A significant jump in Brucellosis cases has local vets concerned for dog and human health across the region.

Brucellosis is a reproductive disease carried by pigs that can infect and cause serious illness in dogs and humans.

With one human case recorded in Western NSW last month, NSW Health and local vets are urging piggers and dog owners to keep informed about the disease.

Any dogs used for pig hunting are at risk and can become infected by contacting infected pigs when hunting or by eating raw pig meat or offal.

NorthWest Vets’ Lydia Paine said brucellosis can be contracted when a dog contacts the bodily fluids from a feral pig.

"So blood, urine, saliva and especially birthing fluids," Dr Paine said. 

“Dogs can also contract it by eating pig meat, either carcasses when pigging or if the owner feeds pig meat at home.”

Dr Paine said the pigging community should be aware of the disease and how to prevent it.

Dr Kylie Parry said the Coonamble and Walgett veterinary clinics have diagnosed more cases in the past six months than they had in the previous decade.

"There is definitely an uptick," she said.

Humans can contract brucellosis through open wounds or broken skin, though NSW Health reports human cases to be extremely rare.

Dr Parry said it is important for dog owners to understand the disease, as a spike in diseased dogs could lead to an increase in human cases.

The clinical signs of Brucellosis in dogs can include back pain, lameness, swollen testicles, abortion / birthing difficulty, and fever.

"If your dog is showing any of these clinical signs, please make an appointment with your local veterinarian for a health assessment," Dr Paine said.

"A blood sample to test for Brucellosis can be collected at this time.”

"While awaiting test results, precautions should be taken to prevent human infection including wearing gloves and a mask when handling the dog/s, isolating them from other dogs and minimising handling as much as possible."

Currently, there is minimal evidence to support Brucellosis testing of healthy, asymptomatic dogs with no history of close contact with a diagnosed positive dog.

To protect your dogs when pig hunting, NSW DPI recommendations are as follows:

• Clean equipment, clothes and vehicles appropriately whilst wearing protective gear (goggles, mask and gloves) after each hunt.

• Do not feed raw feral pig meat, bones, blood, offal, testicles or other reproductive organs to dogs.

• Do not allow dogs to play with or feed on animal carcasses.

• Wash dogs after each hunt, preferably prior to leaving the hunting site, whilst wearing above listed protective gear and away from others.

• If dogs are wounded whilst hunting, use protective gear whilst administering first aid (cleaning and covering).

For more information about brucellosis visit this DPI website.

Note: Brucella suis causes illness in pigs, dogs and humans. It is NOT the same disease as Brucella ovis, which causes reproductive losses in sheep.