| Tuberculosis in dogs usually has only one result for | | | | and than a fever. |
| your pet; they are euthanized. This disease was very | | | | From there, depending on the strength of your dog's |
| rare in dogs at one time as they have a natural | | | | immune system, it will either go into remission, or |
| resistance to both forms, but just like in humans, it is | | | | start to advance. If it does advance your dog will |
| starting to resurface again as it has become antibiotic | | | | start to cough, and coughing in dogs is not a normal |
| resistance in most cases. | | | | activity and that alone should alert you that |
| There is no current effective treatment for dogs, or | | | | something is wrong. The next symptoms will be an |
| is there? | | | | increased thirst and than increased urination, followed |
| The very sad part about tuberculosis in dogs is that | | | | by vomiting and diarrhea. |
| although it is a zoonotic disease, meaning it can be | | | | If the infection becomes severe your dog will start |
| shared and transferred between humans and pets, in | | | | to show signs of Jaundice and the gums will start to |
| most of the recorded cases dogs caught the disease | | | | turn yellow. They may also start to cough up blood. |
| from people instead of people catching it from dogs. | | | | If it does get to this severe state, your dog will have |
| This disease has historically been one of the most | | | | little chance of surviving. |
| feared infectious diseases in history, but primarily in | | | | Testing: |
| people. Infected humans show very few initial | | | | There are live tests available for Tuberculosis in dogs, |
| symptoms but an infected dog will show symptoms | | | | but they are not always reliable. They will include |
| and is the first member of the family to be | | | | blood culture to test for elevated white blood cells, |
| diagnosed. As a result and out of fear of safety for | | | | as well as testing with cultures. Most of the detailed |
| the family, the dog is put down. | | | | testing, however, is done in an autopsy after the |
| But it does not have to be that way as it can be | | | | dog has been euthanized. |
| treated in dogs, but very few dogs ever get the | | | | Treatments: |
| chance. | | | | M. tuberculosis is a very slow growing intracellular |
| Types: | | | | organism. As a result it requires the use of multiple |
| There are two types of Tuberculosis; Mycobacterium | | | | drugs for several months. The biggest problem |
| tuberculosis which is the human form, and | | | | currently with treating this disease, even in humans, is |
| Mycobacterium bovis, which is known as the cattle | | | | that it has become drug resistant in many cases. |
| form of the disease. Dogs can become infected with | | | | As a result, there is no real effective treatment for |
| either form of the bacterial infection and although it is | | | | dogs. Or is there and they are just not being used? |
| thought to be primarily a respiratory disease, it can | | | | Most all cases of this infection will involve young dogs |
| also infect your dog's intestines. | | | | or puppies who have not fully built up their immune |
| Most all dogs that become infected with this disease | | | | system or dogs that have a suppressed immune |
| catch it from inhaling the bacteria into their lungs, | | | | system. Instead of simply giving up with this disease, |
| usually by contact with a member of their human | | | | build up your dog's immune system. If they catch this |
| family. It is caused by the bacteria M. tuberculosis. | | | | disease, at least give them a chance instead of |
| The World Health Organization estimates that over | | | | having them euthanized. |
| 13 million people have TB and about 1.5 million die | | | | Your dogs body will need to be strengthened either |
| from it each year, primarily in third world countries | | | | initially or built back up very rapidly by supplements to |
| where there is no treatment. | | | | fight this disease. Your dog's friendly forms of |
| If left untreated, it is fatal. The problem with dogs | | | | bacteria called Lactobacillus acidophilus must be |
| and this disease is that they very seldom have the | | | | supplemented to increase intestinal flora and prevent |
| opportunity to be treated. It almost always affects | | | | this disease from spreading. |
| the lungs, but it can also occur outside of the lungs | | | | Vitamin C will be necessary to support your pets' |
| and will affect the nervous, lymphatic, or | | | | body against the fight with these bacteria by |
| genitourinary systems. It can also affect your pet's | | | | optimizing the immune system. Vitamin B6 will also be |
| bones and joints. | | | | very important in protecting the liver, and Vitamin A |
| And just like people, it usually affects young dogs | | | | will be needed to protect the mucus membranes |
| and immune suppressed dogs. When an infected | | | | from any possible development of jaundice. |
| human or dog coughs or sneezes, the bacterium are | | | | There are also some herbs and minerals that you can |
| spread. People can also spread it simply by talking. | | | | use in protecting your pet from this potential killer. |
| However, repeated contact with an infected agent is | | | | Tuberculosis will strip your dog's bones of silica, a |
| required for these bacteria to actually become | | | | mineral that is required for healthy bones. Both |
| infective. | | | | Calcium and the herb nettle, in a juice form, will build |
| What makes Tuberculosis in dogs also so very sad is | | | | this back very quickly. This herb will be a lot more |
| that only 5 percent of people that are infected with | | | | appetizing for your dog by mixing it with carrot juice |
| the M. tuberculosis bacteria actually will develop TB. | | | | and adding a couple of teaspoons in their food. |
| Instead they have latent TB, do not get sick, and | | | | Summary: |
| are not contagious. | | | | Tuberculosis in dogs has generally had only one |
| Symptoms: | | | | alternative because of the fear factor, and that is to |
| Tuberculosis in dogs may show you some mild | | | | have them euthanized. But in almost every case of |
| systems initially, but again just like in humans, they | | | | this disease, your dog has caught it form someone in |
| can be so vague that you might not notice that | | | | your family or an infected human somewhere. They |
| anything is wrong until it actually advances. The early | | | | are not the cause, they are the victim. |
| symptoms will be a loss of appetite which is naturally | | | | At least give your dog a chance by building their |
| followed by a weight loss, possible night's sweats, | | | | immune system. |