PET OWNER VERSION

Enterotoxemia in Dogs

ByHenry R. Stämpfli, DMV, Dr Med Vet, DACVIM-LAIM, Department of Clinical Studies, Ontario Veterinary College, University of Guelph;

Bert E. Stromberg, PhD, Veterinary and Biomedical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Minnesota;J. P. Dubey, MVSc, PhD, Animal Parasitic Diseases Laboratory, Beltsville Agricultural Research Center, USDA;Paul Ettestad, DVM, MS, Epidemiology and Response Division, New Mexico Department of Health;Jodie Low Choy, BVSc, BVMS, IVAS Cert, Menzies School of Health Research; University Avenue Veterinary Hospital, Northern Territory, Australia;Joseph Taboada, DVM, DACVIM, Office of Student and Academic Affairs, School of Veterinary Medicine, Louisiana State University;Charles O. Thoen, DVM, PhD, Veterinary Microbiology and Preventive Medicine, College of Veterinary Medicine, Iowa State University;John F. Timoney, MVB, PhD, Department of Veterinary Science, College of Agriculture, Food and Environment, University of Kentucky;Ian Rodney Tizard, BVMS, BSc, PhD, DSc (Hons), DACVM, Department of Veterinary Pathobiology, College of Veterinary and Biomedical Sciences, Texas A&M University;Geoffrey W. Smith, DVM, PhD, DACVIM-LAIM, Zoetis;Martin E. Hugh-Jones, VetMB, MPH, PhD, MRCVS, School of Veterinary Medicine, Louisiana State University;Henry R. Stämpfli, DMV, Dr Med Vet, DACVIM-LAIM, Department of Clinical Studies, Ontario Veterinary College, University of Guelph;Kate E. Creevy, DVM, MS, DACVIM-SAIM, College of Veterinary Medicine & Biomedical Sciences, Texas A & M University;Gad Baneth, DVM, PhD, DECVCP, Koret School of Veterinary Medicine, Hebrew University, Rehovot;Katharine F. Lunn, BVMS, PhD, DACVIM-SAIM, Department of Clinical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, North Carolina State University;Reinhard K. Straubinger, DrMedVetHabil, PhD, Institute for Infectious Diseases and Zoonoses, Department of Veterinary Sciences, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, LMU;Jodie Low Choy, BVSc, BVMS, IVAS Cert, Menzies School of Health Research; University Avenue Veterinary Hospital, Northern Territory, Australia;Manuals Staff;Márcio Garcia Ribeiro, DVM, PhD, Department of Animal Production and Preventive Veterinary Medicine, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Science, São Paulo State University (UNESP), Botucatu, SP, Brazil;Thomas Wittek, Dr Med Vet, DECBHM, University Clinic for Ruminants, Department of Farm Animals and Veterinary Public Health, University of Veterinary Medicine, Vienna;Yasuko Rikihisa, PhD, Department of Veterinary Biosciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, The Ohio State University;Janet E. Foley, DVM, PhD, Department of Medicine and Epidemiology, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of California, Davis

Reviewed/Revised Jun 2018 | Modified Sept 2024

Clostridium perfringens is a bacterium that is widely distributed in the soil and the gastrointestinal tract of animals. It has the ability to produce poisonous substances (toxins) outside of the bacterial cell. Inflammation of the intestines (enteritis) and absorption of toxins (known as enterotoxemia) occur when these poisonous substances are released. Five types of Clostridium perfringens have been identified, but only one, Type A, causes enterotoxemia in dogs. Type A is also associated with diarrhea in dogs. The diarrhea can be bloody, sudden and severe, or longterm and intermittent.

Also see professional content regarding enterotoxemia.

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