Queries on Giardia in dogs

Hi all -

My wife and I really need some good input, please...

We live in the redwoods country above Santa Cruz in California.

We have a young 2-1/2 yr. old miniature poodle mix. We got her
from an SPCA rescue group last January and she's been as
healthy and happy as a puppy ever since. Her name is Annie.
We give her standard treatments with Trifexis.

However, a vet took a recent poop sample from her and noticed
evidence of giardia, saying she should get a treatment. But not
only does she show no signs or symptoms of disease (as shown
on Wikipedia, say) but, like all pets living in natural areas, we
live smack in the middle of giardia central. Which means she
would routinely become infected again and again from many
different sources.

We are seriously thinking of following a 'wait and see' plan, since
she has been fine for ~ eight months, and repeated treatments
would be a financial drain to boot.

We understand that many pets (dogs & cats etc.) test positive for
giardia but remain asymptomatic; also that at least half of all dogs
at SPCAs and other shelters carry giardia but show no signs of
illness.

What do you think? Is such a plan realistic? Have any of you
done the same thing with good results.

Thanks very much,
Gene

A couple of vets that I've worked with as a trainer say they only treat
giardia if and when it's symptomatic..... that Most dogs have Some
Giardia on board.

Jo Wolf
Martinez, Georgia, USA