BRUCELLOSIS (BRUCELLA CANIS) - What we know.....

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Brucella Canis is a zoonotic disease which means it can spread from animals to humans. People in regular contact with imported dogs, Lab staff, vets and vet nurses, kennel and dog daycare staff who handle bodily fluids are at the highest risk of being exposed.

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Brucella Canis travels in reproductive/birthing fluids and tissue, semen (sperm), vaginal discharge (including blood during a season), and milk. It also travels in urine, blood, poo, saliva and nasal discharge.

The most common way for a dog to catch brucellosis is by:

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• Mating with an infected dog.

• Licking/eating/sniffing infected birthing fluids from an infected dog – once an infected dog has given birth or miscarried, she will continue to shed large amounts of Brucella Canis bacteria in her vaginal fluids/discharge for 4-6 weeks.

• Sniffing or licking the genitals of an infected dog, especially female dogs in season.

• Puppies can catch it in the womb or through contaminated milk if their mother is infected.

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Less common (but still possible) ways for a dog to catch brucellosis is by:

• Coming into contact with infected urine or blood.

• Contact with saliva, poo or nasal discharge.

• From an environment that has had infectious material such as birthing fluids or tissue in it. An environment can stay contaminated for several months.

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After a dog is exposed to brucellosis, it can take up to three months for it to show up in a blood sample. So, if it has been less than that since your dog has come into the UK or been in contact with an infected dog, they will need to be retested after three months.

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There has recently been an increase in the number of dogs being diagnosed with Brucella Canis in the UK with three diagnoses pre-2020 and 97 diagnoses in 2023 (to June 2023). Most cases have been in dogs imported into the UK.

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To protect our members of staff and all other dogs that use the Doggy Daycare our Terms and Conditions are as follows: In line with UK Government guidelines, all imported dogs from Europe are tested for Brucella Canis prior to using the Daycare.   This must be a test carried out by an official vet in the UK and be at least 3 months after the imported date.