THE British Veterinary Association (BVA) has issued a strong reminder to members of the public in Devon about the serious disease risks from importing dogs from abroad and is urging all prospective dog owners to protect the health of dogs and humans in the UK by rehoming dogs from within the country instead.

BVA is also re-issuing its calls to Government to tighten pet import rules.

The advice follows news earlier this month about a positive Brucella canis test in a rescue dog imported from Belarus in March this year.

The woman fostering the dog was hospitalised after coming into close contact with it, in the UK’s first confirmed dog-to-human transmission of this zoonotic disease.

The foster animal and four pet dogs who were exposed to the disease all had to be euthanised.

Stray dogs in some European countries and other parts of the world often live in harsh conditions.

Along with Brucella canis, they may harbour other undetected and potentially life-threatening exotic diseases not found in the UK, such as leishmaniasis, rabies, canine babesiosis and heartworm, without showing any outward clinical symptoms.

When imported into the UK, such chronically infected “Trojan”, or carrier, dogs risk passing on the infections to susceptible pets and, in the case of some diseases, to humans as well.

These infections can be difficult to detect or successfully treat in such carrier dogs.

Data released by the Government shows a steep rise in confirmed Brucella canis cases since the start of 2020, rising from just three before that year to 107 till July this year.

The dogs were all either imported from countries such as Romania, Bosnia, Greece, and Belarus, returned from holiday overseas, or been bred with an imported dog.

The Brucella canis bacterium causes canine brucellosis, an infectious disease that leads to often painful and chronic illness in dogs, as well as serious health risks to humans and other dogs exposed to them.

Symptoms in dogs include reproductive issues, including miscarriages during the last trimester of pregnancy in females and inflammation of the prostrate and testicles in males, as well as spinal problems in chronic cases. Treatment is often unsuccessful, and, in many cases, vets will recommend euthanasia keeping in mind the welfare of the dog.

British Veterinary Association President Justine Shotton said: “With thousands of dogs needing homes within the UK, the British Veterinary Association is strongly urging prospective owners to adopt from a UK-based rehoming charity instead.

“You can also support organisations in countries abroad to rescue and rehabilitate any stray animals locally.”

While rescue dogs are a particular risk group for Brucella canis, importing any dog from countries with high levels of stray dog populations and known presence of the disease will carry a risk. This includes puppies bred for commercial sale in such countries.

BVA advises anyone looking to adopt or buy an imported dog to make sure it has been tested for this disease and neutered before being brought into the UK.

BVA’s recommendations on tightening pet travel legislation are available to read at: https://www.bva.co.uk .

The Animal Welfare Foundation has produced a pet travel leaflet with more information on dangerous exotic diseases at: https://www.animalwelfarefoundation.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2017/06/Taking-Your-Pets-Abroad.pdf .