When we talk about animal health, we not only refer to the absence of disease but to a state of well-being as a result of covering all the needs of our pet, both physical and psychological and social.
But as far as physical health is concerned, we must clarify that there are very few diseases exclusive to human beings , so that our dog can suffer the same pathologies as us.
Today at Animals and Pets Online we talk about the symptoms and contagion of canine leptospirosis , a disease of great importance since that it is a zoonosis, that is, a pathology that can be transmitted from animals to humans.
What is canine leptospirosis
Canine leptospirosis is an infectious disease that is also known as dog typhus , is caused by a genus of bacteria called Leptospira , although those that Commonly affect the dog are the Leptospira Canicola and the Leptospira Icterohaemorrhagiae .
This group of bacteria affects most domestic and wild mammals, although also cold-blooded animals and humans.
The prevalence of this disease increases in the months of high temperatures and is higher in male dogs, it is believed that by Smell and urine licking habits that these behave in a behavioral way.
How contagion occurs
The spread of canine leptospirosis occurs when the bacteria penetrate the animal through the nasal, buccal, conjunctive mucosa or through the skin that presents some type of wound.
Through the mucosa the bacterium reaches the bloodstream and is distributed through it until it reaches the different organs and tissues, once these, there is a immune reaction on the part of the animal.
This reaction causes the death of the pathogen which causes the release of toxins by this, and in the event that the bacteria have been able to evade the response of the immune system, will be deposited in the liver and kidney, which will cause serious disorders, as we will see later.
Contagion of leptospirosis
The main route of transmission of leptospirosis among animals is water or food contaminated with the urine of other sick animals .The spread of leptospirosis between animals and humans occurs when people make contact with contaminated water, food or urine, although they can also be transmitted through the ground if this surface is infected and there is a habit of walking barefoot.
Since the main route of transmission it is through the ingestion of contaminated food or water, special care must be taken with children living with animals.
Symptoms of canine leptospirosis
Most often this disease is subclinical, that is, without showing symptoms , in the other cases an acute or chronic course of the pathology can be observed, but in both situations the prognosis is reserved since it is a disease with a very high mortality rate, which ranges between 70 and 90% of cases.
Symptoms of canine leptospirosis are the following:
- Fever
- Loss of appetite
- Vomits and diarrhea (sometimes with blood)
- Dark urine
- Pain symptoms when urinating
- Breath smelling of urine
- Ulcers in the oral mucosa
- Deterioration general of the animal
The symptoms related to urination are especially important since they show a renal damage, which implies a serious state of the whole organism.
If we warn in our dog any of these symptoms should go urgently to the veterinarian , since the sooner the corresponding treatment, the more chances our pet will have to survive.
Disease Diagnosis
To diagnose canine leptospirosis in our pet, the veterinarian will perform a complete examination and take into account all the symptoms manifested, but also analyze the urine, which in case of infection will show a high number of proteins and hemoglobin.
The definitive diagnosis is made by a blood test that measures serology parameters (antibodies) or by a microscopic observation of the urine where the presence of the leptospira bacteria may be noted.
Treatment of canine leptospirosis
The treatment of canine leptospirosis requires various both pharmacological and dietary measures .
To begin with, we will talk about the combination of broad-spectrum antibiotics (penicillin and streptomycin) to combat bacterial infection.We will also try to revert the symptoms and control liver and kidney damage.Finally it is important to offer a diet that is highly nutritious but low in protein.
Remember that the veterinarian is the only person trained to be able to recommend a certain treatment to your dog.
Prevention of canine leptospirosis
To prevent canine leptospirosis it is recommended that the dog be vaccinated for this purpose, however, currently available vaccines have a limitation in serotypes, that is, they do not cover all the bacteria of the genus leptospira.
Equally vaccination is a highly recommended practice , although the doses should be reinforced every six months, and not annually.To prevent this disease, periodic disinfection of the animal environment.
This article is merely informative, in Animals and Pets Online we do not have the power to prescribe veterinary treatments or make any kind of diagnosis.We invite you to take your pet to the veterinarian in the event that it presents any type of condition or discomfort.
If you want to read more articles similar to Canine leptospirosis-S intomas and contagion , we recommend that you enter our section on bacterial diseases.
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