What is Lepto?
Leptospirosis is a disease that is caused by the bacteria Leptospira.
There are many different strains of this bacteria that can cause disease in
dogs. It is most commonly seen in warm climates where it rains regularly, aka
Florida, but is found worldwide. Lepto is spread through the urine of infected
animals so nearly every dog is at risk. Rodents are the primary reservoir of
this bacteria, so if your dog comes into contact with water, soil, grass,
basically anything that is contaminated with the urine of rodents or other
wildlife they could be infected. The good news…lepto is preventable!
What does Lepto do?
Once the Leptospira bacteria get into the body through
contact with the urine of infected animals they enter the bloodstream and
invade tissues and organs, commonly settling in the kidneys. This causes acute
kidney injury in dogs. Signs of acute kidney injury include lethargy, vomiting,
anorexia, abdominal pain, and either urinating too much, or not enough. Lepto
can also affect the liver and cause acute liver disease. Additional signs you may
see include muscle pain, stiffness, diarrhea, fever, edema, and inflammation of
the eyes.
Diagnosis
Since the signs of leptospirosis are non-specific your
veterinarian may recommend several diagnostic tests to start with, including
routine bloodwork, urinalysis, radiographs, and ultrasound. If their suspicion for
lepto remains high after routine diagnostics they can send out urine and blood
to look for bacterial DNA and antibodies.
Treatment
Leptospirosis is treatable with antibiotics and supportive care.
Supportive care can include fluid therapy, anti-nausea medications, liver
support, and GI protectants. Depending upon the severity of kidney failure,
more intensive measures like dialysis may be needed. With early initiation of
treatment, the chances of recovery are good but there is still a risk of
permanent kidney and liver damage. The risk of permanent damage even with
treatment is just one of the reasons why prevention of this disease is key.
Prevention
Leptospirosis is largely preventable with vaccination! The
currently available Leptospira vaccines cover multiple serovars and have been
shown to provide good clinical protection and reduce bacterial shedding in the
urine. Puppies should be vaccinated for lepto starting at 12 weeks old followed
by a booster 2 weeks later, and then annually after that. Adult dogs that have
never been vaccinated also need the initial vaccine and a 2 week booster. It’s
never too late to start vaccinating and protecting your dog!
Reducing exposure to potential sources of Leptospira
bacteria is also an important consideration. Preventing your dog from drinking from
or swimming in lakes, rivers, ponds, or any standing water, and avoiding
contact with wildlife and rodents is always a good idea.
Human Risk
Leptospirosis is a zoonotic disease, which means that it can
be spread from animals to humans. Human leptospirosis most often results from
direct contact when swimming recreationally; however, transmission from an
infected pet is possible. When lepto is suspected, basic precautions to avoid contact
with the dog’s blood and urine are taken. Owners of dogs diagnosed with leptospirosis
should contact their physician.
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