What is Leptospirosis? Leptospirosis is the one of the world’s most common diseases that is transmitted from animals to people yet is relatively unknown. It is transmitted to humans by contaminated water getting into breaks in the skin, the eyes, or the mucous membranes.
The water is contaminated by infected animals, primarily rats, mice and moles but, other mammals including dogs, deer, rabbits, hedgehogs, cows, sheep, raccoons, opossums, and skunks can transmit the disease.
Most domestic dogs contract leptospirosis by licking the urine of infected mice, which can be found in puddles, riverbanks, ditches, gullies, and other moist rears where infected wild animals may live.
Leptospirosis is easily preventable with a once yearly vaccination which is more effective then treatment. Awareness and a few simple precautions is really all that is needed to prevent this disease from becoming a greater threat to you and your pet.
Leptospirosis Signs is the one of the world’s most common diseases that is transmitted from animals to people. Most domestic dogs contract leptospirosis by licking the urine of infected mice, which can be found in puddles, riverbanks, ditches, gullies, and other moist areas where infected wild animals may live. Leptospirosis is a flu-like disease that causes the following symptoms:
- Fever
- Vomiting
- Abdominal pain
- Diarrhea
- Lack of appetite
- Severe weakness and/or muscle pain
- Excessive water consumption or refusal to drink
- Jaundice (yellow color to the eyes, inside of mouth or skin)
- Depression
- Stiffness
Leptospirosis
, if not treated in time, can lead to kidney failure, hepatitis and bleeding disorders along with other complications.
Prevention:
With any disease, prevention is much more effective than treatment. So it is important to:
- VACCINATE YOUR DOG.
- Discourage your dog from drinking from standing water.
- Remove food, garbage and nesting materials from your yard to minimize wildlife activity.
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