Leptospirosis is a potentially fatal infectious disease that was once thought to mainly affect hunting dogs or dogs in more rural environments. However, it appears to be affecting more urban dogs in recent years and should therefore be on our radar here in New York City. The following should help to describe the disease itself and help you understand how to best protect your beloved pup from exposure.
Leptospirosis (commonly referred to as “Lepto”) is a bacterium that causes significant kidney and liver damage and can be fatal. Symptoms of Lepto infection include increased thirst, lethargy, vomiting and decreased appetite. The bacteria are passed in the urine of infected animals, so dogs can become exposed via ingestion of contaminated standing water, ground soil or via swimming.
Lepto can also enter via an abrasion or wound in the skin. The disease can affect a number of different animals with the most common carriers in this area being the rat, raccoon and opossum. Dogs who become infected with Lepto typically require aggressive treatment with antibiotics and IV fluids. Some even need dialysis to prevent their kidneys from shutting down all together.
Humans can also acquire and become ill from Leptospirosis and tend to become infected through the same route as dogs (exposure to contaminated water or urine). Although less common, humans can also pick up this infection from an infected dog, so caution is needed when handling a dog with known infection.
Cases of Lepto have been reported in all five boroughs of New York City. It is therefore important to prevent your dog from having contact with rodents and small wild animals and not allowing her to drink from puddles and other sources of standing water. There is a vaccination for Lepto that is safe and effective. The veterinarians at The Vet Set recommend vaccination against Leptospirosis for most dogs in NYC.