Dog tetanus: bacterial contamination
Tetanus is a neuromuscular disease caused by contamination by a bacterium called Clostridium tetani, also known more simply as the tetanus bacillus.
Tetanus bacillus is a sporulated bacterium. This means that, when it is not in optimal conditions to reproduce, it puts itself in the form of a spore under which it can resist for years and survive very unfavorable living conditions. It is found mainly in soil, manure and animal faeces. It grows particularly well in regions with a warm and humid climate and in places with soil rich in organic matter or fertilized with manure.Rusty objects that we often hear about as the cause of contamination are also an excellent habitat for the germ.
Contamination of a dog is most often done by staining a wound, which allows the entry of the bacterial spore inside his body. For there to be contamination, the germ must cross the skin barrier through a wound, a bite, an abrasion, a cut, a perforation in short, at an inoculation point.
Good to know!
In dogs, a badly treated wound, a perforation by a sharp object or a spikelet, a bite are all ways of entry of the germ into its body! By their way of life, hunting dogs or dogs living outside are much more exposed to the risk of contamination. However, the disease remains quite rare in dogs!
If the anaerobic conditions are met at the level of the wound, the bacterium then passes into vegetative form.It is then capable of producing 2 types of toxins, including tetanospasmin, a neurotoxin that reaches the central nervous system by the ascending route and causes muscle hyperrigidity and convulsions.
Symptoms of tetanus in dogs
In dogs, tetanus can manifest itself in a focal form or a generalized form. It occurs between 5 days and 3 weeks on average after contamination.
The focal shape
The local form is a localized form of tetanus. It is mainly manifested by:
- involuntary muscular contractions of the muscles located around the inoculation wound (which is not always visible or identifiable by the owner of the animal),
- a trismus, a constant and involuntary contraction of the jaw muscles,
- dysphagia, in other words difficulty swallowing food and excessive salivation due to paralysis of the muscles allowing swallowing,
- a depression of the eyeball inside the orbit (enophthalmos) and prolapse of the 3th eyelid.
The generalized form
The generalized form of tetanus in dogs is manifested by:
- overall muscle stiffness,
- a limp,
- breathing difficulties,
- a modified tail carriage,
- difficulty swallowing.
In 50% of affected dogs, the symptoms progress to the dog's inability to stand up (the dog is then lying on its side, in lateral decubitus) and significant muscle spasms. Cardiac and urinary disorders may also appear, a sign of damage to the autonomic nervous system of the animal.
The disease can finally progress to paralysis of the muscles necessary for breathing and lead to the death of the animal by cardio-respiratory arrest.
Treatments and care
If your pet has tetanus, the veterinary care protocol will mainly consist of:
- fight against toxins with an anti-tetanus serum,
- fight bacteria with wound cleansing and antibiotic treatment,
- reduce the symptoms of intoxication such as muscle spasms using antispasmodics and muscle relaxants, compensate for a failing cardio-respiratory function, infuse to rehydrate and insert a gastric tube to feed the animal.
The daily care of a dog with tetanus can be long and expensive! It takes on average about thirty days before hope for a complete cure. The sick animal must, for example, be placed in a dark and quiet room to avoid stimulation which would aggravate its condition.It must also be changed position regularly to prevent pressure sores from forming. Its bedding must be cleaned and changed often because it is soiled by natural needs that the sick animal cannot contain Most of the time, complete hospitalization of the animal is required.
The chances of complete recovery for a dog suffering from localized tetanus are quite good but they are considerably reduced when the disease has become generalized.
If your dog is particularly exposed to this risk (dog walking alone in a tetanus zone), ask your veterinarian to vaccinate your animal. If it is not 100% effective, it will nevertheless reduce the risk of contracting the disease.
And above all, regularly inspect your dog! If he has a wound, clean it systematically and carefully with hydrogen peroxide. This is still the best way to kill the bacteria before it grows and produces its toxin!