Beware of Recent Bacterial Outbreak in Puppies & Dogs

A healthy puppy … without exception, that’s what everyone wants most when bringing home a new puppy and it’s one of the benefits of going through a reputable, private breeder.

It’s important to us here at Gillcrest Cavaliers that our clients keep their new Cavalier King Charles Spaniel puppies healthy once they’re home, particularly as the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recently announced that at least 30 people in 13 states had been sickened by a drug-resistant strain of bacteria called Campylobacter jejuni.

Among the 24 infected people who were interviewed, 21 said they had recently touched a puppy and 15 of them said that their contact with the puppy was in a pet store. While a single pet store had not been named, it’s worthwhile to note that 12 of those infected had contact with a puppy at a Petland store, and five of the 12 were, in fact, Petland employees.

“Four people have been hospitalized,” notes the CDC, although “no deaths have been reported. Interviews with ill people and laboratory evidence indicate that contact with puppies, especially those from pet stores, is the source of this outbreak.”

“Puppies and dogs can carry Campylobacter germs that can make people sick, even while appearing healthy and clean,” the CDC also said. So, “people who own, work with or come in contact with puppies or dogs should take steps to stay healthy.”

With that in mind, we cannot recommend enough that all puppy and dog owners follow the CDC’s advice of always washing your hands thoroughly with soap and water after touching a puppy or dog, after handling their food and after cleaning up after them. In addition, it’s not advisable to allow a dog to lick around your mouth and face, near open wounds or in areas with broken skin.

Even once this outbreak has been eliminated, it’s good advice to follow as you live a long and happy life with your healthy and happy Cavalier King Charles Spaniel!