A dog carrying brucellosis may have no visible signs of infection. But contact with the rest of your dogs will likely make them sterile and result in failed pregnancies and dead puppies. There is no cure. Always quarantine new dogs for 14 days an

There is a great deal of misunderstanding about the bacterial disease brucellosis. Interestingly, there also seems to be misunderstanding at some veterinary offices as well.

Brucellosis is a contagious disease caused by the bacterium Brucella canis. It is one of the leading causes of infertility in breeding stock. It occurs worldwide, affects all kinds of dogs, purebred and not, and can also be transmitted from dogs to humans. Other animals that can be affected with brucellosis include livestock such as sheep, cattle, and goats, as well as wildlife, including bison, elk, and wild pigs. In dogs, a classic sign of brucellosis is abortion during the third trimester of pregnancy. Other signs include stillbirths, conception failures, and litter resorption. Some infected dogs may show no symptoms, however In humans, clinical symptoms vary. They range from mild, nonspecific or flulike symptoms to infertility or serious cardiac or neurological problems.

In dogs, the bacteria tend to attack the reproductive organs (steroid-dependent tissues) but can also migrate to the eyes, spinal column, liver, spleen, and lymph nodes.