Can My Dog Get Ebola Virus?

Ebola, which is short for Ebola Hemorrhagic Fever, is a deadly viral infection which has a fatality rate ranging from 50% to 90%. Every day the news informs us about the rapid spread of the infection and I couldn't help but wonder whether or not our dogs are susceptible to the virus, and if so, can it be spread to others.?The Ebola outbreak is currently confined to several African nations and according to the Centers for Disease Control and the World Health Organization, the outbreak poses no significant risk to North America or Europe at this time which is good news. However, it is expected that around 20,000 people will become infected and it will cost about $600 million to fight this virus. Presently, there is no known cure but promising new treatments and vaccines are being developed.?Humans infected by Ebola begin to experience symptoms anywhere from 2 to 21 days after exposure with the first signs being headaches, muscle and joint pain, fever, sore throat, diarrhea, and vomiting. Then the disease progresses, eventually causing kidney failure leading finally to the hemorrhagic stage in which the victim begins to bleed internally and externally. ?Having said all of this, we are still left with the question of which creatures are affected by the Ebola infection. Ebola is a zoonotic disease meaning it is not confined to one species but can be passed to different types of animals. Gorillas, chimpanzees, monkeys and humans appear to be the most adversely affected. Ebola infection has also been found in antelopes, porcupines, rodents, pigs, and yes, in dogs. There have been no documented infections in felines so our domestic cats are safe.?There are a number of ways in which Ebola is spread but the CDC suggested that one means of transmission was through the consumption of infected meat. In Africa, "bush meat", often coming from monkeys and other primates, is a lucrative trade. People who consume bush meat can become infected and spread the disease by direct contact with body fluids. Africans keep dogs as pets and to assist in hunting but they typically do not feed them. The dogs scavenge for food which means possibly eating infected meat or other forms of infected people residue.?The CDC concludes that dogs infected by Ebola are asymptomatic, they do not develop symptoms however in the early phase of the infection they can spread the disease to humans through licking, biting, urine, and feces. Once the virus is cleared from the dog, it is no longer contagious and, no, dogs do not die from Ebola infections. Can your dog get Ebola? The possibility exists but in North America and other areas of the world which are not adjacent to central Africa, chances of contracting the disease is extremely low. Most countries in the developed world have stringent rules concerning sanitation and food production which means that humans and our dogs are protected from this deadly disease.

If you have questions about Ebola contact Dr. Norette L. Underwood of Best Friends Vet Mobile Service and Trumann Animal Clinic at catdoc56@pcsii.com