Tularemia is the name more commonly used for a bacterial disease caused by the intracellular bacterium francisella tularensis. When an animal becomes infected with this bacterium it is also known as rabbit fever. Infection can occur from a dog eating another infected animal, being bitten by a blood sucking insect or drinking water that has been contaminated.
Dr. Meinkoth says: “Tularemia is a zoonotic disease caused by F tularensis, a gram-negative, facultative intracellular bacterium. It has been documented in more than 100 species of wild and domestic mammals and humans.”
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Can Dogs Get Tularemia
Tularemia is more commonly seen in rodents and rabbits, but yes, dogs can get infected too. There have not been any reported cases in South America, Australia, The United Kingdom and Africa, but there have been a number reported across North America. These cases are most often seen late spring and summer, when the host of the bacteria is most active.
Dog’s can be infected in one of the following ways:
- Being bitten by a blood sucking insect, such as ticks, fleas, mosquitoes or midges
- Drinking water that has been contaminated
- Eating parts of an animal that is infected (such as a rodent or rabbit carcass)
When the bacteria have entered the lymph system it can be found in the spleen, liver, lungs and even the bone marrow. It is important to note that this is not a common infection in dogs, and not a diagnosis your veterinarian will jump too quickly.
Tularemia Symptoms in Dogs
Symptoms to look out for in your dog if you suspect tularemia are:
In some instances, the following symptoms are seen:
- Enlarged lymph nodes
- Vomiting
- Diarrhoea
- Skin lesions
- Draining abscesses
- Uveitis (inflammation in the eye) or conjunctivitis
In the article Francisella tularensis infection in dogs it says: “Whereas illness in humans can be severe and debilitating, the few reports of tularemia in dogs describe the illness as self-limiting, with nonspecific signs such as pyrexia, lethargy, and anorexia; however, lymphadenopathy, vomiting, diarrhea, mucopurulent oculonasal discharge, and skin lesions have also been reported.”
It is always recommended to have a pet camera in your home if you are ever away for more than a few hours at a time. This way you can check in on your pooch and see if there is any cause for concern at any moment.
Is Tularemia in Dogs Dangerous
Tuleramia is a zoonotic disease, this means that humans are susceptible to it, and it can infect other mammals, not just canines and rodents.
To diagnose tuleramia isn’t straightforward. Your veterinarian will want to rule out more common, and likely diseases first as dogs seem to be rather resistant to this disease. This may include a chemistry panel to check organ function, full blood count to see if there is an increase in white blood cell activity, among other things, and a urinalysis. In times like this it is recommended to have an Emergency Fund as diagnostic costs add up fast.
Reports of tularemia are rare in dogs as dogs tend to fight the bacterium and recover well with supportive treatment such as intravenous fluids, hospitalisation and antibiotics. Confirmation of the disease is done with blood tests, lymph node aspiration and bacterial culture that needs to be performed at an external laboratory.
In the article Naturally occurring tularemia in a dog it says: “Antemortem definitive diagnosis is difficult and requires detection of an increasing antibody titre or detection of the organism in biopsied tissue via culture, immunofluorescent staining, or PCR analysis. Historically, serologic testing has been the major means of diagnosis.”
Conclusion
Tularemia is a zoonotic disease that needs to be reported to the necessary state authority when there has been a confirmed positive case. If your veterinarian suspects tularemia, the vets and their team will proceed with caution and wear necessary protective clothing to prevent becoming infected themselves.
Dr. Kwit says in her research: “Tularemia is an uncommon, highly infectious and potentially serious zoonosis caused by the gram-negative coccobacillus Francisella tularensis.”
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