Canine Leptospirosis Symptoms

Canine leptospirosis is a bacterial infection that can cause kidney and liver damage in dogs. When animals that are infected with this disease urinate, your dog can catch the disease if it sniffs the infected urine. Also, leptospira, the bacteria strain that causes leptospirosis, thrive in wet places. If your dog comes into contact with water that is contaminated by the bacteria, he can get infected. If your dog becomes infected, he may display several symptoms that will depend on how advanced the infection is in his body. He should be taken to a veterinarian immediately for treatment.

  1. Time Frame

    • Leptospirosis symptoms usually appear within one to two weeks after coming into contact with a contaminated source. In some cases, the symptoms may appear as early as two days after exposure.

    Early Signs

    • Early signs of the disease may include any of the following: dehydration, lethargy, depression, nausea, vomiting, and a fever of 103 to 104 degrees. Your dog may shiver and appear cold and stiff.

    Subacute Cases

    • In cases where the middle stages of leptospirosis are present in a dog, you may notice symptoms such as appetite loss, digestive problems, diarrhea, dehydration, and muscle or kidney pain. Some dogs may drink and urinate excessively, while others may urinate less than usual. If the infection has spread to the liver, then jaundice, a condition that causes your dog's skin to have a yellow tinge, may develop.

    Accute Cases

    • In extremely heightened cases of leptospirosis, chronic symptoms such as liver damage, kidney failure, significant drops in body temperature, inflamed eyes, nervous systems abnormalities, and red-tinted urine may exist. In more serious cases, a dog may go into shock and die before any further symptoms are visible.

    Exceptions

    • Although some dogs display symptoms after becoming infected, some others remain carriers of the bacteria, but never show signs of illness. The results of a Michigan study in 2007 showed that 25 percent of the nonvaccinated dogs that were studied had been previously exposed to leptospira bacteria, but their owners never saw any signs of sickness. Each case of leptospirosis is different, and your dog may have some or none of the usual symptoms. Veterinarians sometimes have difficulty diagnosing the disease.