Leptospirosis in dogs is a serious disease that can affect your dog and cause fatal kidney failure. Fortunately, it can be prevented with a vaccination.
The best way to protect your dog from leptospirosis is to vaccinate him or her annually. This is especially true for dogs that are exposed to the disease, such as those that live in a wooded area or in a wet climate.
The disease can be contracted from contact with animal urine, water, or bedding. Infected animals are very infectious to other dogs and humans.
Leptospirosis can be a very difficult disease to diagnose. However, you can determine if your dog has it by looking for signs of infection. Signs include fever, loss of appetite, and increased thirst. If you suspect your dog has the disease, take him or her to the vet as soon as possible.
Your veterinarian may perform blood and urine tests to check for the presence of bacteria. He or she may also order urine cultures to identify the exact type of bacteria.
The infection can be treated with antibiotics. If your dog is diagnosed with the disease, you should keep him or her away from other pets. During the treatment period, your dog will need to drink lots of fluids to maintain proper blood flow to damaged organs. You should also wear latex gloves to help prevent contamination.
If your dog develops an acute case of leptospirosis, he or she should be hospitalized. Follow-up appointments are important to monitor the damage to organs.
