Anthrax in dogs

Though anthrax has recently been brought to the public's attention, it is actually one of the oldest recorded infectious diseases. Anthrax affects all warm-blooded animals, including humans. It is a bacterial infection that has been reported all over the world. The bacteria is very resistant to heat, chemical and environmental changes due to its ability to become encapsulated in a spore. These spores then live in the soil, waiting to be inhaled or ingested by grazing livestock.
Horses and livestock are most often affected, but dogs and cats can become infected, despite their natural relative resistance to the bacteria. Dogs and cats are most often infected after ingesting meat from a carcass infected with anthrax. Other routes of infection include inhalation as well as migrating through the skin.
Anthrax is a disease with zoonotic potential. This means the disease can be passed from animal to humans, but the disease is not as communicable as a virus. The anthrax spores are the contagious part of the disease. To become a spore, the anthrax bacteria must be exposed to oxygen. This means that direct contact with a contaminated animal does not automatically result in an infection. A person must be in contact with the infected animal's bodily fluids or abnormal discharge to be at risk for infection.
Animals diagnosed with anthrax should be handled with extreme caution. Body fluids should be avoided and necropsy should not be performed.

What to Watch For:  Difficulty swallowing Facial swelling Vomiting Diarrhea Loss of appetite Lethargy Bloody discharge from mouth, nose and rectum.
Diagnosis. Diagnosis can be difficult. An accurate and thorough history is very important. Since anthrax is uncommon in dogs, exposure to carcasses known to be infected with anthrax is a crucial part of the medical history and diagnosis. Dogs rarely ingest or inhale enough spores from the soil to cause illness. If there is an index of suspicion for anthrax, examination of the blood or any blood-tinged discharge can reveal the bacteria. The fluid is prepared and appropriately stained. Rod shaped bacteria will be seen when the fluid is microscopically examined. Additional tests, such as fluorescent antibody exam of smears prepared from blood or body fluid, can be used to confirm the diagnosis. Lymph node biopsy can also reveal the signs of anthrax bacterial invasion.
Treatment. Early treatment is crucial. Successful treatment involves hospitalization and supportive care. Intravenous fluids and high doses of penicillin, ampicillin or enrofloxacin are administered. Despite aggressive treatment, some animals do not survive. After death, extreme care must be taken. Necropsies are not recommended and neither is burial.
Home Care and Prevention. There is no home care for anthrax. It is highly contagious and extreme caution is necessary when treating infected animals. Since anthrax is most often associated with ingestion of infected carcasses, do not allow your pet to roam. Keep dogs in a fenced in yard or on a leash.

Дата добавления: 2015-11-14