Canine Leptospirosis

Canine Leptospirosis is a disease caused by the bacteria Leptospira interogans. The bacterial disease causes life-threatening illness in dogs, including liver failure, kidney failure or both. Identifying the symptoms of a dog infected with canine leptospirosis is also important because it is contagious to people. Treatments for canine leptospirosis include fluid therapy and antibiotics. There are also vaccines available that will reduce the chances of your dog becoming infected with the disease.

  1. Infection

    • The most common way in which dogs are infected with lepospirosis is contact with the urine of infected animals, such as swimming in a lake containing the urine of an infected rat. Strains of canine lepospirosis are carried by different animals, the most common of which are Leptospira canicola (dog), Leptospira icterohaemorrhagiae (rodents), Leptospira pomona (swine, cattle, opposum and skunks) and Leptospira grippotyphosa (raccoon, skunk, opossum and vole). The bacterium penetrates the through broken or thin skin and multiplies rapidly upon entering the blood. Dogs are also infected by ingesting infected urine. The bacteria spreads through the bloodstream and can infect the liver, spleen, kidney, eyes, central nervous system and genital tract.

    Symptoms

    • Young dogs are more susceptible to canine leptospirosis. The symptoms of the disease vary depending on the dog's age and health, the specific strain of the bacteria and the strain's intensity. Depending on the severity of infection, symptoms may include lethargy, vomiting, fever, increased thirst, diarrhea, weight loss, shivering and hemorrhaging. Sometimes, death occurs very quickly with few symptoms. Veterinarians often perform a test for canine leptospirosis when an otherwise healthy dog has an unexplained fever, kidney or liver disease and/or swelling of the eyes and lives in an area with documented cases of canine leptospirosis.

    Treatment

    • There is a variety of treatment options for canine leptospirosis. The most common treatment is fluid therapy, which involves aggressively injecting the dog with intravenous fluids to flush out the bacteria. Antibiotics, such as penicillin, tetracycline and doxycycline, may also be used. To treat the dog's vomiting, which is often severe with canine leptospirosis, antiemetics are prescribed. Antiemetics include chlorpromazine, metoclopramide and ondansetron.

    Vaccine

    • There are several vaccines available for protection against the disease. Unfortunately, there is not a vaccine that protects against all strains of leptospirosis. Some vaccines protect against two strains of leptospirosis while others protect against four. Vaccination should be repeated every six to nine months. However, some dogs may suffer an allergic reaction to the vaccines. Whether or not you should vaccinate your dog for canine leptospirosis depends on the rate of infection in your community and your dog's lifestyle, which a qualified veterinarian will take into consideration when helping you reach a decision.