Tetanus
The bacteria Clostridium has many different subgroups, each of which can cause a different disease. Clostridiums are responsible for many cases of food poisoning, for example, and another type of Clostridium causes Botulism.
Tetanus is caused by a neuro-toxin made by the germ known as Clostridium tetani. This germ can survive in the soil and if it gets in a cut or wound, the germ will multiply and then release it's toxin.
Dogs and cats seem to a fair amount of natural resistance to Tetanus.
(Other species, especially horses, are more sensitive and should be vaccinated.)
However, occassionally dogs and cats do get tetanus. The signs include muscle stiffness, aches, and pains in minor cases and increased salivation, muscle spasms, and lockjaw in more severe cases.
There isn't a vaccine available for dogs and cats.
There is an anti-toxin, but using it is somewhat dangerous as it may cause an anaphylaxic reaction.
Treatment involves high doses of combinations of penicillin G, tetracycline, and metronidazole antibiotics, control of the seizures, and lots of supportive care to include IV Fluids.
Sometimes the muscles spasms in this disease are so severe the patient can't swallow and a feeding tube must be inserted into the esophagus. And sometimes the muscle spasms are bad enough to cause heart attacks.
In milder and moderate cases, treatment is often sucessful but requires up to several weeks of expensive hospitalization. The more severe cases usually die.
