The risks,
symptoms, and preventative measures for Leptospirosis:
We have been hearing many questions the last couple of weeks
about Leptospirosis (or lepto for short). Lepto is zoonotic, meaning that is
can infected both humans and animals. Lepto is a bacterial infection that is
spread by the urine of wild animals such as raccoons,
skunks, opossums, squirrels, rodents (mice/rats), and even deer. The bacteria
(leptospires) gets into water and soil and can survive there for weeks. Humans
and pets get infected through contact with contaminated urine (or
other body fluids, except saliva), water, or soil. The bacteria can enter the
body through skin or mucous membranes (eyes, nose, or mouth), especially if the
skin is broken from a cut or scratch. Drinking contaminated water can also
cause infection. Infected wild and domestic animals may continue to excrete the
bacteria into the environment continuously or every once in a while for a few
months up to several years.
The clinical signs of lepto vary and
are nonspecific. Sometimes pets do not have any symptoms. Common clinical signs
have been reported in dogs. These include:
- fever
- vomiting
- abdominal pain
- diarrhea
- refusal to eat
- severe weakness and depression
- stiffness
- severe muscle pain
- inability to have puppies.
Generally, younger animals are more
seriously affected than older animals.
Get
your pet vaccinated against lepto if you live in or frequent “high risk” areas.
The vaccine does not provide 100% protection, because there are many strains
(types) of lepto, and the vaccine does not provide immunity against all
strains. It is important to get your pet vaccinated again even if it gets
leptospirosis because it can still get infected with a different strain of
leptospires.
Remember
to watch your pet close when you are out to make sure he/she does not drink
from small streams/ponds/etc.
