Dog with kala-azar: 5 questions and answers about canine visceral leishmanione
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One of the biggest concerns of dog guardians is the existence of some silent disease that can seriously compromise the health of the animal. This is the case of canine visceral leishmaniasis, also known as kala-azar. Although there is a vaccine for leishmaniasis in dogs, it is not able to protect the pet 100%: the repellent collar and the cleaning of the environment are fundamental to keep the animal healthy.But how to identify this disease? What symptoms can it cause in dogs and people? Is Calazar curable? Read on and find out!
What is kala-azar?
Calazar is the most popular name for canine leishmaniasis, a disease caused by a protozoan of the genus Leishmania that is transmitted by the bite of a straw mosquito to a dog. As it is a zoonosis, humans can also end up contracting calazar in the same way as dogs: through contact with an infected mosquito. However, the disease is not transmitted between dogs, nor between a dog and a mosquito.dog and a person.
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When a dog has kala-azar, it experiences a series of symptoms that can easily be confused with other less serious diseases and make diagnosis difficult. Lesions that do not heal, skin peeling, exaggerated nail growth, weight loss, muscle atrophy, inflammation of blood vessels, livers, enlargement of the spleen and liver and eye problems such as conjunctivitis.
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What about the symptoms of kala-azar in humans?
Chalazar disease causes irregular fevers for weeks, suppresses appetite (leading to weight loss and anemia), causes diarrhea, paleness and a constant feeling of weakness. More intense symptoms include enlargement of the liver and spleen, bleeding from the mouth and intestines, complications in the respiratory system and bone marrow involvement.
Can photos of a dog with kala-azar help identify the problem?
When looking for pictures of dogs with canine visceral leishmaniasis, you will find images of dogs with hair loss in various places on the body, flaking muzzle and skin ulcerations. These are the apparent signs of kala-azar, but they can also refer to other diseases, such as dermatological allergies, for example.
The symptoms of kala-azar can remain hidden for a long time in infected dogs, as the incubation time of the disease can be from three months to six years. There is an estimate that 60% of dogs have kala-azar, between diagnosed and undiagnosed. So don't wait for any physical signs to appear to seek help!
Is kala-azar curable?
No, there is no cure for canine visceral leishmaniasis! Veterinarians can recommend medications that will give a much better quality of life to a dog infected with canine visceral leishmaniasis, alleviating its symptoms so that the animal has a better quality of life. But for that, it is important to get the correct diagnosis. If canine visceral leishmaniasis is not treated, the dog's health can be complicated. In addition, if a mosquitoIf a healthy dog bites an infected dog, a new cycle of the disease can begin. Regular visits to a veterinarian, even if nothing different has been noticed in the animal's behavior, are essential for the control and prevention of this and other diseases.
