What it is
These bacteria live all over the outdoors, in soil, water and dust, and a healthy immune system deals with them without anyone noticing. In a dog whose defences cannot contain them, the bacteria settle inside the very immune cells meant to destroy them and travel with them through the body. They take hold in the lymph nodes, gut, liver, spleen and bone marrow, causing slow, spreading inflammation.
Some dogs inherit a weakness in this part of the immune system; others become vulnerable because another illness has worn their defences down. Either way, the bacteria are not the unusual part: the dog's ability to fight them is.
Because the illness creeps in over weeks and its signs are vague, a dog may simply seem off: tired, picky at mealtimes, thinner under your hand. Quiet days, a warm resting place and your close attention to changes help your vet see the whole picture.
Signs you may notice
- Tired and listless
- Poor appetite
- Losing weight
- Runs a fever
- Swollen lymph nodes
- Diarrhoea or vomiting
A dog may become listless, lose appetite and weight, and run a fever, and you may feel enlarged lymph nodes while stroking them. Some dogs develop diarrhoea or vomiting.
When to see a vet
Book a visit if your dog loses weight, eats less or seems tired for more than a few days, or if you feel lumps under the jaw, in front of the shoulders or behind the knees.
This is general information, not veterinary advice. For your own dog's health, tests and treatment, see a vet.