Being a rescue and working with veterinarians throughout Northern California, we often hear about various conditions or diseases before the average dog owner. In the last couple of months it had come to our attention that Leptospirosis cases have been on the rise. Recently it has made some local news stories.
KEY SYMPTOMS TO WATCH FOR:
- Early/General Signs: High fever, shivering, and intense lethargy/weakness.
- Musculoskeletal: Stiffness, muscle tenderness, or reluctance to move.
- Digestive/Systemic: Vomiting, diarrhea, loss of appetite, and dehydration.
- Organ Failure (Kidney/Liver): Increased thirst and urination (or, conversely, lack of urine), jaundice (yellowing of eyes/gums/skin), and abdominal pain.
- Advanced Symptoms: Bloody nose, bloody stool, or blood in urine.
IMPORTANT CONSIDERATIONS:
- Severity: Symptoms can vary from mild to fatal, with some dogs developing chronic kidney or liver failure.
- Transmission: It is zoonotic, meaning it can be passed from infected dogs to humans.
- Action: Immediate veterinary care is critical if these symptoms are observed.
- Prevention: Vaccination is recommended to protect dogs.
American Veterinary Medical Association
While NCWR does not want to over-vaccinate our dogs when we don’t have to, we would never want to put our rescue dogs, nor our personal dogs in harms ways with a deadly disease like Leptospirosis. We highly suggest you talk to your vet to get his or her recommendation.
Below was a recent story on Leptospirosis on ABC Ch. 7 News:
Bay Area veterinarians report spike in deadly, contagious disease affecting dogs