Yes, dogs can get strep throat, and it can be deadly, so you should know the symptoms. My parents’ dog almost died from strep throat, thanks to a misdiagnosis by a veterinary neurologist who was treating the animal for a brain tumor. One day the German shepherd was listless and had a poor appetite, eyes glazed, not very responsive to commands.
The ER vet at a prestigious veterinary clinic where the neurologist worked examined the GS and couldn’t come up with anything definitive; the animal stayed overnight, and next morning and $1,300 later, we were informed by the vet neuro that the deterioration was from the brain tumor’s fluid buildup and/or the tumor itself, a “bad” day for the dog, par for the course; the animal was treated with a diuretic and anti-inflammatory via IV feed.
The GS was perked up somewhat for the next eight hours, then relapsed, and for the next five days, outright deteriorated: increasing loss of appetite; increasing listlessness; increasing weakness; increasing sleep; glazed look in eyes; depressed disposition.
Our pet was eventually sleeping at all times except when the urge to relieve himself was so overwhelming that he forced himself up and stood by the door; he was also lapping up huge amounts of water.
By then, this beloved German shepherd had had one visit with a new veterinarian in Colorado who uses alternative treatments for cancer. Over the phone at 10 pm I described the dog’s symptoms to this doctor, and he promptly diagnosed strep throat!
“Bring him in tomorrow morning at 7:30,” he said. Next morning the GS had a fever of over 104 degrees. Our pet stayed a few days and was “rebuilt,” explained the doctor, adding that he sees strep throat in dogs all the time.
General symptoms of strep throat in dogs: lethargy; a depressed demeanor; physical weakness; glazed, glossy or foggy eyes; loss of appetite/slower eating; increased water intake, though lethargic lapping it up; fever; unwillingness to get up at commands; increasing sleep to the point of even literally sleeping every moment save for getting up to urinate or get water.
In advanced stages of strep throat, the dog will be virtually unresponsive to commands or verbal signals from his masters; will need help getting on all fours and may even need to be carried to get from point A to point B; refusal to eat.
Early symptoms of strep throat in dogs: subdued nature; glazed or hazy look in eyes; lack of gusto when eating; picky eating; increased water consumption; listless gait; hacking or gagging sounds as though attempting to void throat of something; upchucking or spitting up; diminished interaction with masters.
Our dog began showing early symptoms of strep throat a second time, after fully recovering from the first strep occurrence. (Strep throat can occur in the same dog more than once.)
This time, I was on these familiar symptoms and contacted the alternative vet. Because the strep this time was in its early stages, the dog was simply given a penicillin injection. His full appetite returned that day. Next day he was back for a second injection, and we took home penicillin in tablet form plus two additional drugs to fight the infection, and he was eating like a vulture.
The vet said, “I see 10 dogs a day with strep.” There are different strains of the Streptococci bacterium. “Many species of Streptococci are normal residents of the skin, urogenital tract, nose and mouth,” says Dr. Michel Selmer, DVM, of Advanced Animal Care Center in Huntington, NY.
He continues, “People are the natural reservoir hosts for Group A Streptococci. Group A Streptococci cause ‘strep throat’ in people. Dogs and cats are not reservoirs for Group A.
Dr. Selmer further explains, Group B Streptococci have occasionally been associated with neonatal infections, endometritis, endocarditis, and other mixed infections in dogs. Group G Streptococci are normal residents of the skin and mucosa of dogs, and are responsible for most infections in dogs.”
Canines infected with Group G “May have a history of recent trauma or bite wounds, or have nonspecific signs (e.g., lameness, respiratory signs, urinary signs),” continues Dr. Selmer. Most dogs develop a rapidly progressive, severely painful cellulitis. The limbs are most often affected. The dogs become depressed and shocky. Fever, depression, hypotension and shock may also develop in infected dogs, in the absence of fasciitis. Acute pulmonary infections with Streptococci appear to be the main cause of this streptococcal toxic shock syndrome. Most dogs with toxic shock syndrome (with or without fasciitis) die or are euthanized due to the severity of their signs.”
Now that you know the symptoms of strep throat in dogs, how can it be prevented? A compromised immune system can bring on symptoms of strep throat in dogs. Dr. Selmer says, “Because most Streptococci are normal residents of the skin and mucosa of the body, animals are universally exposed to these bacteria. Routine prevention involves good sanitation and hygienic care of wounds and other non-infected lesions.
