Plague in Dogs
Plague in Dogs - Symptoms, Causes, Diagnosis, Treatment, Recovery, Management, Cost
What is Plague?
Plague is a serious disease that may spread from dogs to humans. Many dogs do not exhibit clinical signs of the condition, but if your dog is behaving strangely, and if you know you live in an area where plague is endemic, visit the veterinarian immediately. Measures will need to be taken as soon as possible to prevent transmission of the disease.
Plague is a disease that is transmitted by rodents or fleas infected with the bacteria Yersinia pestis. Though plague is rare in dogs, it can be fatal and should be addressed immediately to prevent transmission from dog to human. Antibiotics are typically administered prior to a definite diagnosis, as the disease can progress rapidly.
Plague Average Cost
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Average Cost
$2,800
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Symptoms of Plague in Dogs
Dogs that contract plague are less likely to develop clinical illness and are often asymptomatic. If they do show clinical signs of the disease, these will be nonspecific and may include:
  • Lethargy
  • Fever
  • Loss of appetite
  • Swollen lymph nodes
Types
There are three forms of plague, any of which may affect your dog.
  • Bubonic plague - The most common form of plague. It affects the lymph glands and exhibits as swollen lymph nodes.
  • Pneumonic plague - Occurs when Y pestis infects the lungs, which typically leads to pneumonia and which is highly contagious.
  • Septicemic plague - Blood infection in which the bacteria multiply in the blood.
Causes of Plague in Dogs
The bacteria Yersinia pestis is the direct cause of the plague, which is commonly found in rodents (rats, mice, squirrels, hamsters) and in the fleas that feed on them. When a dog comes into touch with an infected rodent’s saliva, feces, or tissue, he becomes exposed to Y pestis. A dog may also contract the disease if bitten by an infected flea. Dogs that live in regions where Y pestis is endemic, such as in the rural west of the United States, are at higher risk for plague. In these areas, it is recommended that you keep your dog indoors or on a leash when outside.
Diagnosis of Plague in Dogs
Because the symptoms for plague are nonspecific, the veterinarian may not suspect plague immediately. Provide the veterinarian with a complete history during the initial examination, including the onset and extent of any clinical signs you observed. The veterinarian will perform a meticulous physical examination and conduct blood tests and urinalysis to eliminate other possible conditions as a cause for your dog’s symptoms.
Plague is typically diagnosed by detecting Y pestis in your dog’s blood or tissue. Samples may be obtained through a lymph node aspirate, whole blood test, or a swab of a draining lesion. These cultures are most effective if they are taken before any antibiotics are administered, though tests should still be conducted even if your dog has already been given medication. By identifying the specific organism, the veterinarian is better able to prescribe appropriate treatment. Samples will be sent to an associated laboratory for testing due to the risk of animal-to-human transmission.
Treatment of Plague in Dogs
Treatment is typically started before a definitive diagnosis is made, as the disease can progress very quickly. The veterinarian will administer different antibiotics depending on the extent of your dog’s illness. Possible drugs that may be prescribed include:
  • Streptomycin
  • Gentamicin
  • Doxycycline
  • Tetracycline
  • Chloramphenicol
Because there is a risk that the plague may transfer from your dog to you, your dog will need to be hospitalized during the infectious period if the veterinarian suspects that he has the plague. The incubation period for plague in dogs ranges from one day to one week. Antibiotics will most likely be injected, though once your dog shows signs of clinical improvement, the veterinarian may recommend administering medication orally.
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Recovery of Plague in Dogs
Plague is a zoonotic disease, and although dog-to-human transmission is rare, it is still possible. This is why it is vital that you limit contact with your dog during the infectious period. Once the plague diagnosis has been confirmed, the veterinarian will keep your dog hospitalized until your dog has recovered sufficiently to reduce the risk of transmission.
If you live in an area in which Y pestis is endemic, make sure that you apply flea control medication regularly and that you not allow your dog to roam freely, as otherwise your dog may be reinfected. Limit your dog from coming into contact with wild rodents or their burrows, and contact your local public health officials immediately if you suspect that your dog may have contracted the plague.
Plague Average Cost
From 4 quotes ranging from $2,000 - $5,000
Average Cost
$2,800
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Plague Questions and Advice from Veterinary Professionals
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Chihuahua
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Coco
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7 Years
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2 found this helpful

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My dog caught a ground squirrel yesterday and got a flea from it. I put on k9 advantix immediately. Now she is acting weird, crawling behind furniture etc. also anorexic this evening and continually shivering. Temp is normal 102.4 My question is how long before symptoms of plague after being bitten by an infected flea or is this possibly a reaction to the flea/tick fighters? No vomiting so far. No swollen lymph nodes.
May 27, 2018
2 Recommendations
The incubation period for plague may be as long as seven days, but symptoms usually present within one to four days; the behavioural changes may be in response to the flea medication as some dogs have some side effects after administration. Monitor Coco for the time being and visit your Veterinarian if you have further concerns. Regards Dr Callum Turner DVM www.msdvetmanual.com/generalized-conditions/plague/overview-of-plague
May 28, 2018
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Mixed
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Loki
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7 Years
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My pet has the following symptoms:
None It Happened Today
My dog sniffed a dead prairie dog his nose touched its skin is he at risk for the plague? He didn’t eat it and he didn’t bite it all he did was sniff it. It happened today and he seems fine but I heard that symptoms occur 3 days after.
April 2, 2018
0 Recommendations
The majority of cases of plague (Yersinia pestis) are from being bitten by an infected flea, other modes of transmission are possible including coming into contact with bodily fluids or inhaling infected droplets after an infected person or animal has coughed (rare). Below is an article by the CDC (Centers for Disease Control) on the plague in the United states; if you have any concerns contact your Veterinarian. Regards Dr Callum Turner DVM www.cdc.gov/plague/transmission/index.html
April 2, 2018
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Yorkshire Terrier
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Prince
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17 Years
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My pet has the following symptoms:
Incontenance Lymph
Streptomycin might have been better this Last time, I don’t know of drugs the doxycycline might hurt kidneys already in failure and he had a couple of meshes one replaceing a previous don’t know what happened precisely to him those times! Sever swelling in rump not from hefty! Inability to urinate those times so needing needed got mesh .,Lasix wasn’t given then he didn’t do well seemingly in it got a lot weaker quickly cold then overheat I guess...cat scratched him on face side or neck once think that swelled his neck up due to kitty cat was indiwnstwris akot bathroom no door closed contamination in it and tub! Still enough to infect claws, every thing all added up to my darling if anyone got to him while I was not in house I don’t know would have been easy a loft room no doors to it!...still trying to figure it out, I wanted him to 20 at very Very Least! Thru all trajidies he seemed to suffer and wasn’t a Street Yorky dog he made it to almost 17 I thought he was 18 this August but might only been 17...imagine how long he could have lived it WASNT AGE THAT DID HIM IN Like THEY SAY OR BAD GENETICS AS A YORKY BREED I AM NOT BUYING THAT BS LIES! Just a put off sellout;bulls hit comment ! Excuse for the violent abusers! HE WAS MY SERVICE DOGGIE LOVE POST TRAUMATIC, KIND GENTLY LITLE STUD I DIDNT EVER BREED HUM IR HAVE HUM BRED NOR LEND HIM OUT TO BE BRED HE DIDNT OWE ANYONE BREEDING DOUGH FOR HIS PUPS..I WIOULDNT EVENHAVE GITTEN ONE IR BEEN GIVEN ONE, BUT TOLD GO TO POUND GET A NEUTERED OR SPADED DOG NOT A REGISTERED PEDIGREE I DIDNT INTEND TO EVER BREED HIM EXCEPT IN LATER YEARS LIKE not too older but if healthy pups could been had a litter of two or three only! AND ONE TO BE HIS COMPANION HE WoULD RAISED AND HIMSELF CHOSEN WHICH OF HIS PUPS HE TOOK TO THE MOST AND I WOULD HAVE MORE THAN LIIKELY CHOSEN THAT ONE! HE WAS OLDER WOULDNT HAVE CHOSEN A GIRL TINY PUP NECESSARILY!
March 13, 2018
0 Recommendations
I can understand that this is a traumatic time for you and you were hoping for another two or three years with Prince at a minimum; however without examining him (necropsy), doing some tests etc… I cannot say what the specific cause of the illness is or whether Prince received an appropriate treatment based on liver or kidney function. If you are looking for solid answers you should submit Prince’s body for necropsy by a board certified Pathologist to get a specific cause of death if you believe that the City or other entity is at fault. Regards Dr Callum Turner DVM
March 13, 2018
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Yorkshire Terrier
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Prince
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17 Years
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1 found this helpful

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1 found this helpful

My pet has the following symptoms:
Incontenance Swollen Lymph
Does the neck swell big for awhile like a hamster with full mouth then drip down loosing fullness stretched out sorta when the plague does dog pee incontenance a lot ...does the plague in doggie rot teeth the plague without proper antibiotics ..does testicles on in neutered male dog seem to loose fullness like balls gone but dark spot still there, not swelling in rump from urine that isn’t released thus needing a mesh....Doxycycline as antibiotic does it cause problems if aids might be a threat to dog also if contaminated while sick from decaying broken sewer systems ..I hear some animals have a form of aids but will still keep living properly treated. Two injections given at a vets a week later remaking few teeth seemed sweeeld soft and caulk shreepdding breaking dissolving with pressure not brittle breaking off, though a lot of tartar and few teeth left, they weren’t like that before Lasix and whatever vet gave said his organs were shutting down, I said an antibiotic and some IV a non infected blood transfusion might have also helped him for three or so more years if taking it easy and gentle treatment and soft canned high quality foods I thought , had cataracts she said he was blind he could follow me in a unfamiliar lawn to him I leaves or noisy gravel in shaded light not direct bright sun! So eye drops might have helped and there is a cornea operation might help ...she said he would suffer incontenance and one a lot or potty he was already doing that if antibiotic caused severely incontenence I could have discontinued it! He lost a lot more weight on Lasix and not eating much ...in Like around three days! He urinated akot but was already but had after Lasix and shots not able to pull off his potty pad or walk a little to pad as before vet visit! Any comments! In his or my experience with this, place has had rats a two or three and a lot of mice or tiny rats don’t know difference! Is in New Mexico a lot of plague cases here I hear! Were in place not due to me previous to me ever being around house and yard! A lot in piles four feet high and ten feet wide I guess approximately, Of branches and a separate pile of rubbish wood pile and weed compost with stones piled high nearby it all! And a dug up city septic In front yard by front yard if house dug up in early winter mess overflows in a bathroom needing mucking gross nasty filth from septic system, house wood mess in back of property oh 2/3 or so of an acre..In spring right before they would drain it or fix it might be better than all this time in yard exposed ..I don’t use toilet in house or drain bath was told I could did once and another big mess downstairs I had to much nasty stuff on floor and backed up int he huge tub too the sewer refuse! So I couldn’t drain a tub upstairs like I thought! Guy then said I was to do his laundry he hadn’t done all winter(he is in 80’s) active coming and going driving and all! Do his laundry in washer it would drain it, I refused and I’d it a public laundry! It wouldn’t have drained it into city septic..bummer huh, health codes and all he works with sherries and cops and is a psych and all..shhh that I spoke up...my Yorky is gone he wanted him dead and his 30year old friend of a girlfriend or something punk meanie guybully filthy slob!..all my fault right? How does one break a citynseotic with using bath and washer and doing dishes doesn’t make happen years of heavy equipment do8ng washboard back dirt roads righ three feet from wall of house and lines of pipes shaking cracks in ceiling and walls from years of this they redid some city septic and all that week while they did it a major break down of already bad septic for years, finished it I feel city state road septic owes to fix this septic! Is their fault and responsibility!
March 13, 2018
1 Recommendations
I can understand that this is a traumatic time for you and you were hoping for another two or three years with Prince at a minimum; however without examining him (necropsy), doing some tests etc… I cannot say what the specific cause of the illness is or whether Prince received an appropriate treatment based on liver or kidney function. If you are looking for solid answers you should submit Prince’s body for necropsy by a board certified Pathologist to get a specific cause of death if you believe that the City or other entity is at fault. Regards Dr Callum Turner DVM
March 13, 2018
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Plague Average Cost
From 4 quotes ranging from $2,000 - $5,000
Average Cost
$2,800
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