Most of us love getting out in the great outdoors with our dogs, especially when the weather is good. Pop quiz: if your dog gets thirsty on the trail, it’s OK for him to have a drink out of a random puddle or pond, right?
The answer is no, it’s not a good idea to let your dog drink from puddles. Leptospirosis is a disease that dogs frequently contract from drinking water from less-than-reputable sources outdoors, and it can make your dog extremely sick – it can even be fatal. Read on to learn what this disease is, and how to keep your dog safe from it while having fun with your canine companion.
Where does leptospirosis come from?
Leptospirosis (often shorted to “lepto”, because nobody’s got time for long words), is a bacterial infection that enters the bloodstream typically through the mucous membranes, the tissues that line the nose, mouth and eyes. The bacteria are shed into the environment in the urine of animals that either carry the disease or have been ill from it. Many dogs are infected when they poke their nose into vegetation to sniff the delicious remnants of some other creature’s last bathroom stop, and urine is snorked up the nose along with the bacteria.
They can also get it from drinking standing water that has the bacteria in it. In fact, stagnant water seems to aid or promote the multiplication of the bacteria, so seemingly innocuous puddles can become literal cesspools of lepto.
What animals carry lepto?
Lots of animals can carry lepto, including raccoons, mice, rats, cattle and pigs. There are several different types, or serovars, of lepto, and different species carry and pass along different serovars.
Dogs can also pass it on to one another, and a dog that has recovered from lepto goes through what’s known as a carrier phase for a few weeks after recovery, during which time they can still shed the bacteria in their urine. People can also get lepto, and for this reason it’s crucial to use caution if your dog is recovering from the disease at home (more on this later).
How will I know my dog has lepto?
You probably won’t, although if you’re an astute owner you’ll know something is wrong early on. Often the disease comes on slowly, starting with just a little bit of lethargy and maybe an increase in water consumption. Vets misdiagnose lepto with alarming frequency, because it can look like a lot of other diseases. This is especially concerning because without proper and prompt treatment, dogs can die from lepto.
There are a bunch of symptoms that can be seen with lepto, but probably the two most common are lethargy and a substantial increase in water consumption. Depending on the serovar that your dog is infected with, he might have liver failure, kidney failure, or both, with a lepto infection.
Blood work and urinalysis are essential to beginning to suspect that there might be a lepto infection present. Kidney and/or liver failure in a previously normal dog, especially one that’s unvaccinated against lepto, should set off all the alarm bells. Special tests have to be run to confirm lepto, but they can take several days, so if there’s a possibility that lepto could be making the dog sick, treatment should not be delayed.
How is lepto treated?
The best news I can give you about lepto is that once treatment is started, most dogs respond quickly. Penicillin-based antibiotics usually kill the bacteria, although many dogs are sick enough to need supportive care in the hospital, which usually consists of rehydrating intravenous fluids and injectable drugs to control nausea. Once they’re drinking, eating, and holding down food, most can go home to continue the recovery there.
As mentioned above, there is a phase even after recovery where viable bacteria can still be shed in the urine. During this phase the dog needs to be treated with the antibiotic doxycycline, typically for two to three additional weeks. Care should also be taken when cleaning up urine during this time, as it can be infective to people.
How can I protect my dog from lepto?
Keeping him from drinking from outdoor water sources is a start, but it’s probably not practical under most circumstances – thirsty dogs are going to drink water when they find it. But keeping him on a leash while hiking and bringing plenty of water and a collapsible water bowl is a good start.
Since it’s impossible to keep your dog from sticking his nose where there may be infective urine, you should realize that you’re incapable of preventing all potential lepto exposure. But the good news is that there are vaccinations against lepto that you can and should give your dog every year, if you live in an area where lepto cases are documented. Your vet can help you determine if lepto is a risk in your area, and what the best vaccination strategy is for your dog.