posted 12-06-2003 11:35 AM         

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Health Alert: Parvo-like Virus going around
Date Sent: 27 Nov 2003 05:29 PM

Subject: MAJOR CANINE HEALTH ALERT READ THE INFO BELOW. IMPORTANT

Some of you may have experienced or are just experiencing a flu like bug
that is rapidly moving across the Pacific northwest area. The symptoms
are vomiting, slightly elevated fever for 48-72 hours and a lack of
appetite for about a week. This virus is highly contagious and spreads
through kennels like wildfire. While seemingly innocuous to young adults
and older - this virus is now killing young baby puppies. While I do not
wish to mention the kennel - almost half of a litter was lost yesterday.
One of the kennels dogs came up California with the flu - gave it to the
other kennel dogs - they had absolutely no contact with mom and the
puppies - the virus was transmitted on the bottoms of shoes, momma dog
got it and 3 out of 8 puppies were lost this week. Autopsy said that the
virus caused massive e-coli infection in the puppy body cavities.

Our vet recommends that absolutely no contact be made to new puppies at
this time, use bleach or parvisol on shoes and anything that will cause
an outside contact to the puppies. We are attempting to obtain stool
samples to isolate this virus so that some defense can be mounted to it.
Please be very very very careful for your puppies - this one is a very
bad one and again - spreads like the flu.

I've heard about this canine illness before. Also heard about it last
week--it supposedly has been spreading all over West Coast in
particular. I didn't know that people could get it, too.

We should all be very careful coming back into our homes from dog shows.

Disinfect shoes, etc. Wash dogs paws and don't bring show equip into
house (including crates--until they are disinfected). Maybe even isolate
show dogs for l-2 days till incubation period over. I know this sounds
like a lot to do--I do this most of the time anyway and it's a b###h.
But this illness is a real bummer and it's probably better to be safe
rather than sorry with this one.

Subject: Print this Out and keep this is important..and also go to
links..Ok

I got this one yesterday and though that it was IMPORTANT to get this
out to as many of you as possible. Early detection is a good thing.

Here are some answers to the latest outbreak of what's being called a
flu like illness in Dogs. ANYONE who owns a dog or does rescue, I urge
you to PLEASE read the following.

I found more info about the doggy 'flu' on my corgi list. I pray that no
one on this list has had to deal with this on a first hand basis.

This "flu" was rampant last April after the Bernese National & hit
entire kennels from the East to the West coast.

The name of this infection is "Campylobacteriosis."

Definition: Campylobacteriosis: acute diarrhea in puppies runs course in
seven to ten days ***can cause a severe enteritis in humans.

There is a webpage with information http://www.aone.com/~skylok1/health.html#DOG
SHOW CRUD For more on
this disease http://www.mednets.com/campylobacteriosis.htm

It's a bacterial imbalance in the digestive tract. Will sometimes test
low positive for Parvovirus. It is BACTERIAL. It is NOT a new form of
Parvo.

Mode of infection: widely varied, but mostly from contact with urine,
feces, something brought in on shoes, etc. Symptoms start 12- 48hrs
after initial contact (usually) & spread to other dogs rapidly.

Dogs are alert, hungry, energetic. Normal feces starts with mucus sheath
& continues to get progressively softer until it is watery & contains
blood. It then becomes explosive. Vomiting may accompany & may or may
not also contain blood. Feces have a sweet/flowery aroma along with a
"slaughterhouse on a summer day" smell (similar to Parvo diarrhea but
with a floral hint). Feces are *usually* mustard colored. Dogs dehydrate
at an astounding rate. Dogs are also at risk of intussusceptions.

What is happening is that there is a bacterial growth in the digestive
tract which throws it off balance. The body is trying to counteract this
by removing the extra (or offending) bacteria. It seems to do this by
trying to remove ALL body fluids as quickly as possible. Death is caused
by massive dehydration. This can occur as quickly as 12hrs or continue
for a few days. The younger the dog, the worse it is. Some dogs may
never get it, even though they may be kenneled with an afflicted dog.
Some dogs also get over this without treatment.

The key is to treat this as fast as possible before the dogs go anorexic
AND to treat ALL dogs on the premises (non-afflicted dogs should get ONE
capsule). Treatment is 250 mg Cephalexin per 25lbs of body weight.

Pups may get Ceph-drops. This MUST be given orally NOT I/V - it MUST go
thru the digestive tract (I don't know WHY it works this way, but it
does). If the dog vomits the pill up, just give it again until it stays
down. Give another dose approx. 12hrs later. If the dog returns to
normal DO NOT medicate again. It's important NOT to run a full 10 day
course of this drug as it has (in the past) caused the bacterial balance
to go the other way. If needed, give medication for 2 more days, or
whenever symptoms reoccur.

If the dogs are massively dehydrated, DO NOT use an IV drip. Their
circulatory system will be very depressed & *if* a vein can be found, it
may not be able to support an IV. Lactated Ringers Solution SUB-Q is
suggested & forcing electrolytes orally. IV rehydration HAS thrown
animals into deep shock (see above). Slow rehydration. Slow slow slow.
Just enough to keep them alive until the *bug* is nipped in the bud.

After the diarrhea has stopped, you can cram the dog as full of fluids
as you want, just not when it is at its most fragile point.

Anorexic dogs have to be tempted to eat again. Rare, bloody, slightly
garlicky & slightly salty beef has worked the best in the past
forgetting the appetites working. Start small. You may have to give
anorexic dogs Nutri-Cal to get them going again. But after they are
cured they *will* begin to eat again.

Do NOT automatically assume Parvo when you see this. Parvo treatments
have killed the majority of Crud dogs. If you suspect Parvo, try the
Cephalexin 1st, if it doesn't work, THEN assume Parvo. Do NOT use
Amoxicillin.

Keflex has worked in the past. Dogs should show improvement within hours
of treatment.

You may reprint this anywhere & everywhere.

posted 12-07-2003 12:11 PM         

From reading the post it is not a "flu" that is going around, it is a bacteria called campylobacter. Campylobacter is in no way related to the flu. The flu or influenza is caused by a virus. Campylobacter is not new, it is a bacteria that is always present and sometimes causes outbreaks. In fact it is one of the most common bacterial causes of diarrheal illness in humans. I don't know the symptoms in animals but most people who become ill with campylobacteriosis get diarrhea, cramping, abdominal pain, and fever within 2 to 5 days after exposure to the organism. The diarrhea may be bloody and can be accompanied by nausea and vomiting. The illness typically lasts 1 week.

It is rarely fatal and people usually recover without antibiotics. The most important treatment is keeping the patient hydrated. Campylobacter would not cause a puppy to become infected with E. coli. That would be coincidental, or what is known as a secondary infection. The puppy was already sick with campylobacter and then became sick with E. coli.

Campylobacter is not transmitted by people's shoes. It is also not spread through urine. It is spread through handling raw poultry or eating raw or undercooked poultry meat. Even one drop of juice from raw chicken meat can infect a person. It can be spread through the feces of an infected person/animal. Outbreaks due to campylobacter are not usually associated with raw poultry but are usually related to drinking unpasteurized milk or juice or consuming contaminated water. People can become infected from contact with the stool of an infected dog or cat.

For more info go to:
http://www.cdc.gov/ncidod/dbmd/diseaseinfo/campylobacter_g.htm