In Russia, this disease became known in 1762 under the name "Crimean disease." Plague in dogs, symptoms, treatment cause increased interest in many animal owners. This is due to the frequency and severity of the disease.
The disease is known to cause the carnivore plague virus from the paramyxovirus group. At temperatures above zero degrees, the virus can persist for up to 11 days in the discharge from the eyes, nose and feces of a sick dog. At low temperatures, it remains virulent for up to 2 months. At 55 degrees, the virus dies within an hour, and when boiled - instantly. Dog plague, treatment and prevention are of great practical importance, since the disease has a high mortality rate. Even with recovery, the dog often has complications that make it unsuitable for hunting and guard duty.
Not only dogs, but also wild animals are sensitive to the causative agent of the plague of carnivores, or the plague. This disease is especially dangerous for puppies up to a year old. Most sensitive to the virus are shepherd dogs, indoor dogs, huskies and other hunting dogs.
Even if the treatment of plague in dogs was successful, those who are ill recover the virus for up to 3 months. It is transmitted to healthy dogs from sick and sick animals, as well as those that are in the incubation period. The penetration of the virus occurs through the mucous membranes, the digestive tract, through the nose. The disease can be transmitted by contact, through the hands of the owner and care items. Before the first signs of the disease, it takes from 2 days to 3 or more weeks after infection.
Consider how the plague occurs in dogs. Symptoms, treatment of the disease depend on its form. It all starts with a rise in temperature. There are catarrhal (pulmonary), skin, intestinal, nervous and mixed forms of the disease.
How does the plague occur in dogs? Symptoms, her treatment have been sufficiently studied and developed. With a catarrhal form, temperatures up to 40 degrees or more are initially noted. The dog does not eat, sluggish. This condition lasts up to 2 days. Then there are symptoms of conjunctivitis and rhinitis - copious discharge from the eyes and nose. At first it is serous, but gradually becomes purulent. A dry cough appears, later turning into a wet cough. Dogs may have shortness of breath, signs of heart and lung failure.
With the intestinal form, animals develop catarrhal changes in the digestive tract. They are manifested by frequent loose stools, vomiting. There may be streaks of blood in the feces. All this proceeds against a background of high temperature.
With a skin form, papular rashes appear on the skin of the abdomen and the inner surface of the paws, then crusting. This form is considered the easiest, but sometimes it becomes a catarrhal or nervous form.
When nervous, dogs are excited. They have high fever, tonic and clonic convulsions, convulsive spasm of the masticatory muscles, seizures of the epileptic type. This form can quickly lead to the death of the animal.
With a mixed (generalized) form, all of the listed symptoms can be.
With the course of the disease, it is acute, super acute, fulminant and chronic. An ultra-acute disease in two or three days ends with a coma and the death of a dog.
In lightning fast, the animal suddenly dies. There can be no symptoms characteristic of a plague.
An acute illness can last up to a month. Then the dog gets better. Sometimes, more often with a nervous form, the disease becomes chronic.
Dog plague, symptoms, treatment are quite complicated. In case of disease, the animal needs the quick and qualified help of a veterinarian. Antibiotics do not act on the virus, they are used only against secondary infections. Treatment consists in the removal of intoxication, the introduction of vitamin and fortifying agents. Symptomatic therapy is carried out in order to relieve febrile, convulsive and other available symptoms.
Prevention of the disease consists in vaccination against the plague and proper maintenance of dogs, excluding contact with sick animals.