The Listeria Outbreak in South Africa isn’t only affecting humans. It can affect your beloved pets as well so this is what to do to prevent it or treat it.
Listeriosis (or Listeria) is a serious, but treatable and preventable disease caused by the bacterium, Listeria monocytogenes and is widely distributed in nature and can be found in soil, water and vegetation. Furthermore, animal products and fresh produce such as fruits and vegetables can be contaminated from these sources.
The bacterium doesn’t only affect humans, it can affect your dog as well.
Big retailers have already pulled the specific meats and issued a list of precautionary foods that they are recalling and refunding in preventative measures against the listeriosis outbreak in South Africa. These foods need to be disposed of correctly and not fed to any of your animals (writing it down seems weird but people are actually feeding this processed meat to their pets, causing many too get sick).
There is also a warning that has been put out that if your dog eats a raw diet instead of dog pellets, they are at a higher risk of becoming infected. Just as it is in humans, the young and old are more likely to be affected, so if you have a puppy or a senior dog, keep an eye on them.
In dogs, Listeria can be fatal if not treated immediately. These are the symptoms to look out for and should your dog show signs of them, take them to the vet immediately.
- Diarrhoea
- Nausea
- Vomiting
- Weakness
- Fever
- Muscle soreness
- Lethargy
- Stiff neck
- Lack of coordination
- Skin infections
If your dog is taken to the vet for any of these symptoms, be sure to disclose the fact that you either feed your pet a raw diet or that they are given table scraps as both could be causes. Keep an eye out on the websites linked to your dog’s pellets as well because sometimes the dry food can also be contaminated and the suppliers will do a recall.
Your dog’s treatment, should they become ill, will vary depending on the severity of the infection. They may be treated with simple medication or need to be hospitalised for in-depth care.
If your dog is diagnosed, it is important to follow the veterinarian’s exact treatment plan. If the dog worsens, they should be rushed back to the vet soonest. A follow up after the infection should also occur just to confirm that all illness has passed.
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