Pseudorabies is a fatal disease for dogs caused by the Aujeszky virus. The virus, named after the Hungarian doctor Aladár Aujeszky, appears relatively frequently in domestic and wild pigs. It is transmitted when raw pork is fed to dogs. The virus is not transmitted from dog to dog, and humans and primates have not been infected to date.
The virus can occur in pigs without causing the associated disease. At the same time, these same pigs can transmit the virus, which makes pseudorabies particularly insidious. The symptoms appear very quickly because the Aujeszky virus has a direct effect on the brain and spinal cord in the form of inflammation. The result is behavioral changes that are very reminiscent of rabies - hence the name pseudorabies. The dog then suffers from apathy, loss of appetite, excessive salivation and tends to bark or whine nervously. In addition, the infection is often accompanied by severe itching.
There is currently no known treatment method for pseudorabies, which is why the disease is always fatal in dogs. This often happens within just 48 hours of the first symptoms appearing. This makes prevention all the more important when dealing with pseudorabies. As soon as the Aujeszky virus is detected in Germany, it must be reported. This measure means that the domestic pig population in Germany is considered to be free of pseudorabies. However, its spread in wild boars is still unknown.
So if you go for a walk in forests where wild boars live, make sure to keep your dog on a leash so that he stays away from other animals or carrion. In addition, raw pork is considered dangerous for dogs by default, which is why other animal species are used, especially in BARF .
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