Hi lazygardens and BrosaFarm. Thank you so much for replying. It does sound a little gross, but better safe than REALLY sorry. First of all, I'm kind of obsessive about cleaning water containers and about hand washing. My mother raised cage birds for sale and chickens and she pounded it into me that we keep everything very clean. She used bleach in water containers when she changed the water. And she was a nurse, so she was probably hyper-aware. So this is how I do things too. I actually wash my own hands in hot water and soap PLUS bleach water if I've even touched a chicken or duck. So I am being careful with hand washing. But...I got very, very sick week before last and it lasted quite awhile. All the TERRIBLE symptoms were the same as Giardia, but I didn't know that yet. I got so dehydrated that my hubby took me to the doc. He sent me to the hospital as an outpatient. I had a litre and a half of saline plus other goodies pumped into me via IV. I felt pretty good for a quite a few days, but I'm starting to feel achy again along with upset stomach. head ache, no appetite, etc. I had a follow up visit yesterday and he asked me again if I'd been anywhere there may have been contaminated water. I was thinking of camping and that sort of thing. So I said no, but then on the 17 mile drive home I had some time to think and it kind of dawned on me that I am with my ducks, chickens, dogs and cats a LOT and I have been splashed by ducky wading pool water many times on my face as well as the rest of me. Also, our outdoor water is irrigation water that comes from the mountain snow pack melting and it's stored in a huge reservoir until spring. It's not fit to drink, to say the least. I haul indoor water out to the chickens and ducks by the huge bucketful's each day. I've never thought about ME getting something from it though. We water the lawns and plants with it and I always get wet from it. I've heard that you can get it very easily, even just get a drop or two and you'll get sick from it. But is that true? It sounds like you know about it BrosaFarm. How do I treat my chickens and ducks and other animals if they have it? Is it through worming and other....? Guess I need some advice from the seasoned professionals here. I'll call my sis too. She knows about ducks. I'll probably call the vet too. Thanks again for your replies. I really do appreciate your replies. :) Maggie chickenmama1

in our housing colony, a stray dog gave birth to 3 small, cute pups. till 3-4 weeks they were in the temporary shelter made by their mum. when they opened their eyes and started walking, i was very happy and thought that they would come to our quarter and play. after a week or so, one pup(out of 3) came to our house in evening. He sat in the verandah, slept for a few minutes. at that time i was sleeping. my sister told that he slept for a few minutes and then she and my mom came back and they also felt like sleeping and slept for half an hour. When we returned, we saw he wasn't there. we thought he must have snuggled through the openings of the main iron door. At that very night, that pup,(whose shelter had been transferred to a public garage) started weeping. my dad and i put him on a cardboard piece near his siblings and mother and came back. this continued for 2 more days. after that he stopped weeping. i noticed he couldnot drink his mother's milk too.he had become very weak. we did everything for him that we could do, put him with his mother and siblings, covered him with a cloth too. but, even after that, on 14th jan2014, when it was 12:30 PM , I went to check him and found he was not breathing, i shaked him and even put him to another place by hand. he didnot react which he usually did while being placed by hand.then i sadly realised that he had left us... my heart is broken.what to do.

If you're out west or have a lot of questionable water features it could be a good idea if you've had a problem with it in the past. I asked my vet about it and they said it's really much of an issue here in GA but out west where it is more commonly a problem in dogs it might be. It might help to ask your vet if they've seen a lot of cases and what they think for your locale.

What is a "Japanese lily"? Do you know the botanical name? And where are you located? Lilies are dormant at this time of year in the northern hemisphere so guessing you are in the southern part of the globe......?? True lilies - Lilium species and hybrids - grow only a single stalk from each bulb and if that stalk is damaged before maturing into buds and flowers, then that lily bulb is done for the season. There is nothing you can or should do - just leave the stalk in place as is. Next season it should come back just fine. But I'd advise protecting it from your puppy, not only for the lily's sake but because it may be harmful to your pet. Lilies are quite toxic to cats.......not sure about dogs.