Please note – this page is a work in progress (Feb 2026) based on information given by a vet and a RVN. The information has not yet been double checked by the vet.
We provide this infomation according to our best understanding. However, the most important thing is to discuss your choice to adopt a dog from overseas with your vet, with regard to your own situation.
Currently, the situation with Brucella is evolving and many institutions are updating their guidelines to be more helpful about managing a dog with a positive test. However, some vets will still recommend euthanasia for dogs with a positive test.
What is Brucella canis?
Brucella canis is a bacterial infection that affects dogs. It is primarily transmitted through reproductive fluids (for example during mating or birth and is most commonly seen in unneutered dogs. Many infected dogs show no symptoms at all, while others may develop a limp, or spine issues, or reproductive problems
Human infection is rare, and the risk to the general public is considered very low, particularly where dogs are neutered and normal hygiene practices are followed.
Testing and its limitations
All our dogs are tested before import and we are currently moving to a system of two tests before importation. However it is important to note that no test can guarantee that a dog will never develop this disease. Testing and neutering reduce risk significantly, but a small residual uncertainty always remains.
- Brucella tests are highly accurate, but not perfect.
- Even repeated testing cannot completely eliminate uncertainty
More detail in the section below
Neutering and transmission risk
Neutering significantly reduces the risk of Brucella transmission.
- In entire dogs, bacteria may be present in reproductive organs and semen
- After neutering, transmission risk drops substantially
- Neutered dogs are considered low to very low risk to both humans and other dogs
Risk to people in the household
For most households, the risk is very low. If you, or a member of your household, is pregnant, immunocompromised, very young, or elderly, you may wish to take extra care when adopting any dog, particularly one imported from overseas. While the risk of Brucella canis transmission to humans is low, even in a dog with active infection, people in these groups may be more vulnerable to severe illness if infection were to occur. For this reason, we recommend discussing your household circumstances with your vet before adoption, following good hygiene practices, and considering whether additional precautions or timing adjustments are appropriate for your situation.
According to current infomation, casual contact such as petting, walking, playing, or normal handling poses negligible risk. Good hygiene (hand washing, sensible cleaning of blood or urine) is sufficient.
PDSA advice:
“If you, or a member of your household, is pregnant, has a weak immune system, or is a young child, you may wish to consider limiting interactions with an infected dog, as there is a higher risk of developing severe disease if infection were to occur.”
source: PDSA Brucella Advice
Other routes of exposure
- Blood: theoretical risk if bacteria are circulating; infection would require contact with broken skin or mucous membranes
- Urine: possible low-level shedding during active infection especially in entire dogs; risk requires significant exposure
- Saliva and faeces: possible – but there is no strong evidence of transmission via these routes
Normal hygiene measures are sufficient.
Boarding, walkers, and insurance considerations
Some boarding kennels, groomers, or group walking services may decline dogs labelled as Brucella-positive due to insurance or policy requirements, even when biological risk is minimal.
This is a policy issue, not necessarily a reflection of actual transmission risk. In-home pet sitting is often an alternative.
Retesting after arrival
Many UK vets now insist on Brucella testing of an imported dog. We support this, and will pay for the test. Most vets now charge these tests at their cost price of around £50, but adopters should confirm with their own practice. We recommend adopters discuss repeat testing with their vet, usually around 3–6 months after import:
- Around 3 months for Brucella (incubation period)
- Around 6 months for other imported diseases such as leishmaniosis
Vets differ in timing of repeat tests, which tests they prefer, how results are interpreted, and, most significantly, in their recommendations in case of a positive test. Many vets now have a much more progressive view of Brucella, but some still recommend euthanasia in case of a positive test. Some vets will insist on retesting after a dog has been abroad on holiday.
Another consideration is that if you were away from home, some UK vets will not treat a dogs from overseas, even in an emergency, unless it has a clear test done at least three months after arrival inn the UK.
Short FAQ
Can a healthy dog test positive?
Yes. Dogs with exposure to the disease frequently show no symptoms. Additionally, false positives and cross-reactivity can occur.
Why retest if it’s not definitive?
Retesting helps (but cannot always) build a clearer picture over time, even though it cannot eliminate uncertainty.
What is the risk to me, my dogs and household?
Risk is very low, especially with neutered dogs and good hygiene.
Does a negative test guarantee safety?
No test can provide a lifetime guarantee, for any dog.
Useful information
PDSA guidelines for Brucella – a good overview of the practicalities
https://www.pdsa.org.uk/pet-help-and-advice/pet-health-hub/conditions/brucellosis-in-dogs
UK government’s risk assesment
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/hairs-risk-assessment-brucella-canis/hairs-risk-assessment-brucella-canis
“Outcome of probability assessmentThe probability of human infection with B. canis in the general UK population is considered Very Low.
The probability of infection for individuals with greater likelihood of exposure to B. canis infected dogs or contaminated materials (for example dog breeders, kennel, veterinary and laboratory staff and owners of infected dogs, especially those which are breeding or birthing) would be considered Low.”
More Detailed Information
Sensitivity and specificity — what the numbers really mean
Brucella tests are often described as being around 95% sensitive and around 99% specific. These sound reassuringly high — and they are — but it’s important to understand what they mean in practice.
Sensitivity (~95%)
This means that if 100 dogs truly do have Brucella canis, the test will correctly identify about 95 of them.
Around 5 out of 100 infected dogs could test negative (a false negative), particularly early in infection.
Specificity (~99%)
This means that if 100 dogs truly do not have Brucella canis, about 99 of them will correctly test negative.
About 1 out of 100 healthy dogs may test positive even though they are not infected (a false positive).
What this means in practice
These figures matter most in low-prevalence populations, where very few dogs are actually infected (which includes the UK)
For example:
- If you tested 300 dogs in the UK (approximately the number that SOFA has)
- Even if none of them truly had Brucella canis
- A test with 99% specificity could still produce 2–3 false positive results
Those dogs may sometimes even test positive more than once, despite not having an active Brucella infection. So a positive result does not automatically mean a dog is infected.
Why false positives can occur
The ELISA test detects antibodies (not the bacteria itself). Dogs can carry antibodies from other infections that cross-react with Brucella tests. As a result, a dog may test positive more than once without having Brucella canis. Testing helps to manage the risk responsibly, but it cannot eliminate uncertainty entirely.