Mycoplasma in Dogs
The most chilling of all the potential symptoms is an entire litter stillborn



Mycoplasma in dogs is estimated to affect as many as 50% of all male dogs and as high as 75% of all females of any age group and breed.

It can produce a wide range of symptoms and conditions with the prevalent ones being abortion and infertility.

It is a very hard infection to treat and there have been reported cases that even after several months of extensive antibiotic therapy it is still found in the system.

This wicked infection can also cause several respiratory and internal conditions in your dog.

It is also very easy to confuse with other diseases that can cause abortions, infertility, as well as renal or urological disorders.

The best chance your dog has in fighting this mysterious and wicked disease is with a very strong immune system.

WHAT IS MYCOPLASMA IN DOGS

Sleeping puppyMycoplasma in dogs worst symptom you will hear is coughing

Mycoplasma in dogs is a bacterial infection that is so mysterious that it is not unusual for your dog to have this infection but show absolutely no symptoms at all.

However, if your dog is compromised in any way with a weakened immune system the results can range from mild to extreme.

It will all depend on the condition of your dog’s immune system and how it reacts.

Mycoplasmas are the smallest and the simplest organisms that are known and they are not new.

Discovered over 100 years ago, they are believed to have evolved from bacteria.

The common form of infection from this organism was not believed to be associated with any type of a serious illness or disease.

However, in the last 30 years, all that has changed as the organism has somehow altered itself and has become much more lethal.

It has been strongly suggested that this organism may have been altered for usage in germ warfare and as a result has become much more dangerous to dogs as well as humans.

Unlike bacteria, Mycoplasma has no cell wall which enables it to invade tissue cells.

This is especially dangerous to your dog as once inside of these cells it can take the nutrients from the cell and use the cell itself to replicate.

When it breaks out of your dog’s cell, it takes a piece of the host cell that it attacks with it.

Once this happens and your dog’s immune system attacks it, it will also attack the host cell.

This is now an extremely dangerous situation as an autoimmune condition will begin in your pet which is a situation where your dog’s immune system is attacking itself.

This can set off a series of events where the Mycoplasma cells will than invade tissue as well as your pet’s blood and can cause systematic infections in numerous organs.

THE MOST CHILLING SYMPTOM WILL BE COUGHING

There are several symptoms that you can watch for in Mycoplasma in dogs. The first set of symptoms that will surface in your dog will sneezing and sniffling.

This may also be accompanied by coughing which could be the most chilling of all the symptoms as coughing is extremely uncommon in dogs, especially if it persists.

All dogs will cough if something gets stuck in their throat or they have eaten or drank too quickly, but a persistent cough is a very troubling symptom that should not be ignored.

Other symptoms in Mycoplasma in dogs that you can watch for are frequent urination, straining to urinate, or blood in their urine.

Any of these symptoms could be signs that organs such as the kidney or bladder have become infected.

But there is another serious symptom to watch for called Colitis.

Colitis is an inflammation of the colon or large intestine in your dog and causes bloody diarrhea.

In most cases it is only temporary and caused by a bacterial infection, but if it becomes chronic, it may be caused by this mysterious form of infection.

However, the most chilling symptoms that this infection has attacked your pet’s immune system will be in the form of abortion or still born litters, as well as a sudden infertility.

Males that are infected with Mycoplasma can produce fertility problems with or without any evidence at all of a testicular infection or swelling.

Infection from this organism can lead to an inflammation that will create problems with the production of sperm and if severe enough, stop it altogether.

Mycoplasma in dogs can also cause the alteration of sperm in its mobility and interfere with its metabolism.

When this happens, it inhibits the sperms ability to recognize the ova.

Ovum, which is plural for ova, is the mature eggs released during ovulation.

This organism can also cause damage to the ova and as a result impair its ability to penetrate because of the autoimmune attacks.

Because of this, breeding should not be allowed until a dog has tested positive that this organism is no longer in their system.

But that is one of the real mysteries of this organism and why it is so very hard to properly treat and eliminate it.

There have been several cases where even after months of intensive antibiotics the infection will still show up in your dog’s system even if there are no symptoms.

For this reason, stud dogs should not be allowed to breed with any female that is suspected of having the infection.

TREATING IT IS VERY DIFFICULT

Treatment of Mycoplasma in dogs can be extremely difficult simply because this disease is still such a mystery and because it is believed that this organism may have been genetically altered.

Because of this, your veterinarian will have to rule out several other potential causes depending on where your pet has been attacked.

If it is a respiratory infection they will have to rule out other forms of bacterial infections as well as viral infections such as distemper.

If it is has caused infertility or an abortion in your dog they will have to rule out any type of bacterial diseases such as Brucella or Campylobacter.

After these major factors have been ruled out, antibiotic therapy will be used and in most cases it will take several months to get all of the infection, if it can.

Summary

Mycoplasma in dogs is an extremely difficult disease to treat and is still a mystery of why it has become so difficult to get results.

But there is one thing that is certain with this very difficult infection.

If your dog has a weak or compromised immune system they are much more likely to have an autoimmune reaction than those dogs with a very strong immune system.

Supplementing your dogs with vitamins and minerals will build their immune system to withstand threats such as Mycoplasma.

Pet Medications for Mycoplasma in Dogs

Dog Vitamin Store

Reproductive Stages in Dogs