Asked by: Josilene Pechim
medical health infectious diseases

What are the symptoms of West Nile virus in dogs?

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Symptoms of West Nile include trouble walking, muscle weakness, shaking, circling and seizures. Call us if your pet has any of these symptoms.


In respect to this, what are the symptoms of West Nile in dogs?

During blood feeding, the virus is injected into the animal. The virus then multiplies and may cause clinical signs in a susceptible animal. Most infections are inapparent or mild. If your pet shows signs of fever, depression, incoordination, muscle weakness or spasms, seizures or paralysis, see your veterinarian.

Also Know, does West Nile affect dogs? Dogs can get West Nile, but there are only a few reported cases. During experiments, dogs that were bitten by infected mosquitos did not show any signs of illness and had a very low level of virus in their blood. Cats can also get West Nile, but there are also only a few reported cases.

Likewise, people ask, can West Nile virus kill dogs?

While pets can contract West Nile virus (WNV), the CDC states that only a small number of dogs and cats with WNV have been reported. The symptoms are generally confined to a light fever and lethargy. (Learn more about WNV in dogs and cats.) Do not use human insect repellent on your pets.

How does West Nile virus affect animals?

West Nile virus (WNV) primarily affects birds, but can also be infect bats, horses, cats, dogs, chipmunks, skunks, squirrels, domestic rabbits, alligators and humans. Mosquitoes become infected when they feed on infected birds. Infected mosquitoes can then spread WNV to humans and other animals when they bite.

Related Question Answers

Rozella Diringer

Professional

Can dogs get the EEE virus?

EEE virus is a mosquito-borne virus that circulates in the bird population and is spread by mosquitoes. Horses are the main victims of infection but disease can occur in various other mammals, including people and dogs. Canine infections are very rare and this can be considered an "oddball" infection.

Medea Golderos

Professional

What does West Nile virus look like?

Symptoms and signs of West Nile virus include fever, headache, body aches, skin rash, and swollen lymph nodes. Severe symptoms and signs may include stiff neck, sleepiness, disorientation, coma, tremors, convulsions, and paralysis. Most cases of West Nile virus infection are mild and go unreported.

Tourya Fontanals

Professional

How can I protect my dog from West Nile virus?

West Nile Virus is spread by mosquitoes.

How can I protect my pet from West Nile?
  1. Keep your yard free of standing water. Mosquitoes lay their eggs in pools of water.
  2. Remove any dead wildlife from your yard as soon as you find it.
  3. Let your pet outside for short amounts of time.
  4. Make a spray to help repel mosquitoes.

Adi Gagrin

Explainer

How do you know if your dog has heartworms?

Signs of heartworm disease may include a mild persistent cough, reluctance to exercise, fatigue after moderate activity, decreased appetite, and weight loss. As heartworm disease progresses, pets may develop heart failure and the appearance of a swollen belly due to excess fluid in the abdomen.

Hanne Marabot

Explainer

Can a dog get West Nile virus from a dead bird?

West Nile virus can cause death in birds, especially species such as bluejays and crows, which may then be found by your dog. The risk of transmission of West Nile virus to dogs from eating dead birds is presumably very low. Further, this disease is very rare in dogs and they appear to be quite resistant to the virus.

Maria Steen

Explainer

Can you die from the West Nile virus?

Less than 1% of the people who do get infected with the West Nile virus develop severe symptoms or complications. Almost all of those people fully recover. Of the small number of people who do get severely ill from West Nile virus, about 10% will die.

Longina O hanlon

Pundit

What is the West Nile virus?

West Nile virus (WNV) is the leading cause of mosquito-borne disease in the continental United States. It is most commonly spread to people by the bite of an infected mosquito. About 1 in 5 people who are infected develop a fever and other symptoms.

Douga Lesaga

Pundit

Can cats contract EEE?

Can West Nile virus (WNV) or eastern equine encephalitis (EEE) virus cause illness in dogs or cats? Yes, but these infections are very rare. Most cats or dogs infected with these viruses fully recover from the infection.

Ankor Gottgens

Pundit

How do you get rid of West Nile virus?

Treatment. No vaccine or specific antiviral treatments for West Nile virus infection are available. In severe cases, patients often need to be hospitalized to receive supportive treatment, such as intravenous fluids, pain medication, and nursing care.

Gopi Ulecia

Pundit

Can the West Nile virus go away on its own?

There is currently no treatment or vaccine or prevent West Nile. In most mild cases, symptoms go away on their own. For severe cases, some individuals may need to be hospitalized to treat their symptoms. Anyone who thinks they may be infected with West Nile virus should contact their doctor.

Soumicha Maetze

Pundit

How is West Nile virus transmitted?

Typically, West Nile virus spreads to humans and animals via infected mosquitoes. Mosquitoes become infected when they feed on infected birds. You can't get infected from casual contact with an infected person or animal. Most West Nile virus infections occur during warm weather, when mosquitos are active.

Agustina Querol

Teacher

Who discovered West Nile virus?

West Nile virus was first identified in 1937 in Uganda in eastern Africa. It was first discovered in the United States in the summer of 1999 in New York. Since then, the virus has spread throughout the US. Researchers believe West Nile virus is spread when a mosquito bites an infected bird and then bites a person.

Tahiche Hudkov

Teacher

Can pigs get West Nile virus?

West Nile virus (WNV) infects weanling pigs. These infections appear to be mostly inapparent but can result in a reduction of weight gain during the time that WNV is found in the blood. The lesions that were found in the brain and spinal cord of infected pigs have the potential of causing neurological symptoms.

Elisei Ladino

Teacher

Can fleas carry West Nile?

West Nile Virus (WNV) is a virus that infects animals and humans after being bitten by various types of infected mosquitoes. It can be fatal. It can… Fleas reproduce quickly and can live in fabrics and carpets.

Kristal Pascual

Teacher

What are the symptoms of West Nile virus in horses?

West Nile Virus Signs In Horses
  • The most common signs of WNV infection in horses include stumbling, in-coordination, weak limbs, partial paralysis, muscle twitching and in some cases, death.
  • Each horse may exhibit a combination of symptoms or not exhibit any symptoms.

Tobie Oromi

Reviewer

Can dogs get Lyme disease?

No, Lyme disease is not a zoonotic disease, meaning it cannot be directly transmitted from your dog to you. However, if a tick crawls off your dog and bites you, you can become infected.

Veselin Sommerburg

Reviewer

Can West Nile virus affect cats?

However, there has been no evidence to indicate that West Nile Virus can be naturally transmitted to cats or dogs that carry or consume infected animals. Dogs and cats can be infected with West Nile Virus through the bite of a mosquito, so minimizing their exposure to mosquitoes is recommended.

Lashawn Kreisinger

Reviewer

What role do birds play in the transmission of the West Nile virus?

Like humans, most birds infected with West Nile do not show symptoms, but increased levels of West Nile in birds make them “amplifier hosts”. This means mosquitos can become transmitters by biting an infected bird, and in turn, this increases the amount of mosquitos that can transmit the virus.

Noriko Lamelas

Reviewer

What animals are usually the reservoir for West Nile?

The primary arthropod vector for West Nile is the mosquito and the primary reservoirs for West Nile are 'old-world' bird species.

Co-Authored By:

EveryThingWhat Staff Editor

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13th January, 2020

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