Aujeszky's disease (pseudorabies) is a fatal disease caused by the so-called Aujeszky virus. This virus was discovered by the Hungarian doctor Aladár Aujeszky and is primarily found in wild and domestic pigs. Dogs can get Aujeszky's disease if they are fed raw pork. For this reason, no pork is found in BARF dog food . If a dog is infected, it cannot transmit the virus to a second dog. In addition, humans are not yet known to be infected by Aujeszky's disease.
Aujeszky's disease is particularly insidious because pigs can transmit the virus without showing the corresponding symptoms. In dogs, the symptoms include loss of appetite, apathy, severe itching and excessive salivation. In addition, there is repeated nervous barking or even whining, which makes Aujeszky's disease in dogs very similar to rabies. This is why the disease is also called pseudorabies.
The symptoms are triggered because the Aujeszky virus causes inflammation of the brain and spinal cord. A treatment method for this pseudorabies has not yet been researched. This is why every known case has ended fatally - usually within just 48 hours. Prevention is therefore very important. If the virus is detected, it must be reported immediately. Thanks to this measure, German domestic pigs are considered free of Aujeszky's disease. However, its spread among wild boars is unknown.
