Pet leptospirosis is a disease caused by a whole family of over 230 species of bacteria. The bacteria love damp wet places. They can live in bodies of water or even mud. The bacteria causing the disease also live in the urine of infected animals. When an area floods, it raises the risk of animals and people in the area catching leptospirosis. At Trumbull Animal Hospital, we have been treating pet leptospirosis for many years.
Symptoms of Leptospirosis
The first symptoms of leptospirosis include fever, shivering, loss of appetite, not wanting to move, being more tired than usual, swollen eyes, dehydration, loss of appetite, increased thirst, vomiting, and jaundice. As the disease progresses, dogs have trouble breathing, vomit blood, pass blood in stool, and start bleeding from the mouth. In the later stages, the dog’s body swells due to fluid. Unless the dog gets to an emergency vet, it will die from kidney failure.
Importance of Vaccination
Dogs can have leptospirosis and not show any symptoms. Their urine winds up getting others sick. By vaccinating your dog or puppy, you’re protecting not only your pet, but yourself, other pets, and people. Healthy puppies as young as eight weeks old can get their first dose of the leptospirosis vaccine.
Diagnosing Leptospirosis
Symptoms of leptospirosis in dogs are similar to other health problems like poisoning. It’s important to get your dog quickly diagnosed to get the right treatment. Blood tests, urine tests, and possibly other diagnostic tests will be used to determine whether or not your dog has leptospirosis.
Schedule an Appointment with Our Vet in Trumbull for Pet Leptospirosis Treatment
If you have further questions about protecting your dog or puppy from leptospirosis and live in the Trumbull, CT area, contact Trumbull Animal Hospital at (203) 268-6231 to make an appointment today.