23/10/2026
Bluetongue in dogs
There is a general lack of awareness that dogs can become infected with bluetongue virus and unfortunately in a small number of cases it can have severe consequences. Most dogs do not show any signs of infection but pregnant bi***es are at highest risk, particularly from mid pregnancy onwards. They can abort and tend to die shortly afterwards due to fluid in their lungs. Bleeding disorders, resulting in spontaneous haemorrhages, can also occur occasionally in dogs due to the infection. The main source of virus for dogs is believed to be from eating infected raw meat. It is therefore advisable to avoid feeding pregnant dogs raw meat whilst there is bluetongue virus in the country. Take steps to prevent farm dogs from being able to access ruminant carcases, abortion material and placentas. Although there is some evidence that midges may occasionally be the source of the virus for dogs they much prefer biting cattle and sheep.
We suspect there have been some bluetongue cases in dogs in Wales. One involved two bi***es on the same premises, which aborted in mid pregnancy and then died and there was evidence of large amounts of fluid in their lungs. They had eaten part of a sheep which was believed to have died from bluetongue. There was also another possible case, also in Wales, involving multiple dogs, where one died from a bleeding disorder, others were ill and the dogs involved had been fed carcase meat. Whilst bluetongue is a notifiable disease in livestock it is not in dogs so unfortunately it has not been possible to confirm the diagnosis in these cases as testing is being restricted to ruminants and camelids.
