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.