Strep Throat Symptoms in Dogs
Signs and Symptoms of Strep Throat in Dogs; Yes, Dogs Can Get Strep Throat
Strep Throat Symptoms in Dogs
Signs and Symptoms of Strep Throat in Dogs; Yes, Dogs Can Get Strep Throat
Jillita Horton, Yahoo! Contributor Network
May 5, 2010 "Contribute content like this. Start Here." More: Throat Strep Throat Strep Early Symptoms Strep Infection 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.
