03/08/2022
If any of my valued clients would like to have their dog vaccinated for Leptospirosis please get in touch.
⚠️LOCAL CASE: LEPTOSPIROSIS⚠️
Fletcher Vet Hospital has alerted us that they have diagnosed a dog with Leptospirosis within this last week. Unfortunately, this case proved fatal. This patient was from the New Lambton Heights area.
So far it's been reported that there has been one case from Speers point, another from Cooks Hill, two from Medowie, and now one from New Lambton Heights. Out of these 5 cases, 3 have been fatal.
Vets are strongly advising all owners within the Hunter to vaccinate their dogs against Lepto. Please call us on 4951 4222, or send us a private message, to book your pet in for their vaccination ASAP.
The facts:
- Leptospirosis is a potentially fatal bacterial infection that can cause sudden kidney failure and liver disease in dogs.
- Pets can become infected through contact with urine/faeces from infected rodents and wildlife, either directly or indirectly from contaminated soil or water via ingestion, and also through cuts or abrasions on the skin.
- Symptoms can often be vague and will include some or all of: vomiting, lethargy, diarrhea, fever, jaundice, unexplained bleeding and bruising.
- Leptospirosis is not a new disease, but we are now seeing a higher amount of diagnosed cases. Whether this is due to an outbreak or an increase in diagnostic testing is unclear at this stage.
- It is a zoonosis, meaning it can be passed from animals to people.
- The vaccine is effective against the common strain and requires one initial vaccine, with a booster 2 weeks later, then yearly boosters to maintain protection.
To protect your pets:
- Do not allow them to drink from puddles or bodies of water.
- Do not allow them to eat wildlife/deceased rodents.
- Vaccinate dogs against Lepto.
- Book a vet consult ASAP if your pet shows any of the above symptoms, do not wait.
- If you're using rodent baits to keep your house rodent free, please also consider the risk these poisons pose to your pets if ingested directly, or if your pet ingests a poisoned rodent.
