Symptoms of Tetanus in Dogs:
Dogs There is an incubation period for tetanus infection, which is generally five to ten days, and can be extended to three weeks under special circumstances. If a dog is infected with this disease, the ears will stand up and become stiff, the muscles of the face will contract, and the nictitating membrane will protrude and expose; and even if the dog’s trismus is closed, saliva will flow out, and there will also be difficulty swallowing, changes in breathing rhythm, etc. associated symptoms. Some sick dogs will also have convulsions, and dogs with severe tetanus will eventually die from breathing difficulties.
And the course of tetanus infection in dogs is also very different. In severe cases, it will die within two or three days. There are also cases of tetanus that develop slowly, but most of them will become ill after three to ten days. die. The recovery period can last for a long time, and some dogs can still observe symptoms of inflexibility or muscle stiffness after a month or even two months of treatment. Dogs who also suffer from tetanus also have a poor prognosis and eventually die from difficulty eating.
How is tetanus in dogs treated?
1. Strengthen nursing care: Because the sick dog is afraid of light and sound, the owner should put the dog in a clean and dark environment, and ensure that the surrounding is quiet , If it is in winter, you need to prepare a blanket for the dog to prevent the dog from catching a cold. At the same time, if the dog has difficulty eating, you can feed some easily digestible and nutritious food, and ensure that the dog has enough water to drink.
2. Elimination/cleaning of pathogens: The owner should promptly dispose of foreign bodies and necrotic tissues for the sick dog, and can use 1% potassium permanganate, 3% hydrogen peroxide or 5%-10% Wash and disinfect with iodine tincture, or inject streptomycin near the site of the dog’s injury to eliminate the infection.
3. Solve the problem of convulsions: It is recommended that the owner buy some Bitoan and keep it at home for backup. Bitoan is also known as Duobarbital Tablet. Duobarbital is a commonly used drug for epilepsy, but the drug must be used. Use with caution after the doctor’s advice, because the drug has certain side effects. A tracheotomy may be required under the supervision of a doctor if the dog is already struggling to breathe.
We will share here for the time being what to do about dogs infected with tetanus, hoping to provide some help to friends in need. If you still want to know more about dog diseases, you can click “What are the diseases of dogs” to continue reading.