Toxic Shock Syndrome in Dogs
Toxic Shock Syndrome in dogs is a serious infection that can lead to death in as little as six hours. It is the result of an infection caused by a bacteria. Infected dogs need to be treated right away. Once the infection gets to a certain point, there is no effective method to save the dog.
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Definition
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Toxic Shock Syndrome (TSS) is the result of an infection caused by Streptococci. This bacteria is known for its ability to cause septicemia (blood poisoning) in puppies. It also causes a wide range of infections in adult canines.
Symptoms
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Infected dogs are usually found laying down on their side, and are either too weak to move or experience rigidity with mild convulsions. At an early stage, vomiting may occur along with rapid and uncontrolled muscle twitches. Dogs with TSS will usually have a very high temperature, greater than 105 degrees F.
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Treatment
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Injectable antibiotics such as clindamycin or crystalline penicillin-G need to be administered right away. Once the infection is too far along, antibiotics and shock therapy will not be enough to save the dog.
Prevention
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As of summer 2009, there is no vaccination available for TSS. Typically, dogs are healthy prior to the infection and become sick within hours. The only way to prevent such an infection is to increase owner awareness of TSS so that immediate antibiotics can be administered.
Misconceptions
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TSS can be mistaken for poisoning, since the symptoms are similar in both cases.
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