What it is
Leptospira bacteria live in the kidneys of infected animals and leave the body in their urine. Rodents matter above all, but wild and farm animals or other dogs can spread the bacteria too. In damp places such as puddles, ponds, ditches and wet ground the bacteria stay alive for a long time. A dog becomes infected by drinking or swimming in such water, by licking wet grass, or through a small break in the skin. The risk is higher in warm, rainy weather and after floods.
Once in the blood, the bacteria reach the kidneys and liver and inflame them. The kidneys can suddenly stop working, liver damage shows as jaundice, and in some dogs blood clotting fails or the lungs are damaged. The illness can develop within days.
Because leptospirosis passes to people, don't touch your dog's urine with bare hands while it is ill, and wash your hands carefully. Don't let your dog drink from puddles or standing water. Your vet can tell you about vaccination against leptospirosis.
Signs you may notice
- Fever and shivering
- Lethargic and off food
- Vomiting
- Drinks a lot, or hardly passes urine
- Yellow gums or whites of the eyes
- Walks stiffly, muscles ache
The dog runs a fever, shivers, turns lethargic, stops eating and vomits, and its muscles ache, so it walks stiffly and doesn't want to move. It may drink far more than usual or, on the contrary, hardly pass urine at all, and its gums and the whites of its eyes may turn yellow. If you see these signs, don't wait: take the dog to a vet right away.
When to see a vet
A dog that may have drunk or swum in standing water and now has a fever, is vomiting, is lethargic or has yellow gums needs a vet immediately. If anyone in the family falls ill with similar signs, tell your own doctor that leptospirosis is suspected in your dog.
This is general information, not veterinary advice. For your own dog's health, tests and treatment, see a vet.