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Canine brucellosis is a bacterial infection—usually caused by Brucella canis—that can affect a dog’s reproductive health and can also infect people. Some dogs show no obvious signs. If your dog may have been exposed or has reproductive problems, contact a veterinarian for testing and tell the clinic and laboratory that brucellosis is a concern.
What is canine brucellosis?
Canine brucellosis is infection with Brucella canis, a bacterium that primarily affects dogs but is zoonotic, meaning it can infect people. Dogs may occasionally acquire other Brucella species, usually after exposure to livestock. The details below focus on B. canis. The Merck Veterinary Manual’s professional overview describes the disease, diagnosis, and management.
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How do dogs and people get brucellosis?
Breeding is an important route of transmission between dogs. Infection can also follow ingestion of, or contact through broken skin with, contaminated reproductive material such as aborted tissues, placentas, fetal material, and vaginal fluids. Exposure involving infected semen, milk, or urine, as well as aerosol or contaminated-surface spread, has been described in particular settings; these routes should not be treated as equally likely in every situation. CDC veterinary guidance explains exposure concerns for animals and people.
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People may be exposed while handling infected tissues or body fluids. Veterinary teams, kennel staff, breeders, and anyone caring for an infected dog should follow veterinary, laboratory, and occupational-health precautions. A documented South Carolina investigation in September 2023 involved a dog confirmed infected by culture and PCR of vaginal secretions; investigators assessed possible exposures among people in two households, veterinary clinic staff, and household pets. That investigation documents a real exposure scenario, not a general estimate of transmission probability. CDC’s case report gives the details.
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What are the symptoms of brucellosis in dogs?
Some infected dogs have no noticeable signs. When illness does occur, reproductive problems are a prominent presentation, and signs can differ between females and males. Other symptoms are possible but are not specific to brucellosis.
Signs in female dogs
- Late-term abortion, stillbirths, infertility, or weakened puppies
- Placentitis or endometritis
- Prolonged vaginal discharge
Signs in male dogs
- Epididymitis, orchitis, or prostatitis
- Scrotal swelling or testicular atrophy
Other possible signs
Enlarged lymph nodes, discospondylitis, uveitis, lethargy, reduced appetite, and exercise intolerance can occur. These signs have other possible causes, so they do not establish brucellosis on their own. A veterinarian should assess the dog’s history and symptoms. The Merck Veterinary Manual’s owner guide also outlines common signs.
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Merck reports that bacteremia—the presence of bacteria in the blood—can begin roughly one to four weeks after exposure and may wax and wane. Antibodies may take weeks or sometimes longer to develop. These are not guaranteed timelines for an individual dog; they help explain why test results depend partly on when a sample is taken.
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Testing is not simply a routine blood panel. A veterinarian considers exposure and clinical history, then chooses and interprets laboratory tests. Routine CBC, chemistry, and urinalysis are typically normal. Serology and direct tests answer different questions, and no single result should be interpreted without considering the dog and the timing of sampling. Merck’s professional guidance describes culture or PCR as definitive approaches to organism identification, while serology is used for screening and alongside direct testing.
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| Test approach | Role | Important limitation |
|---|---|---|
| Serology | Screening and supporting assessment alongside direct tests | Antibodies can take weeks or longer to develop, so timing matters. |
| Culture | Direct organism isolation and identification | Intermittent bacteremia or shedding and low bacterial numbers can produce a false-negative result. |
| PCR | Direct organism detection | A negative result does not always exclude infection; intermittent shedding and low bacterial numbers can affect detection. |
Tell the veterinarian about suspected brucellosis before samples are submitted. CDC specifically advises notifying the laboratory so staff can take appropriate precautions. A negative test must be interpreted in light of exposure history, assay type, and sample timing; the veterinarian may recommend additional testing or follow-up when suspicion remains.
Can canine brucellosis be cured?
There is no treatment known to reliably eliminate B. canis infection or prevent relapse. A treated dog may continue to shed bacteria. CDC describes canine infection as non-curable, and the Merck Veterinary Manual says treatment is often discouraged because of zoonotic risk. No single antimicrobial protocol is agreed upon, so drug choices or dosing should not be attempted without a veterinarian. CDC’s animal-health guidance and Merck’s professional overview describe these limits.
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What management decisions may involve
The veterinarian can help weigh reducing exposure to people and other animals against the dog’s welfare, fertility, and the practical demands of long-term control. Merck says euthanasia may be recommended. If an owner declines euthanasia, its described management approach includes neutering, antimicrobials for at least two to three months, strict isolation, and long-term or lifelong monitoring. These measures do not guarantee that infection or shedding will stop. Decisions should be made with the veterinarian and, where applicable, state or local authorities.
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- Follow the veterinarian’s case plan. Ask what the result means in light of your dog’s history and which follow-up testing or monitoring is appropriate.
- Limit contact with other people and animals. Keep the dog separated, use a separate toileting area, and follow the veterinarian’s isolation instructions.
- Use careful hygiene during cleanup. CDC advises wearing gloves when handling urine or feces, using disposable bags to pick up excrement, and washing hands thoroughly afterward.
- Clean contaminated surfaces correctly. Wear gloves while disinfecting surfaces the dog uses. Allow the disinfectant to remain for the contact time specified in CDC guidance before wiping or scrubbing. Gloves do not replace handwashing, separation, or correct cleaning.
- Notify relevant professionals. Make sure veterinary staff and any laboratory handling samples know brucellosis is suspected or confirmed. Follow local reporting instructions.
- Arrange human-exposure advice if needed. Anyone who believes they were exposed should contact their local or state health department. Veterinary and laboratory workers should follow their occupational-health and biosafety procedures.
Routine human serology does not detect B. canis infection. If you seek medical advice after a possible exposure, tell the healthcare provider and laboratory specifically that B. canis exposure is possible. Do not self-diagnose or take antibiotics without medical direction. See the CDC clinical overview for human brucellosis information.
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How can breeders and kennel operators reduce risk?
Screen dogs before breeding and before they enter a breeding facility. Dogs with a history of brucellosis should not be bred. Merck describes screening serology at six-month intervals and strict isolation protocols as examples for breeding programs; the veterinarian and applicable authorities should determine the testing schedule and facility rules for a particular operation.
Is canine brucellosis reportable?
In the United States, B. canis is not nationally reportable, but it is reportable in many states. Reporting rules vary by jurisdiction and can change, so veterinarians and owners should check current state or local requirements when a case is suspected or confirmed. Merck notes that other Brucella species, including B. suis, B. abortus, and B. melitensis, are reportable in all U.S. states. CDC advises veterinarians to follow local reporting rules and says local health departments should be alerted to possible human infection.
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