Texas, Louisiana, Michigan, Illinios Attn: Breeders

Canine Brucellosis!!! Breeders be advised. August 7, 2008 Dear Michigan Veterinarians: An investigation by the Michigan Department of Agriculture’s (MDA) Animal Industry Division identified three Brucella canis (CB) positive “designer” dog breeding facilities in Missaukee, Osceola, and Wexford counties that provided small cross-bred lap dogs to pet shops and individuals throughout the state. Authorities also found two Van Buren County purebred dogs imported from a kennel in Indiana to be positive for CB. Indiana animal health officials are following up in that state. We expect you may be contacted by clients about canine brucellosis and may also have clients that breed dogs or own breeding kennels. Here is information to bring you up-to-date on Brucella canis in Michigan: • MDA will be educating small dog owners, individuals who may have come into contact with infected breeding dogs, pet shops, animal shelters, and pet food retail outlets about the risks of canine brucellosis. • MDA recommends small breed “designer” dogs from kennels in Missaukee, Osceola, and Wexford counties be tested for B. canis. • Brucellosis,(including canine brucellosis) is reportable to MDA. • MDA will quarantine an infected kennel. Euthanasia of breeding animals is recommended. A testing program can be used, but it is expected the kennel would need to remain under quarantine for several months. Testing is at the owner’s expense. • Infected pet animals are handled on an individual basis. Euthanasia is recommended, especially in breeding situations, but spay/neuter and appropriate antibiotic therapy may sometimes be an option. • Spaying and neutering minimizes the public health threat. • Dog breeders and kennel owners should be reminded about bio-security. Isolation of new animals, good sanitation and routine brucellosis testing are key elements to a good bio-security program. • Dogs imported from other states are required to have a health certificate. • If you have pet shop clients, you can help by advising them about bio-security and monitoring their source of puppies. We are advising pet shops to require proof of negative brucellosis testing from kennels that supply their puppies.

http://www.pedigreedatabase.com/gsd/bulletins_read/208070.html The link with information on the texas outbreak. Its really sad actually, she is losing all her dogs now. ~Cindy