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What Is Leptospirosis In Dogs?
Leptospirosis, commonly called lepto, is a contagious bacterial infection that spreads through a mammal's bloodstream. It can affect both humans and animals and can be spread from animals to people.
The pathogen responsible for causing leptospirosis is the Leptospira bacteria. This disease is more common in wet and warm climates because the bacteria Leptospira thrives in water. Most cases in people are connected to recreational activities involving water rather than to direct transfer from a pet, although that is also possible.
Canine leptospirosis primarily affects the liver and kidneys and can become life-threatening. Many unvaccinated small breed dogs living in urban areas are at a higher risk for leptospirosis.
Dogs can contract the disease through direct contact with other infected animals. These infected animals include squirrels, rodents, raccoons, skunks, opossums, and deer.
If an infected animal urinates in lakes, streams, or soil, then your dog can get leptospirosis from any stagnant water surface that carries the urine from the infected wildlife.
The bacteria infiltrate the dog's body through the mucous membranes. Open sores or scratches increase a dog's risk of contracting the disease, as bacteria are more likely to enter the bloodstream.
Some strains of Leptospira are more likely to cause the disease than other strains. This is why there are three main types of the disease: hemorrhagic, icteric or jaundice, and renal (kidney) disease.
In the hemorrhagic type, the dog experiences a high fever. Loss of appetite and lethargy are also observed. You may also notice bleeding in the mouth and the whites of the eyes. Some other symptoms include bloody diarrhea and vomiting.
Icteric or jaundice leptospirosis initially has hemorrhagic symptoms. But you will notice that the eyes become yellow. In severe cases, the skin also turns yellow due to jaundice.
In renal disease, the bacterial infection affects the kidneys. This can cause kidney failure. Dogs with renal leptospirosis become lethargic. They lose their appetite and start vomiting. You may notice ulcers on the tongue. Excessive frequent urination, abdominal discomfort, and fever are also symptoms. Renal failure is fatal. It is important to watch for leptospirosis symptoms in dogs to get early diagnosis and treatment.
Your dog will start to show symptoms after an incubation period of 4 to 20 days. The clinical signs of the disease largely depend on the organ most affected by the disease.
Here are the general symptoms of the disease:
Other symptoms linked with acute forms of the disease include the following:
Your vet will review your dog's medical history including vaccinations, take an oral history, and do a physical exam. After that, the vet will order a few laboratory tests to diagnose leptospirosis. The diagnostic tests include bloodwork, abdominal ultrasound, radiology, and urinalysis.
These tests detect antibodies against leptospira in the bloodstream. Some tests also detect the bacteria in the tissue or body fluids. Other tests look for associated abnormalities.
If your dog has severe disease, immediate hospitalization is necessary, as acute leptospirosis is fatal.
Treatment includes fluid therapy to reverse the effects of dehydration in infected dogs. If the dog experiences vomiting, an anti-vomiting drug is administered. For the loss of appetite, vets use a gastric tube to nourish your dog.
In case of severe hemorrhaging, a blood transfusion is necessary. Your veterinarian will also prescribe antibiotics such as ampicillin, amoxicillin, and penicillin. These antibiotics can treat bacterial infection in its early stages. If your dog requires intensive care, then vets prescribe doxycycline to ensure that leptospira bacteria are cleared.
The antibiotic course lasts for about four weeks. Your dog may experience some side effects of antibiotics, such as fever or diarrhea. But the medicines will save the dog from organ damage caused by leptospira.
There are different types of vaccinations available for the different strains of leptospirosis bacteria. You can speak to your vet about the lepto vaccination. It is not a part of a routine vaccination program. The lepto vaccine only minimizes the risk of infection, but annual shots may help boost your dog's immunity to the disease.
Mixed Breed Dog Survives Lepto Diagnosis; Vaccine Now Considered Essential
A 10-year-old mixed breed dog adopted from the SPCA is showing remarkable improvement after a leptospirosis diagnosis nearly claimed his life.
Before Rex got sick, he would run in the backyard while his owner, Ross Williams, was at school or work. Like many dogs, he enjoyed wrapping up in the couch with a bundle of blankets.
His routine changed however, and he lost his appetite and wasn't acting like his normal self.
Williams took Rex to the Veterinary Teaching Hospital at Virginia Tech in Blacksburg where he was admitted.
"Leptospirosis, or 'lepto, is a bacterial infection that animals can get usually from drinking water that's been contaminated by the urine of wildlife species," said Sierrah Travis, a third-year small animal internal medicine resident at the Virginia-Maryland College of Veterinary Medicine.
The disease can cause acute kidney injury and affect the liver, according to Travis. It can also be fatal.
Thankfully, Rex has almost fully recovered and is back to being his energetic self.
"He seemed like he wouldn't pull through," Williams said. "But then he started changing a little bit. He started accepting food and was acting more like himself by discharge."
Rex has now received a lepto vaccine.
Major veterinary organizations have recently moved leptospirosis protection from optional to essential, recognizing the severity of the disease, its increasing prevalence and potential to spread to humans.
"Now we know that leptospirosis can infect any dog year-round, even just from drinking contaminated water from a puddle on the sidewalk," Travis said.
Williams said knowledge makes all the difference.
"I had a lot of guilt while he was away [receiving treatment at the Veterinary Teaching Hospital] because I didn't know if he was going to pull through or not, and a vaccine is such an innocuous thing. Had I known, I would have vaccinated my dog for sure."
Signs of leptospirosis in dogsSanta Barbara Humane: Leptospirosis Now Included In Canine Core Vaccine Recommendations
SANTA BARBARA, Calif. – The Santa Barbara Humane is encouraging all dogs receive Leptospirosis vaccine.
The American Animal Hospital Association guidelines have been updated reflecting a change in status of the leptospirosis vaccine from non-core to core.
Animal experts at Santa Barbara Humane say all dogs are at risk as leptospirosis is a potentially fatal disease and can spread to humans.
This update is especially important for dog breeders, who play an important role in the health of future generations of dogs.
This new recommendation encourages dog owners and breeders to reconsider their views on vaccination for leptospirosis.
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