Dogs and Leptospirosis
What is Leptospirosis
Leptospirosis is a bacterial infection, and the bacteria may be present in rodent urine. Dogs may be at risk if this bacteria enters their body via cuts or abrasions, or occasionally through the membranes of the mouth, nose or eyes.
With the risk of more rodents being around due to the current plague, dogs may come into contact with leptospirosis through contaminated stagnant water, such as in ponds or puddles, or through any direct contact with rodents. Furthermore, the organism can survive for up to two months in stagnant water if conditions are favourable.
Given that indirect exposure to rodents is all that is needed to infect dogs, rural or urban dwelling dogs are both at risk of leptospirosis infection.
The symptoms of leptospirosis in dogs can be non-specific, and can include lethargic, vomiting, diarrhoea, jaundiced or yellow gums, and changes to their kidney and liver blood enzyme levels. To best protect your pet, we strongly recommend that dogs are vaccinated against leptospirosis.
If your dog lives in, or visits areas impacted by rats or mice, then they are at a higher risk from leptospirosis and need to be vaccinated. Sydney Animal Hospitals recommends that all dogs receive this vaccine.
For dogs that are suspected of being infected with leptospirosis, the condition is often diagnosed through a combination of clinical signs and through the results of blood and urine tests.
The treatment of Leptospirosis in dogs, involves intensive supportive care, including intravenous fluid therapy, and a course of antibiotics. However, the condition can cause critical illness including kidney failure, which can be potentially fatal.
There has been multiple cases in the Inner West area of Leptospirosis in the past 2 years – and sadly, many of the affected pets did not survive. This is why vaccination against leptospirosis is so important. Boosters are required annually if your dog has been previously vaccinated, so please ensure your dog remains current with its vaccination protocol.
Leptospirosis is also a zoonotic disease, meaning that it can be of potential risk to people as well. People are at risk of contracting leptospirosis when exposed to the infected urine of affected animals. Veterinary staff will wear personal protective equipment when handling affected or suspected infected patients, and also when cleaning their cages and washing any bedding.
What to Look Out for:
01
Leptospirosis may be suspected in any dog with:
- Nonspecific clinical signs like lethargy, vomiting and diarrhea
- Azotemia (kidney failure)
- +/- hyperbilirubinaemia (yellow gums and mucus membranes), elevated liver enzymes
- +/- glucosuria (glucose in the urine)
02
Leptospirosis may be suspected in any dog with:
- Nonspecific clinical signs like lethargy, vomiting and diarrhea
- Azotemia (kidney failure)
- +/- hyperbilirubinaemia (yellow gums and mucus membranes), elevated liver enzymes
- +/- glucosuria (glucose in the urine)
Treatment Protocol
In suspicious cases SAH vets will recommend:
Collection of urine and blood samples
We may ask pet owners to obtain screening samples from your dog before we vaccinate against leptospirosis, on behalf of a University of Sydney study into the prevalence of this disease. These blood and urine samples would be collected before the dog’s initial vaccination (only in dogs never vaccinated against leptospirosis before).
Treatment Protocol
Collection of urine and blood samples
We may ask pet owners to obtain screening samples from your dog before we vaccinate against leptospirosis, on behalf of a University of Sydney study into the prevalence of this disease. These blood and urine samples would be collected before the dog’s initial vaccination (only in dogs never vaccinated against leptospirosis before).
What is Leptospirosis
For more information contact your nearest Sydney Animal Hospital.
What is Leptospirosis
We have seen multiple cases of Leptospirosis in dogs, including during this year.
01
2019
During 2019, we diagnosed a dozen cases of Leptospirosis in dogs, with many of these sadly being euthanased due to kidney failure.
02
2020
In 2020 there were eight confirmed Leptospirosis cases between May and November and these dogs lived or visited Surry Hills, Darlinghurst, Glebe and Redfern.
In December 2020 a case was identified in Annandale in a puppy. The dog had been adopted from a farm in Armidale 12 days prior. The dog was sadly euthanised due to renal failure.
In September 2020 a case was identified in Firefly, 300km north of Sydney. The dog was euthanised due to renal failure. In October a case was diagnosed in a dog from Cheltenham. This dog was a working dog used for sheep herding.
In August 2020, four leptospirosis cases were identified – in Newtown, Crows Nest, Balmain and Paddington. The dog from Balmain made a full recovery. The other dogs sadly had to be euthanized.
What is Leptospirosis
Click here to read full article from Dr Christine Griebsch Dr med vet DipECVIM-CA (Small Animal) EBVS® European Veterinary Specialist in Small Animal Internal Medicine. Senior Lecturer in Small Animal Medicine, Unit Head Medicine. Sydney School of Veterinary Science, University Veterinary Teaching Hospital Sydney
Click below links to read tech information from Sydney University and Boehringer Ingelheim:
