TO Everyone at PSG: This is legnthy but something that I wanted to pass on to all of you, as it is very interesting and can effect everyone. I have spoken with Dr.Brad Fenwick DVM to reconfirm the truth to this as well. This is something that was forward to me as I have 7 dogs being shown right now, and its just one more thing for all of us to know something about just in case. Have a great day. Marie Hedeman ASH'S-MYSTICAL POODLES > New more invasive strains of streptococci have recently > appeared, resulting in frightening new diseases in both humans > and dogs. Both humans and dogs can develop streptococcal > toxic shock syndrome, with the rapid development of > symptoms of shock, high fever (104 to 107 degrees Fahrenheit), > cough, abnormalities of coagulation and rapid death. In humans, > the mortality rate is estimated at between 60- 80%. In dogs, > it may be even higher as the course of the disease is so > rapid that a dog may be killed in as little as 1 to 4 hours from > development of the first symptoms, so that some dogs are simply > found dead in their runs, houses or yards. It's entirely > possible to leave a healthy dog in the morning and find it > dead when you come home from work. Necropsy, if done, > frequently fails to reveal the cause of death in dogs found dead, > further skewing the statistics. > Treatment of acute CSTSS is often unsuccessful. One veterinarian > in Canada has noted a 50% mortality rate, which seems to be > unusually successful. Those dogs who survive have been treated > with IV antibiotics to which streptococci are susceptible, > particularly Penicillin G and Clindomycin. Clindomycin seems to be > particularly useful in acute cases because it halts the metabolism > of the streptococci, stopping the cascade of toxins responsible for > the high fever, shock and Disseminated Intravascular > Coagulation (DIC). > Dogs can be infected by canine strains of streptococci and > sometimes by human strains. A dog handler with pharyngitis > (sore throat) was thought to be the source of infection in a > Greyhound kennel epidemic in Florida, and a human strain > was isolated from an infected dog in Canada. There are certainly > human "carriers" of streptococci, and according to Brad Fenwick, > D.V.M. of Kansas State University Veterinary School, > there are also canine carriers of virulent streptococci who never > show a symptom. > The portal of entry in dogs usually seems to be the throat and > lungs. The reproductive tract of bitches in season is an open > invitation to bacteria as well. Oddly, streptococcal skin infections > in dogs don't seem to be a problem although this is a frequent site > of entry in humans. This could be because canine skin is > better protected by the fur, because canine skin is simply more > resistant to infection, or because minor wounds or cellulitis are > overlooked because of being covered by fur. > The severe symptoms typical of CSTSS seem to result when the > bacteria invade the bloodstream, producing septicemia and toxemia, > with a cascade of toxins. In humans, the invasion follows the > pattern of classical "blood poisoning" from streptococcal cellulitis > or septicemia from "strep throat," except for being much more > toxic and much quicker. In humans, the disease is about as contagious > as bacterial meningitis, and antibiotic prevention is recommended > for both diseases. > > part 2 of 4 > Part 2 > TRANSMISSION OF CSTSS > The known exposures and transmission factors in Cloudy's > case are as follows, and seem to be fairly typical: > Dog "A", 11 mos old Siberian female was lethargic and vomiting > small amounts (no fever) at about 5pm and was found dead in run > at 6am...necropsy showed nothing. > Two weeks later, on 9-3-99, Dog "B" 2 1/2yr old Siberian female > was housed in the same indoor kennel area, while being shown > at the National Specialty in Portland Ore. Last day at that kennel > was on 9-12-99 and dog was then transported home to another > state. On 9-22-99, Dog "B" became lethargic with vomiting, and > was taken immediately to the local vet. Blood work was negative... > vet sent the dog home on Clavamox for owner to monitor. Dog > vomited up the Clavamox and owner left dog in its crate and > went to work and then to school. Owner arrived home at 10 pm to > find Dog"B" dead in crate. Necropsy showed nothing abnormal, > but noted blood in uterus and vulva. The cause of death in dogs "A" > and "B" has not been definitely established, although Dr. Fenwick > has spoken with dog "B's" veterinarian and both agreed it was > most likely CSTSS. > On 9-12-99, owners of Dog "A" came into physical contact with > Dog "C", 8 mo Siberian male (Cloudy) by examining the puppy's > mouth and teeth. Dog "C" was stricken at about 11:00 a.m. on > 9-23-99. This is where my story comes in. Puppy survived. In > a side note, my puppy (and many others unaffected for that > matter) was exposed to the humans handling both Dogs "A" & > "B" during the week of 9-3-99 through 9-12-99. > Cloudy's case illustrates a typical picture of canine streptococcal > toxic shock syndrome. Cloudy went to the Siberian Husky > National Specialty in Portland, where he is thought to have been > exposed to SCTSS. About 12 days later, Cloudy's owner > took him with her to her work as a vet tech. He was apparently > in good health in the morning, but developed some vomiting and > drooling about 11 a.m. At about noon, he became lethargic, and by > 2 p.m. He developed a fever of 106 degrees, developed > shock and collapsed. He was treated with IV fluids, > dexamethasone and IV antibiotics. While this treatment was > being started he developed a deep, wet cough and signs of DIC > (disseminated intravascular coagulation) in the form of ecchymoses > on the abdomen and penis. With intensive treatment, he improved > and his temperature was back down to 104 degrees by 6 p.m. > And finally became normal by 11 p.m. Since at that time the infectious > agent was unknown, he was put on oral metronidazole as well > as his other antibiotics, to be sure of covering all the bases. > The deep wet cough persisted for three full days. He recovered > much less quickly than he became ill, with persistent weakness > and lack of energy, but was in apparent good health in about > 2 weeks. > part 3 of 4 > Part 3 > RISK FACTORS > Important risk factors in the transmission of CSTSS seem to be: > Crowded conditions, such as racing Greyhound kennels and > conformation dog shows, especially inside and in the fall and winter > months. Conformation dogs are at higher risk than dogs entered > only in performance events. > Hygiene factors, including sharing food and water bowls. Handlers > and judges may transmit the infection by examining/handling multiple > dogs sequentially without washing their hands. Equipment, such > as muzzles used in racing dogs should be kept clean and/or not > shared by multiple dogs. > Close physical contact: Although "social sniffing" and running with an > infected but asymptomatic dog is reasonably safe, jaw-wrestling > and play-fighting is not. Sharing a run with an infected dog is an > important risk factor, as well as water-bowls, bedding, etc. > Crate-swapping and sharing is high risk. Licking of genitalia of > bitch in season by infected male is another high risk factor. Dogs > kenneled in adjacent runs are not at high risk. Dogs licking the > face of a human with a "strep throat" or cellulitis or of a > child with impetigo are definitely at risk. > Stress factors, such as traveling long distances, confinement, > exposure to stressful situations, estrus, etc. may reduce a > dog's resistance to disease > part 4 of 4 > Part 4 > > WHAT YOU CAN DO TO PROTECT YOUR DOG > Avoid exposing your dog as much as possible to the high-risk > conditions above. If you find that one of the dogs to which > your dogs was significantly exposed develops an illness with > shock, collapse and high fever, consult your veterinarian > about antibiotics. > If your dog is entered in a conformation show, crate and groom > the dog outside if possible, or in as well-ventilated an area as is > available. Try to show your dog's bite to the judge yourself, to > minimize the possibility of bacteria being carried down the line of > dogs. Remember, this is an infectious disease, like chicken pox, > and if your dog develops CSTSS it's not a reflection on your > kennel, cleanliness or management. You wouldn't be reluctant to > admit that you yourself had strep throat, after all. > If you don't have a rectal thermometer, get one. > Know the location of the nearest 24-hour emergency veterinary > clinic as well as your veterinarian, and memorize the phone > numbers. > Print out this post or the information in websites and carry a copy in > your car or van. > Watch your dog or dogs carefully, and check them frequently. > Remember, if your dog does develop CSTSS there is no time to > waste, so make as many preparations as possible in advance. > If you or your veterinarian have further questions, or if you think your > dog may have CSTSS, please call: > Brad Fenwick, D.V.M. > Kansas State University Veterinary School > phone: (785) 532-5650 > e-mail: fenwick@vet.ksu.edu > Dr. Fenwick would like information on ANY dog who may have > or have had CSTSS, surviving or not. There is grant money > available for laboratory tests and necropsies. > Contact Dr. Fenwick to find out if you are eligible, exactly what > information , cultures and tissue samples he needs and where > to send it. Dr. Fenwick is interested in speaking to owners and > veterinarians of any dog who may have or have had > CSTSS.

-- Anonymous, March 08, 2000