Illness in Dogs
 

Hi
Considering moving to Spain but concerned over repotrs of nasty illnesses the dogs get. In particular from Sandfly bites. Any experiance

Ian Rob

Re: Illness in Dogs
 

Hi Ian

We bought both our dogs with us when we moved out over two years ago, yes there are a couple of nasty illness's but find a local vet and you will get all the help you need, special collars etc.
The locals around us do not bother with precautions but then they do not seem to care in quite the same way about their animals, but they are not falling over with disease's.

Ours settled in very well, and are as happy and contented as they were in the UK.
So worry not, just go to the local vet when you arrive.
pwwm

Re: Illness in Dogs
 

Leishmaniosis and heart worm are the two that you've probably heard about. Leishmaniosis is the one spread by the sandfly, well it's a mosquito actually. I understand that Andalucia has the most cases of this in the whole of Spain. There are special collars to protect agaist this, but nothing is certain.

Heartworm, which is also very nasty and can also be terminal, can be kept at bay by either an annual injection, tablets or by, such as in our case, giving the dog a dose of liquid medicine monthly.

As the previous post said, the locals don't seem to take precautions and dogs aren't dropping down dead around us. However, on the other hand, we know personally of at least 4 people whose dogs have had either one or other of these diseases.

I don't want to panic you, but you can find these facts out by looking on the internet.

Re: Illness in Dogs
 

I know of a Cocker spaniel who was diagnosed with Heart worm whilst being spayed but after treatment the lucky dog has now been given the all clear.
She did belong to a Spanish family who "lost" her, she was found by a friend. She has now been adopted into an English family.
pwwm

Re: Illness in Dogs
 

Thanks for the response, our UK vet very concerned about LEISHMANIOSIS and gave impression almost certain to contract it. Collars only helping & not stopping it. Hence interested in on the spot experiences. How did the dogs travel?

Re: Illness in Dogs
 

Hi Ian

We bought the dogs over by car, used the tunnel and drove down stopping every two hours, none the worse for it especially as both getting on in years.

Re LEISHMANIOSIS I have not met anyone whose dogs have contracted it, we have been very careful and as I said in my first post we contacted a vet as soon as we arrived. The vets do take it seriously and will do all they can to prevent any animal contracting it.

I would not let any horror stories stopping you bringing them over, just need to take as many precautions as possible, The worst I have seen here is cases of animals being poisened, that was nasty.

We have many friends here who have bought dogs over and all have lived a good life.

Best of luck I hope you take the plunge and bring him/her.

pwwm :)

Re: Illness in Dogs
 

Thanks for the comfort. How have you taken to the change in lifestyle?

Re: Illness in Dogs
 

Definitely yes

Re: Illness in Dogs
 

I live in Barcelona with 2 cats and have just bought a place in Granada - I'm taking my cats down there on a regular basis (where they'll have free roam of the countryside) & after reading these comments I'm wondering if there's any diseases I should be aware of in cats???

Re: Illness in Dogs
 

I'd agree with jjh's post.

You shouldn't underestimate leishmaniasis as it is about, pretty much all over Spain and it does kill and is killing dogs.

There is no cure, and animals that aren't treated die a not too pleasant death.

I've seen people not bother to invest 20 euros in a collar then spend hundreds in treatment on their dogs - our neighbours are one example.

There was an article in the Valencia Post - download issue 2 highlights, about the disease.

Re: Illness in Dogs
 

Hi Svenskidoo,

How do I get hold of a collar for Leishmaniosis. Do they sell them at supermarkets or do I have to go to a pet shop or vets? We`re in Spain next week so might as well get it then ready for our big move in December.

Regards Sam

Re: Illness in Dogs
 

You can get a Collar at any. They are not specifically for Leishmaniosis and work by trying to stop the sandfly and mosquito biting.

30% of Dogs are estimated to have the disease in the area you are moving to.

Best
Loco

PS: There is a Spanish Vet in Lepe who speaks very good English should you need one

Re: Illness in Dogs
 

We get our collar from the pet shop. The vet can give you more information on what to use but we use one called Scalibor, which is meant to be the best.

For more information on Leishmaniosis type it into Google and you'll get the what not to do's, like leaving the dog out at dusk when the mosquito is most active. I'm not sure if there's a season or not, but you could ask the vet.

I hope all goes well with your move.

Re: Illness in Dogs
 

Hi jjh,

Thanks for the info. As it happens I am just sat looking at a website I found through google www.paws-patas.org it has a very good article on Leishmaniosis. The season runs (so it says) from April till the end of November, but I think I`ll still get a collar when we move over just in case.

Sam

Re: Illness in Dogs
 

Scalibor is the best collar to get and you can get them from pet shops and chemists. I haven't seen any supermarket that sells them directly (around here anyway) although usually at the big hipermercados there will be a pet shop in the surrounding complex.

There are flea and anti parasite collars but most of these will not protect you against leish.

Re: Illness in Dogs
 

Check out these two sites, they give a lot of info, www.leishmaniasis.info and www.heartwormsociety.org Some of the pictures may turn your stomach. Heartworm seems to be the worse and my vet used to work in Africa and has seen cows hearts with up to 250 worms inside,nasty.

Re: Illness in Dogs
 

Hi Sam

We keep our dog's collar on all year and it has to be changed every 6 months.
Hope all the info you've had helps.

Regards

JJ

Re: Illness in Dogs
 

Hi JJH,

We are over in Spain this Friday so hope to pick a collar up then so he has it ready for the big move in 4 weeks time, because I dont think I will be able to leave him on his own for the first few days to go and look for one after the flight.

Changing the subject (I know this has been covered before, but I need some reassurance now its so near). How did your dog cope with the journey. We are flying our dog, he is car sick so we decided to fly him because the journeys a lot shorter. I`m an absolute bag of nerves and keep phoning Monarch airlines to put my mind at rest. And to make things worse we`ve got to drop him off at cargo at 4-30 in the morning. He`s going to wonder what the hecks going on when he`s normally fast asleep at that time.

Oh dear, I`ve just read this post back and I sound a right one. But I`m just worried about him.

Regards Sam

Re: Illness in Dogs
 

Hi Sam

I'm afraid I can't help you with that one as Tula is/was a street dog, who we picked up at 2 months old. However, I'm sure there are lots on this forum who can help. Also if you go to the forum at andalucia.com I know there are previous threads on this subject. If you can't find them, then post your own. You've got a few weeks yet and I'm sure someone will help.

All the very best of luck.

JJ

Re: Illness in Dogs
 

thank you for mentioning heart worm

its reached south of france and is creeping up the east side :(

its mosquito based, the mossi has to use a dog as a donah and then from this can infect others.

Its not nice, if caught it can be cured, but often too late once you know :(

although i did not know cats can get ti too :eek: so thank for the links

and the UK go loopy over rabies???? last case was??????? does not exist here. I'd be more worried to get bitten by some hag on a UK shopping mall.

Re: Illness in Dogs
 

Hi Ian

Sorry re late reply been dog sitting in the UK.
Firstly we also keep the collars on all year around,

Also your question as to how we have settled, well the answer is very well, the locals have excepted us and as I have only been home for six hours and already they have been in bring fresh produce with them.
I have no regrets, miss the kids but then............. After all how long does it take to fly back. I was asked how often do I go "home" I replied by saying this is home I go to the UK for my Hols! see family and friends and then back.

No regrets, not been terribly easy for some of the time but I would not have expected anything else, we live in a predominantly Spanish community so are having to speak the language but that is not too big a problem, noticed recently we are not using the dictionary as often, even better when Louis-Pasteur (yes you hear it correctly, local vet) speaks English

If you want any info send me a pm or email
regards pwwm :)

Re: Illness in Dogs
 

Thanks for the response, we are cowards and will leave the escape until ours pass on, not that long now.
All the best

Ian

Re: Illness in Dogs
 

Hope all goes well with the move, do not be put off having any other dogs over here, just take the prcautions and all should go well.
Have a good move and hope you enjoy it as much as we do.
Regards Pwwm :)