Prolific vomiting in UK dogs investigated

The Small Animal Veterinary Surveillance Network (SAVSNET) at the University of Liverpool is asking for help to collect data on a potential outbreak of prolific vomiting in UK dogs.

SAVSNET said vets across the country – in areas including Oxford, Burnley, Derbyshire and Liverpool – have reported acute onset prolific vomiting (five or more episodes in a short 12-hour period).

Prolonged lethargy

Affected cases seem to vomit more frequently than is typical for canine gastroenteritis, and can sometimes have diarrhoea and prolonged lethargy.

Dogs usually make a full recovery with routine symptomatic veterinary therapy. No known risk to people exists.

Limit contact

SAVSNET scientists say some anecdotal evidence suggests affected dogs can transmit the disease. It therefore makes sense for owners and vets to handle suspect cases carefully, and limit contact between affected and unaffected dogs.

The organisation added: “Currently, we do not know whether this is part of normal seasonal variation, or whether a specific virus or bacteria is involved. Both vaccinated and unvaccinated dogs can be affected.”

Questionnaire

SAVSNET is now asking vets, nurses and owners to complete an online questionnaire to help them build more data on the suspected outbreak.

The questionnaire is available through the SAVSNET website.

Symptoms

Symptoms are:

• Vomiting – this is unusual in the multiplicity and relentlessness of vomiting, roughly every 10 minutes and the forcefulness of the vomit. Typically, the dog vomits four to eight times. Sometimes the vomiting stops, such as overnight, and then restarts. Often dogs have vomited after taking water at this time. The frequency of vomiting is the feature first noted as being unusual.
• Anorexia/pica – dogs have been reluctant to take food for two to five days. This marked and repeatable clinical sign is unusual in its persistence after vomiting has ceased.
• Lethargy – some dogs have been lethargic (dull) for about two to three days after onset of vomiting.
• Diarrhoea – most, but not all, dogs have had diarrhoea, which can be described as “gravy-like”.
• Other clinical signs – surprisingly, dogs have not been drooling. They have been normothermic on assessment of rectal temperature. However, temperatures have perhaps been towards the cooler end of the normal range. Many dogs have had a slow capillary refill time, but pink mucous membranes. Heart rate and respiratory rate have remained normal for individual dogs based on previous clinical exams. Relaxed abdomen, no tensing. On rectal exam, faeces have been scant, and pasty light brown or normal in colour. No blood has been present.