Deadly pseudo-rage: two hunting dogs euthanized in the district!

Deadly pseudo-rage: two hunting dogs euthanized in the district!

In an alarming development, two hunting dogs in the Ludwigslust-Parchim district had to be euthanized after they became infected with Aujeszky's disease, also known as pseudorage. This viral disease, which is almost always fatal, particularly in carnivores such as dogs and cats, has roiled the local hunting community. World reported that the dogs probably became infected through contact with wild boars during a hunt. What is worrying is that these wild boars often show no visible symptoms and carry the pathogen with them for life.

The virus is harmless to humans, but the risk of infection between dogs is theoretically a potential danger, even if no such cases have been reported so far. The veterinary office strongly warns dog owners not to feed their animals raw wild boar meat or offal, as this poses the greatest risk of infection. The symptoms of pseudorage are similar to those of rabies and include severe itching, dizziness, restlessness and refusal to feed, and can lead to frightening self-mutilation. NDR adds that infected animals usually die one to two days after the first symptoms appear.

Caution is advised

The hunting dogs in the district were not the first to be affected by this viral disease. According to reports, there are few cases in the region, but Aujeszky's disease is notifiable and widespread worldwide. In Germany, there has been an official exemption from Aujeszky's disease in domestic pigs since 2003, but the pathogen is still present in wild boar populations.

The risk of dogs becoming infected outside of hunting is considered to be very low, but dog handlers should still keep their animals away when opening wild boars. Theoretically, infection can also occur via urine, but there are currently no documented cases confirming this. Hunters are asked to consider every wild boar they kill as potentially infected.

Important information for dog owners

To protect the dogs, veterinarians recommend keeping the animals on a leash when walking in the forest and making sure that their vaccinations are up to date. This year, almost 400 people in Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania have already contracted Lyme disease, which shows that health monitoring is of great importance in the region.

The latest developments surrounding Aujeszky's disease once again show how important it is to pay attention to the health of our four-legged friends and to find out about potential risks. Dog owners and hunters should remain vigilant and take all necessary precautions to protect animals from this dangerous disease.