Symptoms & Treatment of Campylobacteriosis in Dogs - Qu

Characteristics of the Disease

This disease is primarily transmitted through direct contact and is most common in puppies under 4 months of age, often occurring as a secondary infection following parvovirus or salmonellosis. The bacteria responsible can also be isolated from the bodies of cattle, dogs, cats, pigs, sheep, chickens, turkeys, pigeons, and many wild birds in nature.

Clinical Symptoms

The severity of diarrhea symptoms varies, ranging from soft stools to bloody diarrhea. Affected puppies may exhibit loss of appetite, drowsiness, vomiting, and thirst.

Pathological Changes

No characteristic lesions are present, but there may be signs of enteritis, such as hemorrhagic stools in affected dogs. These dogs may show signs of liver congestion, intestinal mucosal bleeding, and ascites.

Differential Diagnosis

1. Canine Campylobacteriosis vs. Canine Parvovirus Infection

Both conditions present with symptoms like fever, vomiting, diarrhea, bloody stools, and dehydration, along with intestinal mucosal congestion and bleeding. The distinction lies in the acute onset of vomiting and diarrhea in parvovirus cases, with foulsmelling, bloody stools, and persistent, stubborn vomiting. Postmortem examination may reveal hemorrhagic intestinal mucosa, enlarged, congested, and hemorrhagic mesenteric lymph nodes, and nonsuppurative necrosis in the myocardium or endocardium.

2. Canine Campylobacteriosis vs. Canine Coronavirus Infection

Both diseases share symptoms like fever, vomiting, diarrhea, bloody stools, dehydration, and intestinal mucosal congestion and bleeding. The difference is that coronavirus cases often have severe diarrhea with stools that can be white, yellow, green, or brown, sometimes explosive. There may be hemorrhagic gastritis and gallbladder enlargement.

3. Canine Campylobacteriosis vs. Canine Hepatitis

Both conditions present with symptoms such as depression, loss of appetite, thirst, vomiting, and diarrhea. The distinction is that hepatitis cases have a higher fever (up to 41°C), clear nasal discharge, photophobia, lacrimation, and corneal opacities (blue eye disease). Liver palpation is painful. Postmortem examination may show a moderately enlarged liver with a brown or bloodred color, friable texture, and ascites that coagulates upon contact with air. The gallbladder wall is thickened and dark red with fibrinopurulent mucosal deposits.

4. Canine Campylobacteriosis vs. Canine Coccidiosis

Both diseases present with symptoms like anorexia, vomiting, diarrhea, and bloody stools. The difference is that coccidiosis cases exhibit progressive weight loss, sometimes with vomiting, pale or slightly yellow mucous membranes. Postmortem examination may reveal white nodules on the intestinal mucosa, containing oocysts. Oocysts can be found in feces using the saturated salt floatation method.

5. Canine Campylobacteriosis vs. Canine Hookworm Disease

Both diseases present with symptoms such as anorexia, vomiting, diarrhea, and bloody stools. The difference is that hookworm cases may have black, foulsmelling stools and a preference for unusual foods. In cases of skin infection, there may be redness, swelling, intense itching, and hair loss after ulceration.

Advice

Based on the epidemiological characteristics, clinical symptoms, and postmortem changes, the disease can be suspected. Laboratory testing is necessary for confirmation.

Preventive Measures

1. Prevention

① Maintain good environmental hygiene and regularly disinfect dog shelters.

② Isolate sick dogs promptly and strictly disinfect feces and the environment. Clean the dogs' food and utensils with running water daily. As the disease can be transmitted to humans, it is important to prevent children from coming into contact with sick dogs.

2. Treatment

The treatment principle is antibacterial and symptomatic therapy.

① Azithromycin: 510 mg/kg body weight, orally, twice daily.

② Erythromycin: 1020 mg/kg body weight, orally, three times daily.

③ Gentamicin: 35 mg/kg body weight, subcutaneous or intramuscular injection, twice daily.

④ Enrofloxacin: 25 mg/kg body weight, orally, subcutaneous injection, or intravenous infusion, twice daily.

⑤ Ciprofloxacin: 510 mg/kg body weight, orally, twice daily; or 22.5 mg/kg body weight, intramuscular injection, twice daily.