Once ingested, the tiny organisms attach themselves to the intestinal lining, damaging tissue and interfering with your dog or cat's ability to absorb nutrients. The classic signs of Giardia are diarrhea, vomiting, weight loss and flaky skin. Giardia spreads through feces. It is also zoonotic, which means it can be transmitted from pets to people and from people to pets. A lot of people don't think about it because the symptoms are similar to other things we see daily.
Children often are the ones who spread the disease.
Wash your hands before eating and after handling your pet. Don't allow your pet to lick you in the face. Giardia is treated with antibiotics in both pets and people. It can be life threatening to people that are undergoing chemotherapy, with AIDS or other conditions that weaken the immune system.