A Nanaimo veterinary clinic has launched an investigation after flesh-eating disease was detected in six dogs brought into the animal hospital over a period of several months.
Dr. Catherine Daniel said the dogs were taken to Central Island Veterinary Emergency Hospital between October and April with necrotizing fasciitis. At least five died or were were euthanized. The owners of the sixth dog did not give the clinic permission to release information about the outcome.
“It’s rapidly fatal,” Daniel said. “A lot of patients will die or be euthanized because of the severity of their condition within 24 to 48 hours.”
Daniel emphasized that the disease is extremely rare given how many animals are treated there each day. “The only reason we are raising the alarm is because we are seeing more cases than is normal.”
Necrotizing fasciitis — which can also occur in humans — is a bacterial infection that typically enters the body through a cut, scratch or wound. The disease begins with painful swelling and spreads rapidly, killing tissue as it moves through the body.
Surgical amputation, flesh removal and aggressive medication are typical treatments, but the Centre for Disease Control reports a death rate of 24 to 34 per cent in humans. Because it is so rare, the death rate in dogs is unknown, Daniel said.
But it’s highly unlikely that a dog could pass the disease to a human, she added, since it’s caused by an animal-specific bacteria — Group G streptococcus bacteria.
This “commensal organism” is commonly cultured from healthy dogs and cats, existing in their skin and gastrointestinal tracts.
But it’s an opportunistic pathogen, Daniel said, causing disease or infection when the right opportunities are present. Because incidents of necrotizing fasciitis are so rare, veterinarians aren’t sure exactly what factors are creating the right environment for the disease.
“Even if it gets under the skin by a wound, it doesn’t always cause necrotizing fasciitis,” Daniel said. “It’s still extremely rare. Every person whose dog scratches itself on a stick — it’s highly unlikely it will develop necrotizing fasciitis.
“But because we’ve had this uptick in cases, we’re trying to investigate: Is there a reason we’re seeing more?”
The Nanaimo clinic sent out warning letters to other clinics in the region, and has compiled case reports for the Canadian Animal Health Surveillance Society, which monitors and reports on animal health information. Daniel is also working with a bacterial infection specialist in Ontario to track bacteria culture and look for any trends.
“It might just be a weird string of cases,” she said. “We might not see another case of this. But six cases in six months is rare.”
Signs of canine flesh-eating disease
Daniel said early recognition and treatment is key.
“The sooner you can identify that that’s what’s going on and aggressively begin doing surgical treatment, the sooner you can get it under control and the more likely you are to save them,” she said.
An early sign of necrotizing fasciitis is significant swelling or edemas — a build up of fluid or protein under the skin. If you push on the swelling, an indent may be left behind.
Immediate veterinary care is needed for any abscess or swelling that spreads rapidly, Daniel said, particularly if the animal is acting sick, lethargic or not eating.
Additionally, a pet may behave as if their leg is broken when they have only a small wound or swelling. “Any kind of pain that seems disproportionate to the size of the wound or the swelling, that should be investigated as well,” Daniel said.
But Daniel doesn’t want to alarm dog owners. She said she still takes her Australian shepherd, Izzy, to the beach and on hikes.
“I don’t want people to panic, but I do want people to be aware that if they’re seeing those symptoms … that they need to get it assessed right away.”
