What is it?

Leptospirosis is a contagious zoonotic disease meaning any mammal, including humans, can become infected by the Leptospira bacteria. The bacteria can live up to 3 months in the environment and thrives in warm, wet conditions such as damp grass, mud, lakes, and standing water.

Leptospirosis is usually spread through urine of an infected animal however it can also be spread through bite wounds, cuts and grazes, or through the membranes of the eyes, nose, or mouth. Once infected the Leptospira can spread throughout the body causing damage to other organs.

Signs of lepto to look out for:

• Vomiting
• Diarrhoea
• Loss of appetite
• Lethargic
• Fever
• Dehydration
• Jaundice – yellow gums/ whites of eyes

The more quickly a dog showing these signs is seen by a vet, the better the outcome for the animal. If the dog is treated in good timing, an infected animal may take 7-8 days to begin to recover, however Leptospira will still be shed in the dog’s urine for potentially months after.

Prevention

Vaccination is the best prevention. Ideally dogs should be done as pups at 9 weeks and 12 weeks of age as part of their routine vaccination programme. A booster vaccine each year is required to ensure your dog is protected.