domain and linked under further reading. Diagnosis and treatment are for your veterinarian.

Can I catch giardia from my pet?

According to the CDC, people are unlikely to get giardia from a dog or cat, because the types that usually infect them are different from the ones that usually infect people. Some other animals, such as chinchillas and birds, can pass it to people. Good hand washing is still a sensible habit while you clean up diarrhea, and it protects you from other germs too.

Clean every day during treatment

The CDC advises cleaning and disinfecting your pet’s things every day if you can while it is on giardia medicine, and for a few days after the last dose. That makes it less likely your pet gets sick again. Clean pet items outside if you can, to avoid spreading germs onto surfaces inside.

Bathe your pet

The CDC also recommends bathing your dog or cat to remove poop from the fur, since a pet can reinfect itself by licking. Pay attention to the area under the tail and the back legs. Ask your vet when and how often to bathe during treatment, and use a shampoo meant for pets.

Hard floors and surfaces

The CDC gives these steps for areas where a pet or person has had diarrhea:

Remove the poop with paper towels or another absorbent material.
Put it in a plastic bag and throw it away.
Clean the area with soap or another cleaner suitable for the surface.
Rinse well until you cannot see any trace of poop.
Let it dry fully.
Then disinfect with a product suitable for the surface, following the label.

Wear gloves, and wash your hands with soap and water afterwards.

Bowls, hard toys and crates

Dishwasher safe items can be disinfected in the dishwasher using the dry cycle or final rinse cycle, according to the CDC.
Boiling water works for heat safe items: fully cover them for at least 1 minute, or 3 minutes above 6,500 feet.
Bleach for hard items: the CDC’s pet supplies page gives 1/4 cup of household bleach in 1 gallon of water. Soak the item for at least 10 minutes, or for large items such as crates, wipe it on and leave it wet for 10 minutes. Rinse well before your pet uses it again.

See how to clean pet food and water bowls, how to clean pet toys and how to clean a dog crate for everyday cleaning.

Bedding, blankets and soft toys

The CDC’s laundry advice: wash in the washing machine, then dry for 30 minutes on the highest heat setting. If you do not have a dryer, dry items in direct sunlight. Wash your pet’s bed covers, blankets and soft toys this way, along with any of your own towels or bedding the pet has lain on. Having a spare bed cover makes daily washing much easier. See how to clean a dog bed.

Carpet and upholstery

Pick up any mess right away and clean it out completely; see how to clean dog diarrhea out of carpet. Let the area dry fully. Many disinfectants are not safe on carpet and fabric, so check labels and test in a hidden spot. While your pet is being treated, it helps to keep it off carpeted rooms and soft furniture, or cover them with washable throws.

Litter boxes

The CDC advises changing cat litter every day during treatment. Scoop, empty and wash the box, and let it dry before refilling. See litter box smell control for the full box routine.

The yard

Pick up poop straight away, every time. The CDC is clear that bleach and quaternary ammonium disinfectants will not kill giardia in soil or grass, so do not pour them on the lawn. Hard areas like a patio or concrete run can be cleaned and disinfected like indoor floors. If you can, take your pet to one spot in the yard that is easy to keep clean while it is being treated.

If your vet finds roundworms or hookworms instead, the focus moves to the yard and sandbox. See how to clean up after a dog or cat with worms.

Keep cleanup supplies ready

Our Pet Cleanup Kit helps lift the stains and smell of diarrhea from carpet and fabric. It is not a giardia disinfectant; use the steps above for that.

Frequently asked questions

How do I disinfect my house from giardia?

Remove poop, clean with soap and water, rinse, let it dry, then use a disinfectant suitable for the surface. Wash bedding and dry it on high heat for 30 minutes, and disinfect bowls and toys daily during treatment.

Does bleach kill giardia in grass?

No. The CDC says disinfectants will not kill giardia in soil or grass. Pick up poop promptly instead.

How long should I keep cleaning after treatment?

Every day while your pet is on medicine, and for a few days after the last dose, according to the CDC. Ask your vet whether a retest is needed.

Can my pet get giardia again?

Yes. Pets can reinfect themselves from their own environment, which is why daily cleaning and bathing during treatment matter.