A London dog owner has described his horror after his pet tested positive for an infection which often results in the animals being put to sleep. Brucella Canis is a little-known bacterial infection rarely seen in the UK, with just three cases among dogs reported pre-2020, but that number rose to 97 in 2023, as the demand for dogs immediately after lockdown saw a boom in breeding and importing dogs from abroad.
The man, who does not wish to be named, lives in Walthamstow and acquired his now-elderly dog while travelling in South Asia. For years, the dog has appeared healthy, with no visible sign of symptoms. But a lateral flow test taken during a trip to the vets revealed the dog tested positive for Brucella Canis, otherwise known as B. Canis and Brucellosis. The bacterial infection can be easily treated with antibiotics for humans, however this is not the case with dogs and vets often suggest euthanising the animals to prevent infection of other canines.
None of the man’s other pets were infected and he himself has tested negative, despite living with the dog at close quarters. He is now seeking to re-test the dog. The man said: “It was really frightening to suddenly get this news, as my dog has never shown any sign of illness. I thought I must have it myself as my dog often sleeps in my bedroom but my blood test came back negative.”
The UK Health Security Agency reports that lateral flow tests may identify B. Canis initially but these are not as accurate as laboratory tests, so confirmatory testing is needed. The man is now subjecting his dog to further tests and is in discussion with his vets about a course of action to take. If the dog is confirmed to have B. Canis, it may be necessary to be put the animal to sleep, as other workers such as veterinary dentists are usually unwilling to treat affected dogs.
According to the government, B. Canis can be transmitted from dogs to humans but this is “extremely rare” and most cases among humans are easily treated with antibiotics. The government notes, “the risk to the general population in the UK from B. Canis is very low.” In the UK, the disease is mainly found in dogs imported from Eastern Europe and the Indian subcontinent, while human-to-human transmission of B. Canis is exceedingly uncommon.
Dogs may show no symptoms of the bacterial infection, but those that do will exhibit signs such as tiredness, swelling of lymph nodes in the neck, armpit, or groin and back or joint pain. B. Canis is also known to cause reproductive problems in dogs.
Why antibiotics aren’t recommended for dogs with B. Canis
The UK Health Security Agency states: “In dogs, antibiotic treatment is not recommended because infection often continues despite this treatment. Vets will be able to advise on the best management approach for a dog that has B. Canis, which will depend on a number of factors both relating to the dog and the people and other animals living with it. Management approaches may include euthanasia, neutering, or other treatment options to reduce the risk of onward transmission.
“The general population is at very low risk of getting infected with B. Canis, but you should still continue to practise good hygiene around animals. For any dog (imported or born in the UK), make sure that you minimise contact with the dog’s reproductive or birthing products, blood, and urine. If you have any contact with these products, always wash your hands thoroughly for a minimum of 20 seconds with soap and hot water before doing any other activity. If your hands are not visibly dirty and there are no hand washing facilities available, you can use alcohol hand sanitiser.”
For more information about B. Canis, see the UK Health Security Agency guidance here and advice from NHS here.
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