Summarize the following:
Removing the urine smell from your pet will require giving him a good bath. When you are at the pet store, you may not find a shampoo that is specific to removing a urine smell. Fortunately, a thorough cleaning with a mild, good-quality shampoo will likely be effective in getting the smell out of your pet's skin and fur.  Deodorizing shampoos are available that contain baking soda or citrus to neutralize bad odors.  Oatmeal- or aloe vera-containing shampoos are usually a good choice, since they will not dry out your pet's skin.  If your pet has a skin condition (e.g., allergies, dry skin), your veterinarian can recommend a shampoo that is specific to your his medical needs. Do not use a human shampoo (even baby shampoo). Although human shampoo is not toxic to your pet, it can contain ingredients or fragrances than can irritate his skin. In addition, human shampoo has a pH that could lead to a skin reaction.  Consider purchasing a pet-safe conditioner that will help replenish the natural oils in your pet's skin and coat. If you do not have one already, purchase a brush from your local pet store. The brush will be needed to smooth out your pet's coat before bathing him. The type of brush you need will depend on the texture of your pet's coat. The staff at your local pet store can help you pick out the type of brush that would work best for your pet.  For your cat, a metal comb and a bristle or rubber brush are useful for smoothing her coat and removing dead and loose hair.  If your dog has a short and smooth coat, bristle and rubber brushes will loosen and remove dead skin and dirt. If your dog has long hair, slicker and bristle brushes are most useful. You will probably need at least a few towels for the bathing process. If you are bathing your pet in your tub, you will need to put a towel in the bottom of the tub to create a non-skid surface. At least one or two more towels (depending on your pet's size) will be needed to dry off your pet after his bath.  Super-absorbent towels are available at your local pet store.  If you have a cat or very small dog, he's probably small enough to be bathed in your sink. However, since he smells like urine, it is advisable to bathe him in your bathtub instead of your kitchen sink. Pet-specific blow dryers are available at your local pet store if you prefer to dry your pet with a blow dryer. They can be especially useful for long haired pets. Make sure that your pet is comfortable with the noise of a blow dryer before using it to dry him off. Dogs and cats are not particularly fond of being bathed. The experience will be even less enjoyable for them if you have to keep running back and forth to get the shampoo, towel, etc. Having everything in one place will make the bathing process easier for you and more tolerable for your pet.  In addition to the aforementioned bath supplies, you may also need some cotton balls that you would place in your pet's ears to keep protect them from water.  A small washcloth will be needed to clean your pet's face. Pouring or spraying water directly on your pet's face would be a very unpleasant experience for him.  Nail trimmers could also be helpful if you want to trim your pet's nails before you bathe him. Trimming your pet's nails may keep you from being scratched when you are bathing your pet.  It is important not to get shampoo in your pet's eyes, so you may want to consider purchasing an pet-safe eye ointment. Ask your veterinarian for recommendations on which ointment to purchase. If you are bathing your pet outside, you may want to purchase a pet-specific tub (available at your local pet store) or kiddie pool to set him in.  If you are bathing your pet in your tub, it would be helpful to place a piece of steel wool in the drain to keep his fur from clogging your drain.  Keep plenty of treats on hand. The treats will help your pet make a positive association with bath time.

summary: Purchase a pet-safe shampoo. Purchase a brush. Gather together several towels. Organize all of your supplies.


Summarize the following:
If the above-mentioned symptoms linger for more than a few weeks or get worse, then call your doctor or head to a walk-in clinic. While in a clinic or hospital, your doctor can confirm a diagnosis of giardiasis by taking a stool sample and looking under a microscope for parasitic spores. A stool antigen test and trichrome staining techniques are also available to diagnose Giardia.  As a rule, it takes 3 different stool samples to diagnose 90% of Giardia cases. Lab technicians look for a high concentration of either spores or trophozoites. Staining might not be sufficient to identify Giardia because variable concentration levels can make people sick — some people are more sensitive to the parasite than others. If your diarrhea is severe and you're unable to replenish your fluids at home, you may need to get treated at a clinic or hospital for dehydration. As such, if dehydration symptoms appear (see above), call your doctor and ask for advice on where to go. The best way to replace water and electrolytes (such as sodium, potassium and calcium) is intravenously, which requires a needle to be inserted into a vein in your arm.  While you're on intravenous, you can also be given glucose and various essential vitamins, which can give you more energy and reduce your mental fog. An intravenous session typically lasts a few hours, although you may need to stay overnight(s) if your dehydration and/or malnourishment is severe. You may be given some oral rehydration solution to take home — they typically contain electrolytes and glucose dissolved in water. Some antibiotics are effective for also killing parasites, so ask your doctor about getting prescribed one if your giardiasis lasts for much more than 2 weeks. Commonly prescribed antibiotics for giardiasis include metronidazole, tinidazole and nitazoxanide. Furazolidone and quinacrine are also effective for treating giardiasis, but no longer available in the U.S.  The most common antibiotic used to combat giardiasis is metronidazole (Flagyl) — it has an efficacy rate of between 75-100%, but it often causes nausea and a metallic taste as side effects.  Tinidazole (Tindamax) may work even better than metronidazole for giardiasis and it can be given in a single dose, but it also causes some side effects. Nitazoxanide (Alinia) comes as a liquid and may be easier for children to swallow and tolerate. Paromomycin and albendazole are less effective medications for giardiasis, but still sometimes used. If your diarrhea persists for more than a few weeks, it's tempting to put a stop to it with medication, but your doctor may advise against it. Sometimes anti-diarrheal medicines can prolong the infection and make your condition worse because your body is prevented from getting rid of the parasite that's causing the diarrhea. Talk to your doctor about the pros and cons.  Over-the-counter anti-diarrheal medicines include loperamide (Imodium) and bismuth subsalicylate (Kaopectate, Pepto-Bismol). Bismuth subsalicylate can also be used to treat nausea and vomiting. A stronger prescription anti-diarrheal is called Lomotil, although it must be taken as soon as you start experiencing diarrhea.
summary: Confirm a diagnosis. Get treated for dehydration. Ask your doctor about antibiotics. Use anti-diarrheal medication cautiously.