Thread: Tetanus in dogs - a warning story

After about a year of having a break after our old Lab was put down last March, we finally got sorted to get a new pup. We went for an SPCA rescue pup at the local and ended up with this cute little girl.

She was coming along great. Settling down nicely. Eager to learn. Happy to chill out on her own in the garden which was awesome. We both work at home so she had a good mix of play/learning sessions and then time to nap or just hang out by herself.
A bit over a week in we could tell something wasn't right. One eye was wanting to close up a bit and she wasn't eating with that side of her mouth. So off to the vet to look for maybe a sting, or wound in her mouth or sore tooth. Nothing found. The next day, both eyes were now a bit narrowed and her back legs were getting quite stiff. Struggling to get food down but still with an appetite.
Off to another vet who took one look at her and said that's tetanus. Onto a drip to try and kill the infection. The next day she was still happy wagging her tail but the paralysis had spread further and one front leg was now stiff and she couldn't get up on her own. Vet thought there was still hope but I was pretty sure that only a bit more toxin floating around was probably going to get to her breathing and that'd be it. She died that night.
Pretty gutted. Just really unlucky I guess. Still only 13 weeks so hadn't had all her shots etc. Vet couldn't find any external wound where the infection could have gotten in. I had noticed a healed up small wound on the inside of her rear foot. Maybe that was the entry point. We'll never know.
Nobody we've spoken too had ever heard of a dog going down with tetanus. So, something to look out for.

Our poor 7yo daughter is still pretty upset. We're going to be on the lookout for another pup pretty much right now. She's at an age where she can be involved in bringing it up and having lots of fun with it. Dad still would quite like a companion on the odd back country trip. Not necessarily an actual deer dog, but who knows.

Anyone with bitzer/family friendly breed pups anywhere near Taranaki feel free to drop me a line if you have anything spare looking for a home that might be suitable. Really after a puppy this time rather than a mature dog. Although the way things seem to be, puppys are still pretty much in demand.

Take care.