What Is Canine Botulism

1 How botulism develops and what it looks like

The disease is uncommon, and in nature it follows a dog eating a rotting carcass or feed and water tainted with the toxin. Infection is by mouth, it is seen most in summer, and the incubation period is generally 4-20 hours.

How severe it becomes depends on the amount of toxin taken in and the individual dog’s sensitivity. Early signs are a progressive, symmetrical limb paralysis that usually moves from the hind legs toward the front, ending in all four legs failing while the tail can still wag. Reflexes weaken, muscle tone drops, the pupils widen, and the dog reacts slowly, but body temperature and consciousness stay normal. The jaw droops, swallowing is hard, and saliva drips. In serious cases breathing becomes difficult and the heart races, and death comes from respiratory paralysis.

Post-mortem changes are not distinctive. Confirmation requires detecting botulinum toxin in the suspicious feed, the dead animal’s body, the dog’s serum, or the gut. The disease should be set apart from rabies, pseudorabies, and encephalomyelitis.

2 Treatment and prevention

Antitoxin therapy is given by injecting type C antitoxin. Supportive care includes washing out the stomach, deep enemas, and giving laxatives to clear remaining toxin.

Prevention is straightforward: never feed spoiled meat, and boil feed before it is given.