Brucellosis in dogs
Last reviewed: 23.04.2024
All iLive content is medically reviewed or fact checked to ensure as much factual accuracy as possible.
We have strict sourcing guidelines and only link to reputable media sites, academic research institutions and, whenever possible, medically peer reviewed studies. Note that the numbers in parentheses ([1], [2], etc.) are clickable links to these studies.
If you feel that any of our content is inaccurate, out-of-date, or otherwise questionable, please select it and press Ctrl + Enter.
This disease, which is caused by the bacterium Brucella canis. It is the main cause of infertility and spontaneous abortion in dogs. Puppies infected in utero are usually aborted 45-59 days after conception. Suspicion of this disease should occur if the female has a miscarriage two weeks before the expected delivery, when stillborn, or if the puppies after the birth have fallen ill and died.
In dogs with acute infection, you can find enlarged lymph nodes in the groin and / or under the jaw. The temperature rises rarely. Males in the early stages can swell the testicles, and then they decrease and atrophy as the cells that produce sperm are destroyed. It should be noted that brucellosis can infect both males and females without causing any signs of disease.
In dogs with acute infection, bacteria are found in the blood, urine, body secretions and abortion results. In dogs with a chronic or inactive infection, bacteria can be transmitted with vaginal discharge during estrus and with sperm.
The most common mode of transmission is contact with infected vaginal secretions after spontaneous abortion and urine from infected dogs. The same way, the disease can spread throughout the doghouse. Males can be infected by oral or nasal contact with vaginal discharge of females with estrus. Female dogs can become infected while mating with an infected male. Breeders should pay special attention to this, because males can accumulate bacteria throughout their lives.
Treatment: Brucellosis is difficult to heal. Performed therapy with tableted antibiotics and intramuscular injections of antibiotics for at least three weeks. This allows you to cure up to 80% of dogs. In order for a dog to be considered recovered, it should not find bacteria for at least three months. Since cures are not easy to achieve, in order to prevent the transmission of the disease to other dogs, it is recommended to remove the ovaries or castrate all infected animals.
[