Tuesday's Tips from
our Doctors!
Recently our Doctors
asked how they could share some facts about the common (and not so common)
things that can affect the health of our pets in S. Florida. This is
what we can up with. Be on the lookout for more Tips from our Doctors and be
sure to let us know what other things you would like to know about!
Leptospirosis, a bacteria
which can cause kidney and liver failure, can affect both animals and humans.
For many years infection in pets has been rare in Florida;
however it has been diagnosed more frequently in recent times. Although the
bacteria is found worldwide, the organism tends to live in warm, tropical
locations, with high rainfall. Risk factors that increase the spread of this
disease include: slow-moving or stagnant water, high rainfall, rodent exposure,
roaming animals in rural areas, and urbanized wild animal exposure. It has
recently been found that 80% of inner city rats have tested positive for
Leptospirosis. Examples of animals that can carry the disease to your pet
include squirrels, opossums, rats, and raccoons. It can also cause infection in
cows, pigs, horses, and deer amongst other animals. To date, it has been
reported to have infected over 150 mammalian species.
The disease is mainly spread through the urine of infected
animals. It can live in water and soil for months. Infection may occur through
contact with contaminated urine, water, or soil that has come into contact with
skin or mucous membranes. It can also be transmitted via bite wounds, infected drinking
water and consumption of infected tissue.
Common clinical signs exhibited by animals that have been
infected include: anorexia, vomiting, diarrhea, fever, increased thirst and
urination, abdominal pain, weakness, muscle pain, and yellowing of the mucous membranes. Dogs
appear to be infected more severely than cats and occasionally show signs of
lung disease and bleeding disorders in addition to the symptoms previously
mentioned. Younger pets appear to be more seriously affected than older pets.
In acute cases, the survival rate is 80% with aggressive treatment. Treatment
often includes multiple days of hospitalization, antibiotics, and intravenous
fluids. Some animals require dialysis. Survivors of the disease may have
chronic kidney or liver disease. Animals may shed the disease for months after
recovery.
As the treatment for this zoonotic disease
can be long and quite costly, it is now recommended to vaccinate animals in
high risk areas. The vaccine can be given to help prevent clinical disease and
development of a carrier state. However, it will not prevent dogs already
infected from becoming carriers. Initially, the vaccine is given twice in a
three week interval, and is then boostered yearly. Other precautions that can
be taken to decrease disease transmission include rodent control, avoidance of
contact with reservoir hosts (mentioned above), and proper sanitation and
drainage.
Should your pet be diagnosed with leptospirosis, please seek
medical advice from your physician immediately and follow the following
precautions: 1) encourage your pet to urinate away from areas in which other
animals may come into contact with it, 2) use disinfectant to clean soiled
indoor areas and wear gloves while doing so, and 3) wash your hand frequently
after exposure to your pet or your pet’s excrement.
Taryn
Robinette, D.V. M.
University of Florida, 2013
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