Pseudorabies, or Aujeszky's Disease

Aujeszky's disease in dogs, also known as pseudorabies, is a viral condition affecting the central nervous system. It's fatal, and there's still no treatment or vaccine against it.

Although its name can cause confusion with another serious disease, rabies, the truth is, beyond the fatality, they have nothing in common, and it's easy and important to tell them apart.

What Is Aujeszky's Disease or Pseudorabies?

This fatal viral disease is characterized by acutely attacking the central nervous system, which has fatal consequences. Affected dogs die quickly and unavoidably. Luckily, it's a very uncommon disease. It's caused by a herpesvirus more commonly found in pigs and wild boars.

It's known as porcine herpesvirus type 1. Since it's also called pseudorabies, confusion can arise between this disease and actual rabies, although they have nothing to do with each other. There's no connection between the two, but it's true Aujeszky's disease could be confused with what's known as the furious form of rabies.

Who Gets Infected With the Aujeszky's Disease Virus?

This disease affects different mammals, including the most popular household pets, found in thousands of homes, meaning dogs and cats. Livestock can also be affected. The herpesvirus that triggers it mainly infects pigs. In fact, it's considered characteristic of swine.

Although also known as pseudorabies, unlike rabies, it isn't a problem for humans. Aujeszky's disease isn't a zoonosis. So, people can't catch it even if we've been in contact with a sick dog.

How Does Aujeszky's Disease Attack?

The common route of transmission is considered to be when a dog eats raw meat from a pig or wild boar infected with the herpesvirus causing it.

The wild boar is considered the main wild reservoir of the disease. Close contact with these animals can also result in transmission, since it's a highly contagious virus.

So, dogs living in rural areas near pig farms and those participating in wild boar hunting have a higher risk of catching it. Based on available scientific data, as of today there's no evidence that Aujeszky's disease can be transmitted from one dog to another.

Symptoms of Aujeszky's Disease

The effect of the herpesvirus that triggers Aujeszky's disease starts after an incubation period ranging from three to five days. The first symptoms noticeable in the dog are restlessness and listlessness. Some dogs will be very nervous. Others, on the other hand, will seem down.

Almost immediately, another notable and characteristic sign of Aujeszky's appears: very intense itching. It's so bothersome that the dog will scratch violently and bite itself in a desperate attempt to relieve it. It can even injure itself. The itching is most intense on the head and the upper part of the front legs.

It's also common for the dog to drool excessively. It seems as though it has a foreign body lodged in its throat. In addition, another symptom is unsteadiness while walking. The dog starts to stagger, has trouble breathing, and shows an altered heart rhythm. Finally, it collapses and falls into a coma, dying within just a few hours.

How Does Aujeszky's Disease Differ From Rabies?

Some of the symptoms we've described as characteristic of Aujeszky's disease, as well as its name pseudorabies, can bring to mind the dreaded rabies itself. But there are some details that let us tell the two conditions apart with confidence:

• The clinical course of Aujeszky's disease is much shorter than that of rabies, lasting only a few hours.
• A dog with Aujeszky's doesn't show any aggressive reaction, which is common in dogs with rabies.
• The intense, characteristic itching of Aujeszky's disease doesn't appear in rabies.

Treatment for Pseudorabies

Unfortunately, there's currently no treatment able to cure Aujeszky's disease. Nor is there any vaccine that can prevent it. Symptoms can be treated, but the end result will inevitably be death.

Prevention of Aujeszky's Disease

Since the herpesvirus causing Aujeszky's disease is found in pigs or wild boars, and transmission occurs through eating meat or close contact, the main preventive measure is avoiding contact between these species.

We can't let our dog wander unsupervised and get near places where pigs are kept, whether farms or open spaces. On the other hand, at home we need to watch the food we give it. We should never give it raw pork or wild boar meat.

Bibliography Carlson and Giffin. 2002. Manual práctico de veterinaria canina. Madrid. Editorial el Drac.