Mary Allen
If you notice your dog behaving unusually, you should take him to his veterinarian for a thorough check-up. When Aujeszky’s disease manifests, it can be life-threatening, and the disease itself is usually fatal.
WHAT IS AUJESZKY’S DISEASE IN DOGS AND HOW DOES IT EXPRESS IT?
Phonetic rabies is another term for Aujeszky’s disease, which is far better known. This is a virus that can be passed to your dog from sick pigs and possibly other animals. If other animals come into contact with your dog through aerosol transmission, or if your dog ingests the carcass of an infected pig, your dog can develop this virus. The symptoms are similar to those of rabies in animals, hence the name of the disease. Once infected, the virus multiplies in your dog’s lymphatic system and quickly spreads throughout the body. Since this disease is almost always fatal, the chances of a cure are unfortunately very poor.
WHAT ANIMALS GET AUJESZKY’S DISEASE?
Although pigs are the most commonly affected animal species, the virus can infect virtually all mammals, including cattle, sheep, goats, cats, and dogs. Pigs are capable of carrying the virus without showing any symptoms of infection.
AUJESZKY’S DISEASE IN DOGS: SYMPTOMS AND SIGNS
Symptoms of this condition include the following:
- Fever
- Localized itching that is very uncomfortable.
- Signs of shortness of breath and central nervous system dysfunction (circling, paralysis, manic behavior)
- Death comes at once
- species
Pseudorabies is another, less common name for Aujeszky’s disease. It is a DNA herpes virus that has only one reservoir host, the pig, but the virus can infect a variety of animal species, including your dog. In infected dogs, virus replication occurs in the epithelium of the nose, tonsils, and throat after prolonged exposure to the virus. The virus continues to multiply in the lymphatic system before spreading to the brain via nerve tissue.
WHY DO DOGS GET AUJESZKY’S DISEASE?
Fecal-oral contact or nose-to-nose contact with a pet that has the virus can transmit the virus to your dog. There are many ways a virus can spread, but one of them is through inhalation. With high humidity and other weather conditions, the virus can stay in the air for a long time.
DOGS WITH AUJESZKY’S DISEASE CAN BE DETECTED WITH A SIMPLE BLOOD TEST.
Physical Examination: In order to determine if your dog has Aujeszky’s disease, you should first have him examined. Be sure to measure his vital signs and, if possible, note any symptoms he has. However, if your dog is acting very strangely, the vet may assume he has rabies and will sedate him for the safety of everyone involved. She will also want to know about your dog’s history. Whether he has been vaccinated in the past when he was vaccinated, how long ago was the vaccination, and so on. This will help us figure out what he might be going through.
If your dog can be restrained, a skin scraping can be done to check for parasites such as mites. A blood test is a good way to look for signs of infection, anemia, and overall organ function. If your vet has access to the spinal fluid (CSF), they may be able to remove it and examine it for signs of abnormalities.
Because the infection usually spreads very quickly, the body usually doesn’t even have time to try to make an antibody. Therefore, it is almost impossible to do an antibody test while still alive. After a person dies, tests are done to make sure the person has received the correct diagnosis and to rule out the rabies virus. These are just some of the tests that the vet will perform to make a correct diagnosis. Tissue samples are examined, the virus is isolated and antibodies are determined, to name just a few examples. Because it is a notifiable disease, a necropsy is almost a must. There are many reasons why you should have your pet checked. For your own safety, but also for the safety of the veterinary staff and other pets in your home, you should have it checked out.
TREATMENT OF AUJESZKY’S DISEASE IN DOGS
There is currently no recognized cure for Aujeszky’s disease. While your veterinarian can provide supportive care for your dog, the disease almost always progresses quickly and is eventually fatal.
Ideally, you should avoid infecting your dog with this disease. There are no vaccines against this disease for your dog, but there are for pigs. If you own pigs, make sure they are fully vaccinated. If you feed pork to your dog, make sure it is well cooked before eating.
If you live in an area where this disease has been reported, keep your dog away from other animals such as wild animals, especially wild boars, and even unfamiliar dogs. Aujeszky’s disease is notifiable, i. i.e. if it has been detected in the region at any time, it will be documented.
AUJESZKY’S DISEASE HEALS IN DOGS
Unfortunately, the chance of recovery from Aujeszky’s disease is extremely low. It is a deadly disease that progresses over time. However, your veterinarian can provide supportive care for your dog and alleviate their pain and suffering. It is a deadly disease that affects everyone affected.