Canine Brucellosis Rapid Test: Screening Dogs Before Breeding

A canine brucellosis rapid test is a quick blood screen that looks for antibodies to Brucella canis, a germ that can cause late abortion and infertility in dogs. It is often used before breeding. A positive result usually needs confirmation, and a registered veterinarian reads it with the dog's history.

What does brucellosis do to a dog?

Brucellosis is an infection caused by a bacterium called Brucella canis. In a female dog it may cause a pregnancy that ends late, a litter of stillborn or weak pups, or trouble getting pregnant. In a male dog it may cause a swollen, painful scrotum or poor fertility. Some infected dogs look perfectly healthy, which is why the germ can spread without anyone noticing.

It passes mainly through mating, and through contact with vaginal discharge, aborted pups, afterbirth and sometimes the urine or semen of an infected dog. This is a different species of Brucella from the ones that affect farm animals, so this article is about dogs only.

Why screen a dog before breeding?

A mating brings two dogs together and, later, a litter and the people who care for it. An infected dog can pass the germ to its mate with no warning signs, and a lost litter is a heavy loss for any family or kennel. Screening before the mating gives your vet information before a pregnancy begins.

Both the female and the male dog can carry the germ, so it makes sense to think about both. A dog newly brought into a kennel is another case where a vet may suggest a check.

What does the rapid test look for?

Canine Brucellosis (Rapid Test) is a kit that looks for antibodies, the proteins a dog's body makes when it meets the germ. It needs a small blood sample, and kit tests are made for quick screening.

Two limits matter. Antibodies take time to appear after infection, so a dog tested too early can read negative while infected. And a rapid kit can sometimes react in a dog that is not infected. For these reasons a negative result does not always rule brucellosis out, and a positive one is usually checked with another test before anyone decides what it means.

When does a vet add RT-PCR?

Brucella canis RT-PCR is an RT-PCR (real-time PCR) test. It looks for the genetic material of the bacterium itself instead of the body's antibodies. Your vet may add it to confirm a positive rapid test, or when a dog has signs that fit brucellosis but the antibody kit is negative. The lab confirms the sample type when you book.

RT-PCR is not perfect either. A negative result from one sample does not always rule infection out, so your vet may repeat testing later. Your vet will also explain what a confirmed result means for the dog, for other dogs in the home and for breeding plans.

How do progesterone and a blood count fit in?

Brucellosis screening is only one part of preparing a female dog for breeding. Canine Progesterone (cProgesterone) is a hormone test that helps your vet choose a suitable time to mate her. A Complete Blood Count (CBC) gives a general picture of the red cells, white cells and platelets, so the vet can see whether she is healthy enough.

The Dog Breeding Check Pack typically groups the brucellosis rapid test, RT-PCR, progesterone and a vaginal smear for a female dog planned for breeding. The exact list is confirmed when you book, and your vet can change it.

How do you handle birth material safely?

Brucellosis can pass from dogs to people, although this is uncommon. If a female dog aborts or delivers stillborn pups, wear disposable gloves and wash your hands well with soap afterward. Do not touch your face while cleaning. Keep other dogs and children away from the discharge, afterbirth and pups until your vet advises.

Seal the material in a bag and ask your vet how to dispose of it and what to bring for tests. If you feel unwell with fever or body aches after contact, speak to a doctor and mention that your dog may have brucellosis. A pregnant dog with discharge, an abortion or a sudden change in behaviour should see a vet promptly, without waiting for lab results.

Read next

Timing is half of a good breeding plan, and Vaginal Cytology in Dogs: Timing the Heat and Breeding explains how a smear of cells helps show where a female dog is in her heat. For another blood check that vets use when calcium or bone questions arise in dogs, see Vitamin D in Dogs and Cats: When a Vet Checks It.

Testing in Bhopal

If you plan to breed, book the checks well ahead of the mating. Free sample collection covers every address in Bhopal, and the lab is at C-200, C Sector, Shahpura. Samples from other districts can arrive by courier, bus parcel or through your vet. Call or WhatsApp +91 88175 01118; the lab confirms the method, sample needs and reporting time when you book.