New pseudo-rage detected in wild boar - risk of infection for dogs and cats

Aujeszky's disease detected in wild boar: danger to dog and cat

In Lower Saxony, Aujeszky's disease (AK) has been detected in a wild boar. For humans, the disease, which is also referred to as "pseudo-rage", apparently harmless. But for dogs and cats, an infection always ends fatally.

Pseudowut in southern Lower Saxony

In the district of Northeim (southern Lower Saxony) Aujeszky's disease (AK) has been detected in a wild boar. The disease, which is also referred to as "pseudo-rage" is, according to the current state of knowledge for humans harmless. For dogs and cats, however, the infection is deadly.

A boar in Lower Saxony has been found to be infected with Aujeszky's disease. In dogs and cats, the disease, which is also called pseudo-rotting, takes a fatal course. (Image: creativenature.nl/fotolia.com)

Danger to pets

According to a report from the district of Northeim, Aujeszky's disease (AK) was first detected in a wild boar from the district of Wollbrechtshausen in the district of Northeim.

The presence of the infectious disease in wild boar also means a danger to domestic pigs.

In addition, the viral disease can affect dogs and cats.

"In these species, an infection is always deadly! The carnivores can get sick by ingesting blood or raw meat from infected pigs, "the statement said.

"For humans, however, the virus on the current level of knowledge is safe, so there is no danger from the consumption of processed and durchgegarten wild boar products," reported the veterinary office at the district Hässberge (Bavaria) years ago.

Intense itching

Dogs get sick a few days after the infection. Significant sign of disease is an intense itching.

The four-legged animals scrub, lick and scratch themselves and add deep skin wounds. In addition, difficulty swallowing occurs, causing foamy saliva in front of the mouth.

It can also lead to food denial and paralysis.

"The illness can be similar to rabies," writes the Lower Saxony State Office for Consumer Protection and Food Safety (Laves) on its website.

Avoid contact with wild boars

"To protect against infection with the causative agent of Aujeszky's disease, dogs and cats should therefore only be fed with fully cooked meat from domestic and wild boars," Dr. Siegfried Orban, Head of Food Monitoring and Veterinary Services, Northeim County.

Contact with infected wild boar and parts of killed animals also pose a risk of infection to dogs.

In order to prevent possible contact with wild boars and thus an infection, dogs should be leashed in the forest and field, or where boars live, for safety's sake. (Ad)