Streptococcal bacteria can cause illness in dogs and humans. The bacteria generally invades the animal's body through the mouth or lungs. Streptococcal skin infections and blood infections also can occur as a result of the invasive bacteria. Dogs can transmit the strep bacteria through saliva.
Canine streptococcal toxic shock syndrome is a rather rare illness that most veterinarians believe is not transmitted from pet to pet. Studies regarding toxic shock syndrome suggest that it is a reaction to the strep bacteria in individual dogs. Preventing your dog from transmitting streptococcal bacteria to other animals is important to all pet owners.
Instructions
Protect Yourself and Other Pets
Use caution when caring for or handling your pet while it is infected with strep bacteria. Group A strep bacteria can be transmitted from pets to people. It is transferred through saliva and nose secretions. Wash your hands often after handling your pets, touching food bowls or cleaning up excrement or bodily fluids.
Keep your infected pet's food and water bowls away from non-infected animals. Because the bacteria is transmitted through your pet's saliva, sharing of food dishes or water bowls should be strictly prevented. While your dog may seen perfectly healthy, if it is a carrier of the strep bacteria, the other pets in your home could be at risk of developing serious illness.
Administer all medications as prescribed by your veterinarian. The strep bacteria can be eliminated with the proper use of antibiotics. Your dog will need to be given medication over a period of days or weeks to eradicate the bacteria from his system. As is the case with humans, antibiotic treatments must be taken until all of the medication is used. It must also be given in the correct dosages, and at the correct times of day.
Watch for signs of illness. Group A streptococcus can cause a wide variety of illness in humans and pets, from mild sore throats to severe skin infections, and even life threatening illnesses or death. The presence of the strep bacteria should be treated with caution. While some people and animals may show little signs of the illness while infected with the strep A virus, others may react differently. If your pet develops any signs of illness you should contact you vet immediately. Some signs to look for include coughing, sneezing, excessive nose secretions, excessive saliva secretion, loss of appetite and change in behavior.