Can You Get Tetanus From a Dog Bite

Tetanus in Dogs: Overview and Causes, Symptoms, and Handling Options

September 02, 2020 four Comments

Earlier this summer, we received a heartbreaking electronic mail from a DJANGO Canis familiaris Weblog reader (transcript below). Jeanette'due south dog, Sam, had sadly just passed away from tetanus, a rare butgruesome disease. Jeanette reached out to us to share her dog's traumatic experience with tetanus and asked that nosotros spread sensation and share important information about the disease. In doing and so, perchance we could assistance prevent another dog's death from tetanus in the hereafter.

If I am beingness 100% honest, I (Steph) did not know anything well-nigh tetanus in dogs earlier Jeanette reached out. Sure, I had heard of tetanus in humans and received tetanus vaccinations throughout my life...but dogs? I never realized dogs could be susceptible to this disease.Later some preliminary research, I realized how important it is for us dog owners to be aware of tetanus in dogs, the affliction's symptoms, and how our iv-legged friends can contract the illness.

Since receiving Jeanette'sheart-wrenching email, I've doneextensive research on tetanus in dogs. I also spoke at length with Dr. Shadi Ireifej, the Chief of Medicine at Vet Triage, who helped me further empathizerisk factors and treatment options for this disease.

Hither is everything you need to know about tetanus in dogs: the causes and symptoms of the disease, hazard factors, treatment options and costs, side effects, and tips for prevention.

OVERVIEW AND CAUSES OF TETANUS IN DOGS

Tetanus is acquired by bacteria chosen Clostridium tetani (C. tetani) . Clostridium tetani are primarily plant in dirt, dust, and feces.

When C. tetani leaner spores enter a dog'southward body through a deep wound or open up sore, they multiply. As the C. tetanibacteria die, they produce a neurotoxin calledtetanospasmin.This neurotoxin binds to the dog's nerves, eventually migrating to the brain and spinal cord. Once this occurs, neurotransmitters that control movement, touch, pressure, temperature, and hurting (glycine and GABA) cannot exist released. This leads to spasms of voluntary muscles and other symptoms (more on symptoms beneath).

At that place are two types of tetanus:

• Localized tetanus is the most mutual type of tetanus and has a 90 percent survival rate. A dog with localized tetanus may accept musculus stiffness or tremors in the limb closest to his wound. In some cases, localized tetanus can develop into generalized tetanus.
• Generalized tetanus  occurs when tetanus spreads throughout the canis familiaris'south trunk. Generalized tetanuscauses the domestic dog to lose his ability to blink. The dog's forehead becomes deeply wrinkled and his ears become pulled back. His eyes bulge, and his lips curl back into a 'sinister smile' known equally risus sardonicus. In more than advanced stages of generalized tetanus, an affected dog may become then sensitive to sound that any loud noise such as paw clapping can crusade seizures or spasms. The canis familiaris may non exist able to bend his legs, resulting in what is called a 'sawhorse stance'. The dog also may not exist able to completely open up or shut his mouth, and his heart rate may drop below 60 beats per minute. The survival rate for generalized tetanus in dogs is fifty percent.

SYMPTOMS OF TETANUS IN DOGS

Signs and symptoms of tetanus in dogs can appear anywhere from 3 days to three weeks subsequently the dog is wounded and exposed to C. tetani bacteria. Symptoms tin be mild or severe and include:

• Fever
• Constipation
• Drooling
• Wrinkled brow
• Cock ears
• Sunken eyes
• Unable to blink
• Clenched jaw (lockjaw)
• Smiling advent (risus sardonicus)
• Stiff and extended tail
• Unbendable legs and an arched back (sawhorse stance)
• Trouble eating or drinking
• Musculus spasms triggered by light, sound, or bear upon
• Paralysis
• Seizures
• Difficulty breathing

"I think my dog is showing symptoms of tetanus. What should I do?"

If your canis familiaris is exhibiting any symptoms of tetanus, please visit your vet as soon as possible. Dr. ShadiIreifej emphasized that dogs that cannot breathe or move should be immediately rushed to the nearest emergency veterinary dispensary.

IS TETANUS COMMON IN DOGS?

Tetanus is fortunately rare in dogs.

Dr. Shadi Ireifejhas worked in veterinary medicine for 14 years. He saw one instance of canine tetanus at Cornell Academy in 2004.According to The Canadian Veterinarian Journal, horses, humans, and sheep are 600 times more susceptible to tetanus than dogs.Cats and birds are x times more resistant to tetanus than dogs.

Some dogs are more at risk of tetanus than other canines. Larger dog breeds that live on farms or in the country have a greater gamble of contracting the illness. Dogs that have access to manure or are close proximity to dead animals are likewise much more at risk of tetanus.

Dogs that spend all-encompassing time outdoors can get tetanus from foxtails, or grass seed awns. If not discovered speedily, these can burrow into your dog'southward vital organs and blood vessels. According to the UC Davis Schoolhouse of Veterinarian Medicine , 27 per centum of canine tetanus cases are caused by foxtail burrs.

Newborn puppies can get tetanus through their umbilical stumps. Dogs nether 2 years quondam are also at greater run a risk of tetanus because they are more than inclined to put dangerous, infected items in their mouth (dirty sticks, rusty nails, glass, etc).

HOW IS CANINE TETANUS DIAGNOSED?

At that place is no piece of cake diagnostic exam for tetanus. Blood tests aren't accurate because C. tetani does not live long in the air. A tetanus diagnosis is normally fabricated based on your dog's appearance and the history of his wound. If y'all did not notice your dog's wound ten to xiv days ago, your vet may order a urinalysis, electrocardiogram, and chest X-rays.

TREATMENT OPTIONS FOR TETANUS IN DOGS

• Antibiotics. Penicillin and Metronidazole are antibiotics used to treat tetanus in dogs. They've no effect on the neurotoxin just can cease C. tetani from spreading.
• Stabilization. Intravenous (IV) fluids are used to halt dehydration while oxygen is used to prevent respiratory failure. If your canis familiaris'south pharynx and diaphragm are paralyzed, he needs an endotracheal tube or a mechanical ventilator.
• Debridement. Dead tissue is removed from effectually your canis familiaris's wound to decrease tetanus bacteria. Then information technology's cleaned with balmy lather and water or iodine.
• Sedation. Acepromazine and chlorpromazine are recommended to control your dog'south sensitivity to light, audio, or affect. He may also be injected with phenobarbital, diazepam, or midazolam to control muscle stiffness.
• Equine antitoxin. A controversial treatment, equine antitoxin may be an option if tetanus is caught early. Made from the blood of horses, it can be given past IV or injected under the peel or into the muscle. It can have upwards to three days to destroy the tetanus toxin. Pare tests are recommended because equine antitoxin tin cause potentially life-threatening allergic reactions.
• Nursing care. Your dog may require around-the-clock care in a dark and repose room for seven to 30 days. He needs soft bedding, frequent rotation to avert bedsores, hand feeding or feeding by a G-tube , and aid expressing his bladder.

HOW MUCH DOES It Cost TO TREAT TETANUS?

Tetanus treatments can cost anywhere from $xv to $20,000. The cost of treating tetanus in dogs will depend on the severity of the instance and required treatment. Mild cases of canine tetanus that only crave a vet visit, wound cleaning, and antibiotics may cost upward to $200. Severe cases of tetanus requiring long-term sedation, stabilization, and round-the-clock nursing care can toll well into the thousands.

Hither is a list of approximate prices for common tetanus treatments. Delight keep in mind that costs can vary extensively based on your location and veterinary clinic (we live in NYC soeverything costs more here):

• Antibiotics like Penicillin (take by mouth) - $15
• Injectable Penicillin - $250
• Sedation - $85 (small dogs) to $100 (big dogs)
• Bloodwork - $xc
• Wound Repair - $135 to $335
• Horse Equine Antitoxin - $3,000

SIDE Furnishings OF TETANUS IN DOGS

According to the Journal of Internal Veterinarian Medicine , 77 percent of dogs that survive tetanus have a REM slumber behavior disorder (RBD). This normally occurs two weeks later dogs are discharged from the vet.

Your dog may twitch, run, or whine in his sleep. While anti-epileptic medications won't help, symptoms should not get worse over time. RBD may resolve after several months.

HOW TO Preclude TETANUS IN DOGS

Considering tetanus is relatively rare in dogs, there is no vaccine currently available for canines like there is for humans.

If your dog has a wound without symptoms, Dr. Ireifej recommends immediately cleaning information technology with mild soap and water, iodine, or dilute peroxide to rid the site of bacteria and forbid infection.Dr. Ireifej likewise advises applying Neosporin to your domestic dog's cleaned wound and bandaging information technology to prevent the introduction of boosted bacteria.

Regardless of how the wound appears, place an e-collar on your dog and visit your vet as soon as possible. Your vet volition be able to properly clean the wound farther (if required), prescribe whatsoever necessary antibiotics, and apply any needed stitches.

Sam's Story

Here is the heartbreaking electronic mail we received from Jeanette, a DJANGO Domestic dog Weblog reader and canis familiaris mom to Sam. Jeanette reached out to united states to share her and Sam's heartbreaking experience with tetanus in hopes that we would share information near the illness with our readers.

Sam's Story

May 29, 2020

"Our domestic dog simply passed away from tetanus. I'yard reaching out to you lot and then that our story can bring sensation to this "rare" affliction that seems to affect quite a fleck of dogs annually. We offset noticed our dog Sam's face was really weird. It looked like she was locked in a smile (we later establish out the name was "the sinister smile") but very uncomfortable. Upon taking her to a vet they diagnosed her as dehydrated and prescribed antibiotics, lots of h2o, and rest. But afterward that solar day her symptoms seemed to be getting worse and she seemed to be very out of it. Nosotros decided that she was behaving in a very alarming and not normal way so we took her to a 24 hr hospital, California veterinarian specialists. From there we received the news that our dog had contracted tetanus, a very rare but gruesome disease. Then simply like whatever other millennial couple my husband and I began our google research to try and find as much information on this disease as possible. Unfortunately there was little to no helpful information on recovering from tetanus and a lot of actually sad photographs of dogs that looked like they were suffering. 2 days later our dogs symptoms got and so bad that she was unable to open her mouth (referred to as lockjaw) and was having a very difficult time trying to find a good position so her airways opened up to breathe. The dr in that hospital recommended her staying in the hospital for 2-iii weeks, only maybe over a month, in intensive care in order for them to effort and relieve her. Only fifty-fifty and then the survival charge per unit they gave united states of america was 30%. We did not accept the money to pay for a months stay at a hospital for a thirty% take chances survival. We could've taken her home only without the proper equipment and cognition to intendance for her it was very likely that she would suffocate considering of the disease and die at home. Our pup was suffering and we made the very difficult and heartbreaking decision to say good adieu to her. I want to effort to reach out to as many creature blogs as I possibly tin can to spread awareness and mayhap encourage some young vets out at that place to button for some type of vaccine for tetanus in dogs. Or at least for anyone to do more research for dog owners like united states of america then that we can continue our pups safe."

Boosted resources

• ALLERGIC REACTIONS IN DOGS: CAUSES, SYMPTOMS, WHEN TO WORRY, AND TREATMENT OPTIONS
• DOG EAR INFECTIONS: CAUSES, SYMPTOMS, AND TREATMENT OPTIONS
• INTERVERTEBRAL DISK DISEASE (IVDD) IN DOGS | CAUSES, PREVENTION, SYMPTOMS, AND Treatment OPTIONS

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