Leptospirosis is a bacteria which can be found in the environment. It is most common in stagnant or slow moving water, but can also be found in soil. Leptospirosis is spread via the urine of infected animals. This includes many species of wildlife that may move in and out of our yards on a daily basis. Urine contaminated water (such as puddles, ponds, rivers, etc) can serve as a source of infection. The bacteria can infect many mammals and primarily causes liver and kidney failure. It is a very life-threatening disease which can unfortunately be spread to humans as well!
Symptoms can vary quite a bit by the severity and form of Leptospirosis. The most common symptoms to watch for include fever, anorexia, vomiting, diarrhea, muscle tenderness, and urinating/ drinking a lot. These symptoms can be associated with many other diseases, making Leptospirosis a bit difficult to diagnosis.
Elevations in liver and kidney values may make your veterinarian suspicious of Lepto and there are more specific blood tests that can be subsequently run to diagnose the disease. Treatment consists of antibiotics and often aggressive, in hospital care is necessary. Even with aggressive treatment, this disease can be very life threatening.
The best news is that Leptospirosis disease can be prevented by vaccination. We recommend a yearly vaccine which will produce immunity towards the most common Leptospirosis serovars. Prevent your pets from drinking standing water outside, especially after flooding or heavy rainfall. If you see symptoms that may be consistent with Leptospirosis infection, please make an appointment with your veterinarian as soon as possible as early diagnosis and treatment is crucial for success in treatment.
Ask us to learn more about the Leptospirosis vaccine.
article written by:
Derek Williamson, DVM
Companion Animal Hospital Vernon Hills and Crawford Animal Hospital
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