Canine botulism is a rare neurological disease that can greatly compromise a dog's health. Animals are infected mainly through ingestion of decaying carcasses, spoiled food, raw meat, or garbage with food scraps. The peripheral nervous system is affected and can cause lower motor neuron paralysis. Canine botulism is a very serious type of botulism.food poisoning in dogs which, if not treated in time, can lead to death. To better understand how this dog disease develops and what risks it poses to the dog, we have prepared an article with everything you need to know about it.

What is botulism in dogs?

Botulism in dogs is caused by the toxin from the bacterium Clostridium botulinum It is an anaerobic microorganism (it does not need oxygen to survive), saprophytic (it feeds on decomposing organic matter) and has as its natural habitat the soil, but can also be found in marine sediments. The bacterium produces seven types of botulinum toxin, named from A to G. In humans, types A, B and E are the most common. In dogs, botulism is caused byby type C toxin.

Botulism: dog contracts the disease through feeding

The toxin responsible for botulism in dogs can be present in decaying animal carcasses. When the dog feeds on a contaminated carcass, it becomes infected. This is the most common way to contract canine botulism, but contagion can also happen through eating raw meat and contaminated food scraps. This is a disease that can affect any dog,However, it is important to be careful because in pregnant females, botulism can cause abortion or malformation of the fetus, although this is rare.

Botulism in dogs: how does the infection act on the body?

In order to understand the whole process of botulism development in dogs, it is necessary to understand a little bit about canine anatomy. To begin with, the toxin is absorbed by the stomach and the small intestine. Then it falls into the bloodstream and is distributed throughout the body. It reaches the neuromuscular junctions, which is the synapse area between the motor end of the neuron and a muscle fiber. It is in this area that the toxin is absorbed.communication between nerve and muscle that muscle contractions take place and it is exactly at this place that the canine botulism toxin will act.

The toxin binds to the membrane of the neuromuscular junction via endocytosis and prevents the release of acetylcholine. Acetylcholine is a neurotransmitter - i.e. a chemical produced by neurons that sends messages throughout the body - that is related to dogs' memory, learning and muscle movement.

When the substance of botulism in dogs comes into play, it prevents acetylcholine from being released at the junction between neuron and muscle, causing miscommunication. Because acetylcholine is not released, the movement of muscle contraction is not made, resulting in paralysis. Because this is a progressive, ascending paralysis, it begins in the pelvic limbs and expands to the thoracic limbs.It can also reach the cranial and spinal nerves.

What are the symptoms of botulism in dogs?

The time between infection and the appearance of the first symptoms is less than six days. In some cases, clinical signs appear within the first 24 hours. The severity of each symptom is variable, depending on the amount of toxin ingested by the dog. The most common symptoms in a dog with botulism are:

• Flaccid muscle paralysis: happens because acetylcholine stops being released, causing a lack of stimulus for muscle contraction movement.

• Weakness and loss of muscle tone: Muscle tone is the slight, permanent tension that a muscle has even when stationary. In botulism, the dog loses the strength of the tone. The extreme weakness makes it difficult for the dog to stand up, so it remains in decubitus - that is, lying down.

• Megaesophagus: the oesophagus is the organ responsible for conducting food to the stomach. Canine mega-oesophagus occurs when there is a neuromotor dysfunction that causes dilation, hindering peristaltic movements. As a result, the dog has regurgitation. In botulism, the mega-oesophagus is of the secondary type.

• Weakness in the muscles of the face, jaw and pharynx: when paralysis affects the nerves of these regions, their muscles are also affected, causing excessive salivation (sialorrhea), difficulty swallowing, difficulty eating and decreased eyelid reflex.

• Hyporeflexia: decreased or weakened reflexes.

• Constipation and urine retention

• Paralysis of the diaphragm: can begin with paresis (decreased movement) and progress to paralysis (complete absence of movement). This is the most serious consequence of the disease. The diaphragm is one of the most important muscles in the breathing process. If it becomes paralysed, respiratory arrest occurs and can lead to death.

How is canine botulism diagnosed?

It is very difficult to diagnose botulism in dogs. Since the disease is not transmitted by the bacteria itself, but by the toxin, it is more complicated to find it in a sample. Diagnosis is mainly made by analyzing the symptoms and the animal's history of eating carcasses, Canine botulism is confirmed by laboratory tests to find the toxin in serum, feces or vomit,If the disease has already caused problems such as canine megaesophagus and urinary or respiratory infections, it is necessary to seek help as soon as possible to carry out more specific tests, such as radiographs.

Botulism in dogs: supportive treatment is most appropriate

Once the diagnosis is confirmed, many owners wonder how to treat botulism in dogs, but the truth is that there is no specific treatment for the disease. Generally, the best thing to do is to perform supportive treatment to control the symptoms, which helps the dog to recover more quickly.

If the toxin ingestion was recent, gastric lavage can be done as part of the treatment. If the disease is in its early stages, laxatives can also be administered, which will help in removing the toxins that have not been absorbed. It is also worth noting that the use of antibiotics can be prescribed by the veterinarian, as they serve as a remedy for botulism in dogs. In addition,manual compression on the bladder is essential to help the animal recover.

Caring for the dog that has suffered from canine botulism is also essential in this process. To begin with, it is extremely important that the dog that is lying down for a long time is in a padded place. He also needs decubitus change, that is, changing his position while lying down, to avoid a respiratory infection. To help in the recovery of movements, thephysiotherapy is very indicated, and during this period the guardian should assist the patient in feeding. It is worth remembering that the neuron endings need to regenerate throughout the treatment and this occurs slowly.

It can take one to three weeks for the dog to fully recover if you follow the treatment correctly. Botulism in dogs does not leave sequelae, but the dog is not immune. Therefore, avoid letting your dog walk in places that may have animal carcasses and eat raw food.