The Manifestation Of Tetanus In Dogs
Perhaps you’ve wondered if dogs can suffer from tetanus. If so, why don’t we vaccinate them? The answer is that although dogs can suffer from this disease, they are relatively resistant to it. The manifestation of tetanus in dogs is rare, but that doesn’t mean it doesn’t deserve our attention.
Interestingly, humans and horses are highly susceptible to tetanus, while cats are highly resistant.
Causes of tetanus in dogs
The disease arises due to infection with the bacterium Clostridium tetani , which enters the body through wounds. It is important to know that C. tetani is naturally present in some soils.
Despite what many people think, the C. tetani does not lie particularly in rusty metal, but in the dirt of rusty metal. It is helpful to have this information, because we must be careful when hurting ourselves with sharp objects, whether rusty or not.
Thus, it is the dirt that comes from the ground that puts us at risk. Many are also unaware that the bacteria itself does not cause the disease. Tetanus is caused by a neurotoxin called tetanospasmin.
Bacteria enter the body through a wound and at that point the inoculation begins. After a few days of inoculation, the bacterial spores gain an oxygen-deprived environment and begin to produce the toxin. The toxin binds to tissue in the nervous system and causes the classic signs of tetanus.
Another interesting fact is that the bacteria in contact with the animal’s skin or ingested orally does not cause any problems. This bacteria requires environments with low oxygen tension to produce the toxin.
Clinical manifestations of tetanus in dogs
Tetanus symptoms usually manifest between 5 and 10 days after the initial wound. However, in some cases, it may occur as early as three weeks after exposure.
The toxin affects the nerves, spinal cord and brain, which leads to hyperexcitability that causes muscle spasms. In dogs, tetanus can take two forms:
1. Localized tetanus
It is the most common form of tetanus that occurs in pets. Affected dogs develop muscle stiffness in the limb or muscles closest to the wound.
In addition to muscle stiffness, muscle tremors can also occur . Localized tetanus can progress to generalized tetanus over time, although this does not always occur.
2. Generalized tetanus
In this case, larger areas of the body are affected. Animals can walk stiffly, with their tails raised or extended behind them.
These animals can become so stiff that they cannot bend their legs to get up. Many develop what is known as the “saw stand” posture, with all four legs in rigid extension.
The muscles of the face are often affected in generalized tetanus. Many animals develop raised eyelids, a wrinkled forehead due to muscle spasms, and their lips are frozen in an expression called rictus sardonicus , which means “sinister smile.”
The jaws are held rigidly closed, so tetanus is known to lock the jaw. Affected dogs may not be able to swallow, which causes difficulty eating and excessive salivation.
In some cases, tetanus can cause muscle spasms inside the throat or diaphragm – the muscle that controls breathing – which makes it difficult for dogs to breathe.
Many animals with generalized tetanus also develop fever. This fever is usually not caused by a bacterial infection, but rather by the heat generated by constant muscle contraction.
Treatment of tetanus in dogs
The treatment of tetanus consists mainly of general supportive care. This treatment is continued while the dog’s nervous system recovers from the damage caused by exposure to the neurotoxin.
Dogs with widespread tetanus cannot walk. For this reason, they require close medical care. Care includes using soft bedding and frequently changing the animal’s position to avoid ulcers (“bed ulcers”).
Also, in some cases, it may be necessary to feed the dog with a nasogastric or gastric tube.
It is also necessary to provide assistance to empty the bladder and avoid exposing it to stimuli. Keeping dogs in a quiet, dark environment helps reduce the stimuli caused by tetanus seizures.
Recovery can take weeks or even months, but if they receive excellent medical care, many dogs can survive.
There is no tetanus vaccine in dogs
If you notice that your dog has barbed wire injuries, you should be alert immediately. You will probably ask yourself: what now? Shouldn’t he get a tetanus shot?
Unfortunately, no vaccine can be administered in this case. There are several FDA-approved tetanus toxoid vaccines for humans, horses, and sheep, but there is no toxoid vaccine for dogs .
Because tetanus is relatively rare in dogs, sales of a tetanus toxoid vaccine to dogs would likely not offset the cost of developing it by a pharmaceutical company. So it’s no surprise that it hasn’t been developed yet.
Putting economics aside, there are also ethical considerations for vaccine development. To study whether a toxoid vaccine works in dogs, researchers need to infect dogs with tetanus and then treat them.
The infection and resulting illness, treatment and possible side effects of vaccines will cause significant suffering and some deaths in research animals. In general, it does not seem likely that this vaccine will be developed.
What preventive measures can be taken?
Since there is no tetanus vaccine available for dogs, how can you protect your loyal friend from this disease?
First, you must clean any wound thoroughly and carefully. Bites and piercing wounds have a greater risk for the development of tetanus. If your dog suffers from these wounds, consult your veterinarian.
In addition, you can closely monitor your dog’s behavior in case of an open wound. If you notice stiffness at the injury site, don’t wait any longer and see your veterinarian. The faster tetanus is detected and treated, the better your dog’s prognosis.
