Leptospirosis

What is it?

Leptospirosis is caused by infection with the leptospira bacteria, transmitted to dogs in rat or livestock urine. Dogs become infected when their mucous membranes (e.g. their gums or genitals) come into contact with a stagnant water source that has collected animal urine, and in which the bacteria have had opportunity to replicate.

Importantly, leptospirosis can be transmitted from dogs to humans, however this is uncommon.

What is the risk?

In 2022, there were 17 cases reported in the South Coast region of NSW, 5 in the Newcastle region, 2 in the Wollongong region and 6 in other regions of NSW, with 2 being from the inner city of Sydney. Almost half these dogs sadly did not survive. This is likely an underestimate of the total number of cases seen, as not all would be diagnosed and reported.

Risk is increased in rainy, humid conditions.

Vaccination

The current recommendation from Sydney University is for all dogs living in the South Coast or Newcastle regions to be vaccinated against leptospirosis, and those living anywhere with access to rats or livestock to be vaccinated.

The vaccine we use presently has antibody against serovar Copenhageni. This has been identified as one of the most prevalent serovars in NSW, however there are other leptospira serovars that are not included in the vaccination currently.

Vaccination is not 100% preventative and effectiveness depends on the serovar responsible for infection, however based on data released by the University of Sydney, dogs who are vaccinated do have a better chance of survival.

Other methods of prevention

Avoidance is the best measure in the prevention of leptospirosis. Limiting contact with stagnant water, including wading, swimming, and drinking, is the best preventative. Keep all food and water bowls inside. As well as this, avoidance of host animals including all rodents and farm animals, as well as (and very importantly) other infected dogs is an important preventative measure. In the event of a leptospirosis outbreak, close dog-to-dog contact (e.g. in boarding kennels) should be avoided when possible.

Lepto watch

We ask owners to be aware of the clinical signs of leptospirosis. Presentation of leptospirosis in dogs is varied, however some signs of illness to look out for include lethargy, vomiting and diarrhoea initially, followed by excessive thirst and urination, yellowing of the whites of the eyes or skin (termed “jaundice”), and muscle aches.

At All Natural Vet Care, our goal is to tailor our preventative medicine approach to the individual needs of the patient. We will discuss the risks versus the benefits of vaccination with you in your appointment, to determine what is best for your family member.