Raccoons are such cute animals. Look at that little face, just minding their business, trying to catch some breakfast. But as cute as they may be, they (and other animals like them), can be problematic when it comes to something called leptospirosis… darnit!
As a dog parent, you’ve likely heard about leptospirosis. It’s usually something that scares pet parents, as it can be serious. And anything that threatens our adored beasts is scary!
Leptospirosis in dogs, often referred to simply as lepto, is a zoonotic infection that can affect dogs and even humans. It can be quite serious, even fatal, so understanding how dogs contract leptospirosis, the levels of risk, recognizing the symptoms, and knowing what to do if you suspect your pup might have it are all crucial. Our goal, as always, is to give you information to help you feel informed and to empower you to do right by your animal. So that’s what we’re covering in this post.
How Do Dogs Get Leptospirosis?
Leptospirosis in dogs is typically spread through the urine of infected animals (like raccoons), contaminating water and soil. Dogs can get lepto by drinking or swimming in contaminated water, coming into contact with infected wildlife, or even licking their paws after walking through an area where infected animals have been. Common carriers of the bacteria include rodents, raccoons, skunks, and livestock.
Other, less common causes are your animal being bitten or injured by other animals, like rodents or farm animals who have it, eating infected body tissues or organs, or being born to a mother with it.
Leptospirosis is more common in wet and warm regions. It was once mostly found in rural, wooded areas, but it has made its way to urban settings because of the movement of animals into these areas. It is more common in the spring and fall because it likes moist environments. In the dry summer, the bacterium dies quickly, and it doesn’t survive as well in the winter either, because of the cold.
Note: As mentioned, humans can get leptospirosis through contact with the urine of an infected animal, but there are only 100 to 200 cases per year in the US, and the CDC doesn’t even consider it a reportable disease, so it’s not something you need to worry about.
Symptoms of Leptospirosis in Dogs
The symptoms of leptospirosis vary. Some dogs show no symptoms at all, others may only show mild signs, while others develop severe complications. The symptoms typically appear 4 to 12 days after exposure. Common ones include:
- Fever
- Lethargy
- Vomiting and diarrhea
- Loss of appetite
- Muscle pain or stiffness
- Increased thirst and urination (which may later turn into reduced urination due to kidney failure)
- Yellowing of the skin or eyes (jaundice)
Because leptospirosis can lead to kidney and liver failure, early detection is crucial.
⚠️ If you suspect your dog has leptospirosis, seek veterinary care immediately. The disease can progress quickly and can lead to severe complications if left untreated. Your vet may perform blood tests and urine tests to confirm the diagnosis.
Treatment typically involves antibiotics and supportive care, such as IV fluids to manage dehydration and medications to protect the kidneys and liver. In severe cases, hospitalization may be required. It’s important not to wait. Trust your gut, and call your vet if you’re on the fence. Even if it isn’t lepto, at least you’ll know.
Worried about your cat getting lepto? It’s very uncommon in cats, so uncommon in fact that there isn’t a vaccine for it.
The Leptospirosis Vaccine
The vaccine for leptospirosis for dogs is a common one that many pet parents choose to give. And we are not denying its value. Many pet parents opt for the vaccine as a precaution. What we’re hoping to do is give you as much as possible before you decide to vaccinate so that you are comfortable with your decision.
Vaccination is one of the most effective ways to prevent different strains of leptospirosis. The leptospirosis vaccine includes protection against the 4 most common serovars, or serological variants/strains, (Leptospira canicola, icterohaemorrhagiae, grippotyphosa, and pomona). That said, there are actually 10 pathogenic species and more than 250 pathogenic serovars. So be aware that the vaccine doesn’t protect against all strains. If you do choose to vaccinate, be sure to remain diligent when you’re near water or other risky areas.
What are the reported side effects? Like any vaccine, leptospirosis can cause side effects. Mild ones include soreness or swelling at the injection site, tiredness, decreased appetite, a mild fever, or stomach upset. More serious side effects include vomiting or diarrhea that lasts longer than 48 hours, hives, facial swelling, difficulty breathing, collapse, or loss of consciousness. Dogs who have had previous vaccine reactions are at higher risk for side effects, as are small dogs, especially those under 5-10 lbs. Giving a lot of vaccinations at a single visit can also increase the risk.
It’s important to note that, once your dog is vaccinated for leptospirosis, diagnostic blood tests will no longer work. So if you bring your dog to the clinic and they test their urine, and they’ve received the lepto vaccine, the test will be positive even if they don’t actually have it.
If you choose to vaccinate, be sure to use our Rebalancer afterwards. It assists in the removal of associated vaccine side effects without removing any vaccine benefits.
Other Ways to Prevent Leptospirosis in Dogs
The vaccine is probably the most well-known way to prevent leptospirosis in dogs, but there are several other ways to be proactive to protect your pet.
- Don’t let your dog drink from rivers, lakes, ponds, marshy areas, or slow-moving or stagnant water
- Try to get rid of low-lying stagnant water around your home to disccourage critters from peeing in it!
- Limit access to standing water
- Avoid feeding wildlife around your home
- Don’t approach wildlife
- In areas that are unknown to you, make sure recall is good to keep them away from water you come across
- After a walk in the neighbourhood or in the woods, wipe paws if you’ve waded through water
Should you give your pet the vaccine for leptospirosis in dogs? That’s for you to determine, based on the level of risk in your area, where your dog typically goes (do they have access to water), and their age and size. If you have concerns, ask questions, let your vet know how you feel, and inquire about statistics in your area. You are your pet’s best advocate, and what you decide should be based on your own knowledge and comfort level, whatever that decision might be!
