The British Veterinary Association (BVA) has issued a strong reminder to members of the public about the serious disease risks from importing dogs from abroad amid health concerns for both humans and animals.
The BVA has urged all prospective dog owners to protect the health of dogs and humans in the UK by rehoming dogs from within the country instead. BVA is also re-issuing its calls to the government to tighten pet import rules.
The advice follows news earlier this month about a positive Brucella canis test in a rescue dog imported into the UK from Belarus in March of this year.
The woman fostering the dog was hospitalised after coming into close contact with it, in the UK’s first confirmed dog-to-human transmission of this zoonotic disease.
The foster animal and four pet dogs who were exposed to the disease all had to be euthanised.
Health concerns
Stray dogs in some European countries and other parts of the world often live in harsh conditions, according to the association.
Along with Brucella canis, they may harbour other undetected and potentially life-threatening exotic diseases not found in the UK, such as leishmaniasis, rabies, canine babesiosis and heartworm, without showing any outward clinical symptoms.
When imported into the UK, such chronically infected ‘Trojan’, or carrier dogs risk passing on the infections to susceptible pets and, in the case of some diseases, to humans as well, British vets have said.
These infections can be difficult to detect or successfully treat in such carrier dogs.
Disease
Data released by the UK Government shows a steep rise in confirmed Brucella canis cases since the start of 2020, rising from just three before that year to 107 up to July this year.
The dogs were all either imported from countries such as Romania, Bosnia, Greece, and Belarus, returned from holiday overseas, or been bred with an imported dog.
The Brucella canis bacterium causes canine brucellosis, an infectious disease that leads to often painful and chronic illness in dogs, as well as serious health risks to humans and other dogs exposed to them.
Symptoms in dogs include reproductive issues, including miscarriages during the last trimester of pregnancy in females and inflammation of the prostrate and testicles in males, as well as spinal problems in chronic cases.
Treatment is often unsuccessful, and, in many cases, vets will recommend euthanasia, keeping in mind the welfare of the dog.
BVA president, Justine Shotton said: “This recent case of Brucella canis in a foster dog is extremely tragic and highlights why vets have long raised concerns over the real and serious risks of importing ‘Trojan’ rescue dogs with unknown health histories into the UK.
“We are a nation of animal lovers, and so the desire to rescue stray, neglected or abused animals from other countries and give them loving homes in this country is completely understandable.
“Unfortunately, as this case shows, the hidden consequence of this can be disastrous for the health and welfare of other pets as well as humans here. This includes the risk to veterinary teams who treat and handle these animals.
“With thousands of dogs needing homes within the UK, the British Veterinary Association is strongly urging prospective owners to adopt from a UK-based rehoming charity instead. You can also support organisations in countries abroad to rescue and rehabilitate any stray animals locally,” she added.
Vigilance
Shotton continued: “If you already own an imported dog, be vigilant to symptoms of Brucella canis and other exotic diseases and call your local vet for advice on testing and treatment for any underlying conditions.”
While rescue dogs are a particular risk group for Brucella canis, importing any dog from countries with high levels of stray dog populations and known presence of the disease will carry a risk, according to the BVA.
This includes puppies bred for commercial sale in such countries. The association is advising anyone looking to adopt or buy an imported dog to make sure it has been tested for this disease and neutered before being brought into the UK.
A BVA survey of vets in 2018 showed that more than nine out of 10 companion animal vets in the UK were concerned about the import of rescue dogs.
40% of these vets saw new or rare conditions in their practice over the previous year that are associated with dog import.
The BVA has called on the UK Government to impose strict restrictions on the movement of pets, including testing in stray dogs for any such diseases as a mandatory before travel to the UK.
It has also called for the strengthening of enforcement provisions and checks on dogs brought in through the commercial route.