Leishmaniasis

RE: Leishmaniasis

Emily Rainbow — Sat, 25 Feb 2017 17:02:39 GMT

We see alot of imported dogs. Many of which will not routinely test as the rehoming rescues have tested once and they were -ve!!!!

RE: Leishmaniasis

Utlendigur — Sat, 25 Feb 2017 13:52:08 GMT

[quote user="Sarah Keir"]

Iceland isn't in the EU

[/quote]

It is in the EEA

RE: Leishmaniasis

Sarah Keir — Sat, 25 Feb 2017 13:42:18 GMT

Iceland isn't in the EU

RE: Leishmaniasis

Utlendigur — Sat, 25 Feb 2017 12:24:43 GMT

I think it is yet another example of how poorly designed the PETS scheme is. Many of these rescues are importing these dogs on a commercial scale - they are not people travelling with the family pet - not to mention all those E European puppy farms. Tick treatment stopped. Tapeworm treatment watered down. Poor checking of animals at borders (eg Dogs Trust fluffy toy) Nothing to prevent people deliberately and knowingly importing dogs with diseases that are currently not endemic in the UK. It can't just be EU/EEA rules because Iceland still manages to maintain a 6 week quarantine requirement (plus screening tests).

RE: Leishmaniasis

Sammy82 — Sat, 25 Feb 2017 11:32:02 GMT

Maybe an estimate of how much these drugs will cost over the dogs lifetime + consultations and blood tests might put the client off?

RE: Leishmaniasis

Sarah Keir — Sat, 25 Feb 2017 10:48:29 GMT

And potentially zoonotic - low risk unless immunosuppressed but that would include young children and the elderly, anyone on steroids, having chemotherapy, post organ transplant...

Treatment for life to control the disease but never cure.

And have the met the dog - it may not be that well or even a nice dog!

RE: Leishmaniasis

Matt Hilary — Fri, 24 Feb 2017 16:09:41 GMT

Agreed - irresponsible. I've seen a number of clinical leishmaniasis cases already this year imported from Europe (either with owner or from rescue centres).

Recent article in BSAVA Companion suggests that transmission may rarely occur without vector being present which would be very worrying.

[quote]Direct dog-to-dog transmission has been also suspected, especially in areas where sandfly vectors are absent.[/quote]

RE: Leishmaniasis

Richard Carter — Fri, 24 Feb 2017 16:06:36 GMT

Miltefosine was obtained by the owners of the last Leishmania positive dog from Greece and is now apparently the drug of choice in Greece. It is liquid oral medication for 28 days along with the usual allopurinol and the last time I saw the dog, it was looking very good after having had a relapse.

Much better response than glucantime injections which are painful.

Both drugs qualify for special import through VMD

However we actively discourage foreign rescues and have an article on our website warning against foreign rehoming/ puppy trafficking.

RE: Leishmaniasis

Marie Kubiak — Fri, 24 Feb 2017 15:57:14 GMT

I agree entirely with Martin. This dog is likely to be high maintenance and is moving it across a continent and stressing it going to help the balance it has with disease (assuming it is 'fine' currently)?

However, I see more of an issue deliberately introducing Leishmania into a supposedly clear country. Although there aren't known vectors around (as far as I am aware), we may still find some bugs here are able to transmit it or the expected changes in invertebrate populations with climate change may well lead to potential for Leishmania to become endemic. There seems to be a level of tolerance of Leishmania in dogs from endemic areas but our pets won't have innate immunity and will be very vulnerable.

Not sure any of this really helps though if your client is dead set on bringing this dog in and there are no rules in place to prevent it. You may have to just grit your teeth and treat the dog to the best of your capabilities as someone has to deal with the consequences of the owners whims responsibly.

Marie

RE: Leishmaniasis

Martin Atkinson — Fri, 24 Feb 2017 15:44:42 GMT

[quote user="Rosemary Cowper"] I wonder what other vets think about this practice? [/quote]It is total insanity and irresponsible. A few 'do gooders' meddling with one dog letting their heart rule their head when there are thousands of homeless, healthy dogs in the UK. These clients are nearly always high maintenance 'know alls' probably also 'breeders' (same thing really) or gullible idiots who have been conned. Either way I would be blunt to the point of wishing they take their services elsewhere if they were my clients.

One star please!