Diseased Dogs

Dog owners are being warned about a new disease.  It’s called canine brucellosis.  The Minnesota Board of Animal Health says there are several active cases of brucellosis in the state.  Each one is said to have come from a dog imported into Minnesota…many of them coming from the same geographic area in South Dakota.  The Board of Animal Health requires any infected dogs to be quarantined for life or humanely euthanized to prevent the spread of the disease.   Brucellosis primarily spreads in dogs via breeding or exposure to birthing materials but can also be transmitted through exposure to blood, milk, saliva and feces. This disease is particularly important to look out for because it’s harder to confirm infected dogs with currently available tests. Veterinarians must know the clinical signs of disease and utilize the dog’s history to identify and test high-risk cases. Owners should understand that B. canis infection in dogs is considered a non-curable disease. Positive test results must be reported to the Board of Animal Health, which investigates animal exposures. People who live with or work closely with animals and come into contact with reproductive tissues and bodily fluids are at higher risk of contracting brucellosis, including owners, breeders, shelter or boarding facility staff, and veterinarians.