3 Things You Need To Know About Leptospirosis In Dogs
If you're like others who share your life and home with a canine companion, you naturally want your furry friend to enjoy good health, a long life, and a generally happy, struggle-free existence. A big part of achieving this is ensuring that your dog sees a vet for checkups on a regular basis and that they're kept current on vaccinations. Some vaccinations, such as the one for rabies, are mandatory for getting your pet licensed or for taking it on a commercial flight, but there are others you should consider as well. For instance, leptospirosis is becoming increasingly common in domestic dogs, and if your pet spends any time outdoors at all, you should ask your veterinarian about the leptospirosis vaccine.
Leptospirosis is a bacterial infection that can be spread by wildlife to domestic dogs — and in some cases, the infection can be transferred to people. The following are three things that you need to know about leptospirosis in dogs.
Leptospirosis Infections Are Passed Through Urine
Leptospirosis is passed from wild animals to domestic dogs through their urine. Since urine is basically invisible unless it's pooled on a paved surface, you have little way of knowing for sure if your dog has become infected until they begin to show symptoms — and by that time, it may be too late. Since dogs are naturally curious about odors, especially when they involve other animals, the risk of contracting leptospirosis is fairly high if you live in an area with wildlife such as raccoons, skunks, bears, or ground squirrels.
Leptospirosis Infections Damage Liver and Kidneys
The primary organs damaged by leptospirosis are the liver and kidneys. Although many dogs seem to bounce back quickly from this infection, small numbers of the bacteria often remain in the kidneys, and these may or may not flourish at a later date. Even if a recovered dog never becomes ill again, they still may carry the bacteria in their urine, posing a potential threat to other animals in the area.
Leptospirosis Infections Develop Quickly
Dogs that have gotten the leptospirosis infection usually begin to show symptoms within several days of exposure. Symptoms include general lethargy, vomiting, loss of appetite, and an increase in urination and thirst. In some cases, the animal may begin to show signs of jaundice such as yellowing of the eyes. It's essential to take the dog to the nearest 24/7 emergency veterinarian if you suspect that leptospirosis because if you wait until normal business hours, it may be too late.
Click here for more information or contact a local emergency vet clinic.
Share