[ SHOWGSD-L ] botulism in dogs is usually fatal...and it's not from a raw diet

From: "Peggy" <pmick12@xxxxxxxxxxx>
To: "showgsd-l" <showgsd-l@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
Date: Wed, 07 Mar 2012 22:31:06 -0500
Read this on Facebook tonite.......a friend of a friend just lost her beautiful 
Dalmatian to this awful, freaky, thing........
We all know our dogs love dead and decaying things............sometimes to roll 
in, sometimes to taste...
don't let them do it!!
This is so sad...I'm sharing in hopes of preventing any other dogs from 
dying...and saving owners from the
heartbreak .......

btw - this was a young, beautiful and healthy dog........

Peggy

Botulism is a disease caused by clostridium botulinum, a bacteria found in 
soil. Clostridium botulinum release a toxin that has a debilitating effect on 
humans and pets. This toxin can be found in decaying animals and plant 
materials, so dogs that spend a lot of time outdoors or that hunt can be 
especially susceptible.


Onset of symptoms
    The effects of botulism in your dog would be likely to appear between 12 
and 36 hours after your dog was exposed to the bacteria's toxin. This span is 
much shorter than in humans, so it may be easier to diagnose if you know your 
dog has recently consumed a decaying carcass or rotting plant materials. The 
recent diet of your dog will be important information to share with your 
veterinarian when diagnosing your dog's illness.


Symptoms
    Symptoms of botulism include paralysis of limbs, difficulty breathing, 
shallow breathing, difficulty swallowing and paralysis in the dog's facial 
features. These symptoms are similar to other forms of infections and diseases 
in dogs, so your veterinarian may have to run additional tests before 
diagnosing the disease.


Treatment
    Once a dog has been diagnosed with botulism, the only type of care 
available is supportive. The dog must be cared for in an animal hospital or by 
experienced care-takers for several weeks until his or her body begins to 
function normally again. Unfortunately, many pet owners are unable to afford 
this type of intensive care and the dog must be put to sleep.
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[ SHOWGSD-L ] botulism in dogs is usually fatal...and it's not from a raw diet

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