03/06/2021
𝚕𝚎𝚙𝚝𝚘𝚜𝚙𝚒𝚛𝚘𝚜𝚒𝚜: the requested topic!
🦨 Leptospira bacteria can live in the environment for long periods of time, especially in stagnant water and moist soil. Some of the wild animals that can spread lepto to dogs include skunks, deer, raccoons, rats, wolves, and opossums.
🦌 Leptospira bacteria replicate in the bloodstream, and then concentrate in target organs (liver, kidney). There they cause extensive damage that can cause organ failure and unfortunately, this disease can be fatal. The dog’s immune response takes 8-10 days to start clearing the infection, but organ failure typically comes first. Dogs can survive mild infections but will be lifelong carriers.
🦝 Dogs with this disease can show a myriad of signs that are not specific to lepto. There are 2 different tests your vet may perform in order to confirm a diagnosis of lepto, but one of them must be performed before antibiotics are started. Keep in mind that this disease is zoonotic, therefore veterinary staff must be very careful handling a lepto suspect!
🐀 There is an annual vaccination available for leptospirosis. I highly recommend it if your pet is hiking, swimming, camping, or even just hanging out anywhere wildlife may be passing through. Sedona is lepto vaccinated!
🐺 Questions? Comment below 💬