Canine Brucellosis is a contagious disease that is caused by the bacterial organism known as Brucella canis. And while being infected by Brucella canis isn’t going to necessarily “kill” your pet, it can have some very serious consequences to the overall health of your loved one and particularly devastating effects on the reproductive health as well.
In fact…
Canine Brucellosis infection is one of the leading causes of infertility in dogs and can be responsible for causing miscarriages (aborted fetuses) in infected female dogs. As a result, brucellosis bacterium can and often will be referred to as Brucella abortus as well.
It’s also why…
We wanted to take a moment and discuss exactly what Canine Brucellosis is and provide our readers with some of the clues that they can look for just in case you think your dog may be a carrier of this bacterium.
Canine Brucellosis defined:
Brucellosis canine is an infectious disease that is caused by the bacteria known as Brucella. And while there are several different strains of Brucella that exist within the genius, only the Brucella canis (B. canis) is known to specifically target dogs in particular.
Transmission:
The Brucellosis bacteria or organism that is transmitted through fluids. The most common way for this to occur is through sexual contact (breeding dogs) or through birth. That said however, it should also be pointed out that Brucellosis is a “zoonotic disease” as well which means that it has the ability to “jump species”.
Or in other words…
Despite the fact that Brucellosis canine is primarily a disease that affects dogs, the Brucella bacteria does have the ability to be transmitted from animals to people! Placing professional dog breeds and those working closely with dogs at an increased risk of contracting this disease.
Other occupations that may see an increase risk may include any position which works with a lot of different animals or may encounter stray animals that are not always the healthiest. Here’s just a few to that we can think of:
- Veterinarians,
- Vet techs,
- Kennel volunteers or workers,
- Animal control,
- Etc…
In cases like these, the “human infection” will likely cause one or more of the following symptoms to occur:
- Fever,
- Headaches,
- Fatigue or weakness,
- Hot flashes and or sweats,
- Joint pain and general “achiness”
- Swollen lymph nodes,
- As well as the potential for unexplained weight loss.
Within animals…
The symptoms or clinical signs can vary between gender. Symptoms commonly found in male dogs may include:
- Epididymitis,
- Deformed or immature sperm development,
- Enlarged or swollen scrotum.
Symptoms commonly found in female dogs may include:
- Vaginal discharge,
- Infections within the uterus,
- Difficulty conceiving,
- Frequent miscarriages,
- Still born puppies or weak/sickly puppies.
As well as symptoms that will be shared by both genders which will likely include:
- General fatigue and weakness,
- Swollen lymph nodes,
- General non-specific aches,
- Back pain,
- Difficulty walking.
At this point…
We generally like to remind our readers that we here at IndulgeYourPet are not medical professionals. We’re not doctors, and we’re certainly not veterinarians. All we are is a bunch of folks who really love animals and like to try and shed some light on some common conditions which could affect your loved ones.
So…
If you think you yourself or your dog has been infected by the Brucella bacteria or you think you might be suffering from any type of medical issue, QUIT READING THIS ARTICLE and go see a professional!
Our only real purpose…
Here is this article is to simply point out yet another way your loved one could become sick or ill which is why anyone thinking about adopting an animal as a pet needs to take this responsibility very seriously because when you do, you are committing yourself to the health of this animal for its entire life! Which brings us back to….
Diagnosis and Treatment of Canine Brucella
Canine Brucella infection is typically diagnosed by performing a blood test called a “Rapid Slide Agglutination Test” or RAST which will usually able to detect a Brucella infection after an 8 to 12 week incubation period. The problem with this test is that it’s unlikely to detect a Brucella infection for at least 8 weeks meaning that your dog will likely remain a public health risk until then.
Other tests that may also be ordered may include a:
- Tube agglutination test,
- And/or an agar gel immunodiffusion test,
Depending on the purgative of your chosen doctor.
The good news…
Is that because, Brucella canine is a bacterial infection, it can usually be treated pretty successfully using any number of different antibiotics including:
- Doxycycline,
- Streptomycin,
- Ciprofloxacin or ofloxacin,
- Rifampin,
- Bactrim
- And/or tetracycline.
That said however…
Most professionals including most dog breeders will typically assume that if a dog has ever been diagnosed with Brucella canine, they will always be considered a carrier for this disease due to the difficulty to fully eliminate its presence.
Which brings us to…
The last thing that we want to discuss in our article here today which is the idea of purchasing a pet insurance policy for your pet. You see, Canine Brucellosis is just one of a million different things that could one day affect the health of your loved one. Which is why, for many deciding to purchase a pet insurance policy is a perfect way to protect themselves from receiving any really expensive vet bills later on in the future.
Now will…
Purchasing a pet insurance policy be right for everyone? Probably not, but without at least knowing what one might cost, how can you truly decide if it’s worth it to you?
For more information on who we feel are currently offering some of the best pet insurance policies in the industry right now be sure to check out our Best Pet Insurance article when you get a chance!
