Community Corner
Suspicious 'Bug' Makes Dogs in Silver Spring Sick
Many dogs became ill at the same time in the South Silver Spring neighborhood.
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About 10 dogs in Silver Spring became very ill during the weekend of April 9 in The Veridian, Silverton (former Canada Dry bottling plant building) and the Bennington apartment buildings, according to Silver Spring dog owners. Many of them speculated that it was the fresh mulch or fertilizer that was making their four-legged friends sick.
Cheri Clark, 60, a well-known dog walker who lives in The Veridian, said that one of her dogs became very ill as well as another dog that she was taking care of during the weekend in question. Her Chinese crested dog, Ying, became ill for about two to three days with what she described as "projectile diarrhea" and constant vomiting.
In her experience, Clark said the symptoms were very similar to Giardia.
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According to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Giardia is a microscopic parasite that causes the diarrheal illness known as giardiasis. Its found on surfaces or in soil, food, or water that has been contaminated with feces from infected humans or animals.
Ambassador Animal Hospital veterinarian Dr. Sailendra Roy said he treated a dog from that neighborhood but wasn't sure if the dog had Giradia but the symptoms were close. It's extremely possible that the dogs infected one another, he added.
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"It's possbile if there is congreagtion in one place that dogs can get sick," Roy said.
Silver Spring resident Grace Fricks, who also lives in The Veridian, took Spike, a bishon frise, to Metropolitan Emergency Animal Clinic and the Montgomery Animal Hospital in Rockville.
Fricks had her dog's blood tested and an X-ray but excluded a stool test for Giardia because the costs were too high. Although Spike wasn't diagnosed with Giardia after leaving the vet, he had the symptoms, Fricks added.
Alicia Briancon contributed to this article.
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