Leptospirosis is an infectious disease which is readily passed to dogs through contact with urine from other animals infected with leptospirosis. Carriers of leptospirosis may be rodents, skunks, raccoons and other infected animals, including both dogs and people.
Cause of Leptospirosis in Dogs
Leptospirosis in dogs is caused by a bacteria, Leptospira interrogans. There are many serovars (or subtypes) of Leptospira, with over 200 different serovars currently recognized world-wide.
Leptospirosis is spread through contact with infected body fluids, most commonly urine. Dogs as well as people are often infected through contact with contaminated urine or soil.
Leptospirosis in Dogs Causes Liver and/or Kidney Disease
Leptospirosis in dogs can affect either the liver or the kidneys and can cause disease in both organ systems simultaneously. Though leptospirosis in dogs is treatable with antibiotics such as penicillin, leptospirosis is a serious infection which can be fatal.
Symptoms of dogs infected with leptospirosis include:
- weight loss
- fever
- lack of appetite
- vomiting, nausea
- lethargy
- depression
- muscle or joint pain
- diarrhea
- bloody urine
- excessive thirst
- jaundice (yellowing of gums, skin and other mucous membranes)
- excessive bleeding (due to low platelet counts)
- uveitis (changes in the eye)
Treatment of Leptospirosis in Dogs
The cornerstone of treatment for leptospirosis in dogs are antibiotics. Often, more than one type of antibiotic is used because medications such as penicillin are effective in stopping the bacteria from reproducing and spreading in the blood stream. However, other antibiotics, such as tetracyclines or fluoroquinolones, are better at clearing the leptospira organisms from the kidney.
Simultaneous to antibiotic treatment, supportive treatment in the form of fluid therapy is needed to encourage adequate blood flow through the kidneys in an attempt to reduce and/or correct the renal damage done by the infection. In more severe cases, hemodialysis (a machine that functions as an artificial kidney) may be indicated.
Vaccination for Leptospirosis in Dogs
There are various vaccines available to protect dogs against leptospirosis. Some vaccines are protective against only two of the most common serovars of leptospirosis, while others include four of the most commonly diagnosed serovars in one vaccine. These vaccines may be incorporated into the commonly administered vaccines against canine distemper/adenovirus/parvovirus. Seperate vaccines which protect only against leptospirosis are also available.
Leptospirosis is not considered to be a core vaccination for dogs and consideration of the individual dog's lifestyle and risk of exposure to leptospirosis should be considered when contemplating vaccination against leptospirosis. However, in some areas in which leptospirosis is common and endemic, vaccination may be recommended.
Vaccination against leptospirosis is known to carry a higher risk of anaphylactic (allergic) reaction than many other types of vaccines following administration. Commonly seen symptoms indicating an allergic response to the vaccine are:
- hives
- swelling of the muzzle, eyelids and/or ears
- vomiting
Cleaning Up After Dogs Infected with Leptospirosis
Dogs infected with leptospirosis carry leptospira organisms in their urine and people can be infected with leptospirosis through contact with infected urine. For this reason, any area of the home contaminated with urine should be thoroughly disinfected as soon as possible. Caution should be used by pet owners in handling body fluids from infected dogs (urine, feces, vomit, etc) and gloves should be worn while cleaning soiled areas. Proper hand sanitization is important as well.
Leptospirosis is a serious disease which can affect both dogs and dog owners. Spread through water or soil contaminated with urine from other infected animals, leptospirosis causes damage to the liver and/or kidney of infected dogs. Though treatable in many cases, leptospirosis is a potentially fatal disease. Vaccination is available but is considered for only dogs at high risk of exposure to leptospirosis.
Join the Conversation