Tetanus?

Re: Tetanus?

tess — Tue, 23 Jul 2013 14:29:43 GMT

I've seen one of these which developed tetanus. Dog came in with nasty injury from impaling its thigh on a stick. Despite flushing under GA and antibiotics it came back later with all the classic symptoms which progressed rapidly despite antitoxin, and had to be euthed. Our antitoxin was out of date so we asked the local hospital for some. They couldn't believe the massive dose needed cf humans, and it was only when we faxed them a page from the formulary did they allow is to have it.

Shortly after that I saw a cat with a CBA to its cheek. It had a bit of a "smile" and its ears were rather twitchy so rather than wait for any further symptoms I gave it antitoxin as a precaution. It did ok. One of the older vets confirmed that there were localised placed in the area with had a history of tetanus in the soil.

When we moved to our current location I impaled my hand on soil covered stick when gardening. I phoned the GP to ask if there was a tetanus risk in the area to be told "we don't give tetanus boosters for that , only animal bites" Reassuring or what? Needless to say my boosters are all up to date now.

Re: Tetanus?

Melanie Illingworth — Mon, 22 Jul 2013 21:24:19 GMT

I had a similar case years ago where a Lurcher-type dog had managed to impale himself on a stick. Entry wound was alongside the prepuce with an exit on the opposite side of the dog's perineum. Copious flushing and antibiotics did the job. I think we had placed a penrose drain for a few days too, if memory serves me right.

Re: Tetanus?

Mark Holmes — Sun, 21 Jul 2013 22:02:25 GMT

I saw my first tetanus this year, Staffie - after a puncture wound. It took weeks to resolve but recovered fine.

Re: Tetanus?

emerald — Sun, 21 Jul 2013 21:02:33 GMT

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Re: Tetanus?

emerald — Sun, 21 Jul 2013 21:01:35 GMT

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Re: Tetanus?

emerald — Sun, 21 Jul 2013 21:00:18 GMT

Some pictures...

Re: Tetanus?

Stephen Courtney — Sun, 21 Jul 2013 20:18:57 GMT

We've seen a few cases of canine tetanus, usually from puncture wounds on the feet if we can find a primary site at all.

I think farm vets see more as farm dogs are more likely to exposed. If you have opened and flushed the wound and there isn't a pocket of dead tissue, then tetanus is not likely. Dogs are resistant to it, but they can and do get it, and the 4 cases I've seen all presented very differently in terms of severity, one actually came in with conjunctivitis - because he couldn't blink properly, one came in with nothing more stiff gait, and one got carried in like a wooden toy, the only classic case I've seen!

Re: Tetanus?

Miriam Lodewyks — Sun, 21 Jul 2013 19:54:25 GMT

No, not something I would be really be worried about. C.tetani only produces toxins in anaerobic conditions and I believe dogs are not all that susceptible. I'd be more concerned about general tissue necrosis and bacterial infection.

Re: Tetanus?

Michael Woodhouse — Sun, 21 Jul 2013 19:16:51 GMT

Your local farm or equine vet will have it in.

Should have decent drainage and not a 'traditional' tetanus wound. Not something I'd give.

Re: Tetanus?

Joyce Whitehead — Sun, 21 Jul 2013 18:32:39 GMT

Tetanus antitoxin is licensed in dogs, I have used it in similar situations.