A threatening killer disease of dogs in suburban Harare in 2023-2024
BY DR. TONY M. MONDA
Domestic pets as well as livestock and are vulnerable to numerous diseases. Animal health care systems, particularly in developing countries, such as Zimbabwe, are highly compromised, due to the animal owner’s negligence and the lack of appropriate veterinary care services and medical supplies.
Domestic pets like dogs and cats, are prone to many virulent diseases, such as parvo-virus, canine hepatitis, parainfluenza, canine distemper virus and the illusive, Acute Hemorrhagic Diarrhea Syndrome, also known as AHDS.
At unkempt urban buildings and mushrooming illegal dumping sites in and around Harare, lie carcasses of dogs or cats that have died from the mysterious diseases Acute Hemorrhagic Diarrhea Syndrome (AHDS).
Dogs, usually left behind by residents returning to the Diaspora to guard their premises are left unfed by their keepers, to stray scavenging for food around food vending areas and rubbish dumps. As a result, a number of dogs have been compromised by this highly virulent contagion.
According to Veterinary Medical Solutions, the disease AHDS which has become more pronounced since 2021, is as mysterious as it is fatal. It is an idiopathic dog disease; which due to its complexity, its exact cause remains unknown.
According to two fellow veterinarians, Dr. Tara Sharpe from the University of Washington, Seattle, and Dr. Lorraine Carter from the Washington State University’s College of Veterinary Medicine, AHDS is “a stealthy, unannounced cluster of conditions that can affect any breed, age, size or gender of dog, but is more common in small breed dogs, such as Yorkshire Terriers, Maltese, Miniature Huskies, Dachshunds, Jack Russell Terriers, Shetland Sheep Dogs, Staffordshire Bull Terriers, Spaniels, etc., and are particularly difficult to diagnose”.
Larger (exotic) dog breeds such as Great Danes, Mastiffs, Rottweilers, St. Bernard’s and Greyhounds, that are typically unvaccinated, may show initial resistance and may take a little longer to exhibit symptoms of this disease but react more severely to it. Even local breeds such as the Zimbabwean Ridgeback and the indigenous Canis Africanus are susceptible to AHDS.
In his papers the late Dr Dexter Chavunduka, who studied at Edinburgh University, Scotland, described AHDS as: “a complex syndrome with a myriad of causes and symptoms, affecting dogs instantaneously and requiring urgent appropriate supportive care with intravenous fluid therapy and anti-biotic treatment”.
But, unfortunately, there is a shortage of antibiotics in the country, and the national supply has not been restocked since the advent of COVID- 2019.
Owing to its complexity, and the rapid onset of the dysfunction of internal organs, accompanied by profuse diarrhea, fever and wasting, Acute Hemorrhagic Diarrhea Syndrome (AHDS), has to be treated swiftly and timeously.
Due to the fact that there are so many possible causes of AHDS, an accurate diagnosis is often a process of eliminating other causes of bloody stools, lethargy and gastro intestinal distress.
Diagnosis of the condition may be challenging and may require clinical tests such as a complete blood count (CBC), urinalysis, and biochemical analysis of the blood, fecal evaluation and an endoscopic examination of the gastro intestinal tract.
In simple medical terms, a syndrome is any combination of signs or symptoms and clinical indications that are indicative of a particular disease or disorder normally associated with a particular ailment. So, what exactly is Acute Hemorrhagic Diarrhea Syndrome (AHDS)?
Acute Hemorrhagic Diarrhea Syndrome (AHDS), also known as Hemorrhagic Gastroenteritis (HGE), is a severe clinical disorder of dogs characterised by vomiting and bloody diarrhea.
Most cases occur without warning in otherwise healthy dogs.
According to Drs Tammy Hunter and Dr. Ernest Ward (DVM), “the main and most disturbing clinical sign is large amounts of bloody diarrhea, very often, bright red. Some dogs may have a painful abdomen, decreased appetite, fatigue or fever”.
Apart from these symptoms, I have also observed hyper salivation, runny mucus and grainy coffee-coloured lumps and grass in the scarlet-stained stools as well as dizzy uncoordinated mobility in the movements of the dogs.
Pathologically, AHDS may first manifest as seizures and convulsions and its diagnosis can be mistaken for epileptic fits, following which the dog displays symptoms of para-amnesia and not recognise its owners. These pronounced behavioural changes will vary but will occur in smaller dog breeds.
The animal will be aloof and non-responsive, often hiding in a cool secluded spot, preferring to drink from sandy or muddy puddles rather than drinking bowls – indicative of dehydration and iron and calcium deficiency.
A common denominator in all the cases I witnessed in Zimbabwe so far is that the dogs are kept where construction on wetlands takes place, with an accumulation of building sand, cement, paint, chemicals, take-away food boxes, fast-foods packs, plastic and dog faeces with other general trash and debris.
Due to irregular waste disposal being undertaken throughout the city and suburbs, there is a growing accumulation of suburban dump sites, often frequented by these unfortunate dogs, stray cats and naturally, disease-carrying rats, in search of food.
Latest bio-chemical research in cross-discipline veterinary discourse indicates that AHDS may be an allergic reaction to food, inhalants or chemicals, particularly those used in the construction industry.
Farm dogs may also contract the condition from sites with discarded agro-chemicals, fertilizers, pesticides or other such farm waste. Additionally, AHDS in Zimbabwe may be related to dietary indiscretion, such as ingesting non-food items and foreign bodies. For instance, contaminated chicken carcasses, birds, rodents, kaylite/plastic take-away containers, and industrial toxins; all of point to a lack of environmental management in urban areas which increase chances of dogs contracting illnesses.
Anxiety and stress in inhospitable urban township and industrial environments are also thought to be other major contributing factors for dogs to contract AHDS. Dogs should be kept in enclosed environments with good clean flora and shade trees and taken for regular walks or slow jogging exercises.
Since some of the common causes of AHDS are known, it is advisable for dog owners to feed their animals a regular good quality diet that must include protein, which offers the dog easy digestion and balanced nutrition; daily fresh clean drinking water, clean bedding and a clean environment with cut grass and shade trees.
Additionally, all pets must be regularly washed and powdered for fleas and mites and all refuse and dog faeces must be removed daily from the yard by the caretakers and disposed of hygienically to prevent the spread of contagions.
Both, the Harare City Council and the SPCA’s are found wanting in such cases. Dog owners need to ensure their dogs are kept in their yards and the Harare City Council and the Zimbabwe SPCA’s mobile units must ensure this is done. Dogs ostensibly kept chained up as guards on building sites and empty plots are particularly vulnerable.
Additionally, all domestic dogs must be compulsorily vaccinated according to law, if we are to contain the spread of this silent, mysterious urban dog killer and other animal diseases that are on the increase in Zimbabwe.
Dr. Tony M. Monda holds a BSc. DVM, MPVM and is a veterinary medical epidemiologist in Zimbabwe. E-mail tonym.MONDA@gmail.com
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