Infectious disease

Tetanus

Emergency

Also known as: Lockjaw; Clostridium tetani

EMERGENCY. This condition can be life-threatening. Take your dog to a veterinarian immediately. See the Emergency & first aid chapter for triage.

Overview

A toxin produced by bacteria that grow in a deep, dirty, oxygen-poor wound — a puncture, a bite, a nail injury, or a fresh castration or umbilical wound. Dogs are considerably more resistant than horses or humans, so tetanus is uncommon, but in many regions the combination of soil contamination and untreated wounds makes it a genuine risk, and it is worth recognising. The signature is progressive, generalised muscle rigidity with a fixed facial expression, and spasms provoked by any stimulus. It is a critical-care emergency: affected dogs need intensive nursing in a dark, quiet room, wound management, muscle relaxation and antimicrobial classes chosen by the vet, and sometimes weeks of support, and many still die. Prevention is prompt, thorough cleaning of every deep or dirty wound — the same message as the myiasis and bite-wound entries.

What you would notice

  • Stiff, stilted, 'sawhorse' gait; a rigid, board-like body
  • Wrinkled forehead, ears drawn back, lips pulled into a fixed grin
  • Third eyelid protruding across the eye
  • Inability to open the jaw ('lockjaw'), difficulty eating and swallowing
  • Violent spasms triggered by noise, light, or touch
  • Usually a wound in the preceding 1–3 weeks, which may look healed
Non-prescriptive. This entry deliberately does NOT name specific drugs, doses, routes, or durations. Treatment decisions rest with a licensed veterinarian who has examined your dog and considered its history.
Draft — vet review pending. This entry has not yet been signed off by a registered veterinarian.

Sources

  • Merck Veterinary Manual (merckvetmanual.com)
  • MSD Veterinary Manual (msdvetmanual.com)
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