What Diseases Can Wildlife Get From Dogs?

As a zoologist, I know how easy it is for people to defend visiting protected areas with their dogs. But when it comes to accepting the potential role of domestic dogs in the epidemiology of the most harmful wildlife disease, it's much harder.

So, what diseases can wildlife get from dogs? 

As it turns out, there are many. But visiting protected areas, national parks and nature reserves with your dog will not ruin wildlife if they're free from these diseases. The key is to know your dog and the threats he can pose to the conservation of wildlife before embarking on the journey.

Here in this article, I'll discuss the diseases that wildlife can get from your dog which can directly or indirectly threaten conservation efforts.

Diseases Wildlife Get From Dogs

1. Canine Distemper

Canine Distemper is a contagious and serious disease that affects domestic and free-ranging carnivores worldwide.

The disease is caused by Canine Distemper Virus (CDV), a paramyxovirus closely related to the measles and rinderpest viruses. The virus can cause acute or subacute respiratory, gastrointestinal and central nervous system disease in a wide range of carnivores.

The disease can lead to decline in wildlife populations in zoos and parks around the world.

Wildlife That Can Be Infected

Dingoes, foxes, coyotes, jackals, wolves, ferrets, skunks, badgers, minks, weasels, otters, raccoons, hyenas, bears, lions, leopards, cheetahs and tigers.

How Wildlife Can Get Canine Distemper Virus

Aerosol droplet spread (for example as a result of coughing, sneezing or barking) of respiratory secretions containing the virus; exposure to other body excretions (e.g., urine) can result in infection in susceptible hosts when aerosolized.

How To Prevent Canine Distemper In Wild Canids

There is no cure for canine distemper, but it can be prevented through vaccination. Infected dogs should not be allowed to enter protected areas.

2. Canine Parvovirus (CPV)

CPV affects dogs' gastrointestinal tracts, causing acute inflammation that can lead to abdominal pain, bloating and severe, often bloody, diarrhea.

CPV is not limited to domestic dogs. In fact, Infected dogs can transmit the virus from place to place on their hair or feet.

The virus is resistant to heat, cold, humidity, and drying, and can survive in the environment for long periods of time and be transmitted to wildlife.

It causes early death and low fecundity in wild canids.

Wildlife That Can Be Infected

Coyotes, wolves, foxes, raccoons and skunks.

How Wildlife Can Get Canine Parvovirus

The disease can be spread by direct dog-to-wild canid contact and contact with contaminated faeces (stool), environments, or people. Even trace amount of faeces from infected dogs can harbour the virus and infect wildlife that come into the infected environment.

How CPV Can Be Prevented In Wild Canids

Although parvo can be prevented through vaccination, it has no cure. Infected dogs should be prevented from entering protected areas, natural reserves and parks.

3. Canine Coronavirus (CCV)

This highly contagious intestinal virus — which affects dogs worldwide — can cause respiratory disease, maldigestion, malabsorption, and subsequent diarrhea in some wild animals.

Wildlife That Can Be Infected

Foxes, raccoon dogs, and cats.

How Wildlife Can Get Canine Coronavirus

The disease can be transmitted to wildlife through the faeces of infected dogs, who usually shed the virus for six to nine days, but sometimes for six months following infection.

How CCV Can Be Prevented In Wild Canids

There's no cure for CCV, but wildlife can recover from infection on their own.

Unvaccinated dogs should be prevented from gaining access to wildlife in protected areas.

4. Canine Adenovirus (CAV)

A virus that targets the lining of blood vessels, the liver, kidneys, spleen, and lungs and leads to canine hepatitis, bronchitis and bronchiolitis in infected canids. Symptoms include vomiting, diarrhoea, depression, seizures and death in severely affected individuals.

Wildlife That Can Be Infected With Canine Adenovirus

Foxes, jackals, otters, raccoons, bears and skunks.

How Wildlife Can Get Canine Adenovirus

The virus can be transmitted from infected dogs directly to some wild canids through infected respiratory secretions (coughing/sneezing) or by contact with contaminated feces or urine.

How Canine Adenovirus Can Be Prevented In Wild Canids

There's no cure for canine adenovirus, but vaccination can help in prevention. Vaccines can prevent dogs from contracting CAV-1 which causes canine infectious hepatitis, but cannot completely prevent CAV-2.

5. Canine Herpesvirus (CHV)

CHV has worldwide distribution and can cause eye disease, upper respiratory infection, and inflammation in the vagina or foreskin of the penis in adult dogs. Canine herpse can also cause serious and often fatal viral disease in puppies.

The symptoms include: abortion, respiratory infection, ataxia, anorexia, vomiting and depression.

Wildlife That Can Be Infected

Coyotes and wolves.

How Wildlife Can Get Canine Herpesvirus

Wildlife can get canine herpesvirus from direct contact with the nose, mouth, or vaginal fluids of infected dogs. They can also contract the virus through licking, sniffing and nosing of infected dogs.

How To Prevent Canine Herpesvirus In Wildlife

Canine herpse is a very common infection. Therefore, dogs should be prevented from entering protected areas in countries where vaccination isn't available for the disease.

6. Lyssavirus

Lyssavirus attacks the central nervous system and causes acute progressive encephalitis (rabies) in all warm blooded animals.

Wildlife That Can Be Infected

Foxes, coyotes, jackals, wolves and certain rodents are among the most susceptible.

How Wildlife Can Get Lyssavirus

Wildlife can directly be infected with lyssavirus through bites, scratches or contamination of mucous membranes with infected saliva, without participation of arthropod vectors.

How To Prevent Lyssavirus In Wildlife

There's no cure for lyssavirus. Therefore, dogs visiting natural reserves should be fully vaccinated against the virus.

7.Neospora caninum

This tiny protozoan parasite is well known for its role in causing abortion and stillbirth in cattle worldwide. In wild canids, the parasite can cause serious neurological symptoms such as hind limb paralysis.

Wildlife That Can Be Infected With Neospora caninum

Deer, rhinoceroses, horses buffaloes, coyotes, camels, felids, red and grey foxes.

How Wildlife Can Get Neospora caninum

Wildlife can be infected with tachyzoites or tissue cysts or by ingestion of food or drinking water contaminated by sporulated oocysts, or transplacentally (vertically, congenitally) from an infected dam to her fetus during pregnancy.

How To Prevent Neospora caninum In Wildlife

Dogs should be prevented from coming in contact with wildlife. 

Keep maternity pens clean, dry, and spacious and also dispose placentas, aborted fetuses and stillborn calves properly so that dogs and wild canines cannot feed on them.

8. Salmonellosis

Salmonellosis is a bacterial infection that affects the intestinal tract. It is caused by Salmonella spp., bacteria commonly found in the intestine of wild birds and in domestic cats, infected by preying on sick birds.

Wildlife That Can Be Infected With Salmonella spp.

Lizards, snakes, turtles (including tortoises), parrots, canaries, finches and pigeons can be infected with salmonella spp.

How Wildlife Can Get Salmonellosis

Salmonella spp can be transmitted to wildlife through direct contact with infected animals or faecal contaminated environment.

How To Prevent Salmonellosis In Wildlife

Infected animals should be prevented from entering natural reserves and parks.

9.Toxoplasmosis

This infection is caused by protozoan parasites. The symptoms can be mild, with swollen lymph nodes and some discomfort.

Toxoplasma spp can infect a large number of mammal species.

Wildlife That Can Be Infected With Toxoplasma spp

The parasites infect domestic and wild animals such as birds, cats, sheep, goats, cattle, pigs and poultry.

How Wildlife Get Toxoplasma spp

Wildlife can be get the Toxoplasmosis through direct contact with infected animals.

How To Prevent Toxoplasmosis In Wildlife

Infected animals should be prevented from entering protected areas or natural reserves.

10. Leptospira spp.

Leptospira spp. are bacteria that cause systemic infection in domestic animals and wildlife, as well as humans.

The infection causes abortion, mastitis and death in livestock.

Wildlife That Can Be Infected By Leptospira spp

Wild boar, African green monkey, etc.

How Wildlife Can Get Leptospira spp

Wildlife can get Leptospira spp. by direct contact through urine, venereal routes, placental transfer, bites, or ingestion of infected animals or tissues.

They can also be infected indirectly through exposure to contaminated environment, e.g., soil, food, bedding, etc.

How To Prevent Leptospira spp. In Wildlife

To avoid getting infected with leptospira spp., wildlife should be prevented from direct and indirect contact with infected animals.