A Dog Owner's Guide to Leptospirosis

Dogs and humans share vulnerability to many common infectious diseases, including the bacterial infection known as leptospirosis. Exposure to tainted water sources can increase your dog's risk of contracting this potentially deadly ailment, which fortunately responds to prompt veterinary attention.

Once you understand some key points about how dogs get leptospirosis, what symptoms to watch out for, how to seek treatment, and what kinds of preventative measures you can employ, you'll feel a lot better about your ability to protect your dog against this disease. Take a moment to review the following information.

Leptospirosis Causes

A variety of spiral-shaped bacteria known as Leptospira cause leptospirosis in dogs. These bacteria make their home in water, which means that they may inhabit creeks, lakes, puddles, and mud or damp soil. Rainy seasons and warm temperatures encourage the growth of leptospires, but these bacteria can flourish at any time.

Dogs can get leptospirosis by drinking tainted water, swimming in tainted bodies of water (which invites the bacteria to enter through any breaks in the skin), sitting on infected bedding, or having exposure to any other mammal infected with the disease. An infected pregnant dog can even spread the disease to unborn puppies.

Leptospirosis Symptoms and Complications

Some lucky dogs have sufficiently strong immune systems to fight off a leptospirosis infection. These animals may display nothing more serious than a fever, with the bacteria showing up in blood test results. However, they may still harbor traces of the bacteria in their kidneys, damaging these organs and making urine infectious.

Leptospirosis can spread through a dog's major organ systems, producing some alarming symptoms in the process. In addition to milder symptoms such as coughing and a runny nose, watch out for vomiting, diarrhea, jaundice (yellowing of the eyes and skin), breathing problems, muscle stiffness, and increased urination or thirst.

Untreated leptospirosis can threaten your dog's life in several ways. In addition to liver disease and kidney failure, the bacteria can cause blood vessel damage and interfere with normal blood coagulation, opening the door for hemorrhages to occur.

Bear in mind that both humans and dogs can contract leptospirosis. If your dog becomes infected, you and your family may also run a risk of getting the disease. The sooner you respond to signs of leptospirosis in your dog, the more effectively you can safeguard your whole family.

Leptospirosis Diagnosis and Treatment

Standard diagnostic laboratory tests, along with an examination of a dog's medical history and environment, can confirm a case of leptospirosis. Your veterinarian will analyze your dog's blood and urine for the bacteria in question. Tests can also measure your dog's immune response to determine the degree of infection.

Treatment for your dog's leptospirosis will depend on the severity of the condition. For instance, if your dog has experienced serious dehydration from vomiting and diarrhea, they may require acute care with drugs to stop fluid loss as well as intravenous fluids and nutrients. A hemorrhage may call for blood transfusions.

Antibiotics can kill leptospirosis, although the course of treatment may last for a month and produce some unpleasant side effects of its own. Your veterinarian may use penicillin to stop an acute leptospirosis infection, switching to tetracycline to kill any remaining bacteria in dogs that continue to carry the disease.

Leptospirosis Prevention

Vaccination can prove immensely helpful in protecting your dog against leptospirosis, although it may not address every bacterial variant of Leptospira. Your veterinarian may recommend this elective vaccination if your pet frequents local water sources or comes into contact with other animals that do the same.

Whether or not your dog receives a leptospirosis vaccination, you can and should take steps to reduce your dog's risk of exposure to the disease. Keep your dog away from potentially tainted watering holes and keep fresh, clean drinking water on hand when traveling with your dog.

Pet Medical Center of Vero Beach can provide any necessary evaluations, vaccinations, and treatment measures your dog may need to combat the threat of leptospirosis. Contact our clinic today for more information or to schedule an appointment.