PET OWNER VERSION

Botulism 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

Botulism is a motor paralysis caused by eating food containing the toxin (a poisonous substance) produced by Clostridium botulinum bacteria. This bacterium grows rapidly in decomposing animal tissue and sometimes in plant material. It results in rapid death due to the paralysis of vital organs. Botulism is an intoxication, not an infection.

There are 7 types of Clostridium botulinum; the C₁ type is most common in animals. The usual source of the toxin is decaying carcasses or spoiled vegetation. Botulism is most common in wild water birds (for example, ducks) and occurs only sporadically in dogs.

The signs of botulism are caused by muscle paralysis and include progressive motor paralysis, disturbed vision, difficulty chewing and swallowing, and progressive weakness. Death is usually due to paralysis of the lungs or heart. Treatment is usually not possible, although a few experimental therapies have had limited success.

Also see professional content regarding botulism.

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