Avoid letting your dog contract leptospirosis

Leptospira is a bacterium that can infect dogs, humans and other animals. The bacterium thrives best in warm and humid climates but is sometimes found in dogs in Germany and Sweden as well. Usually an infection causes no or mild symptoms but in some cases the bacteria can lead to serious illness and is therefore good for you as a pet owner to know about.

What is leptospirosis?

Leptospira is a bacterium that is found all over the world, including in Sweden and Germany. However, it thrives best in temperatures between 15-25 degrees and is therefore more common abroad. Dogs are often infected indirectly through their environment, including rodents. Infected animals excrete the bacterium through urine and the transmission of the bacterium occurs via, for example, stagnant, warm water. Direct infection between animals can also occur through bites or the dog eating an infected animal, such as a rat or mouse. The disease is a so-called zoonosis, which means that it can be transmitted to humans.

What symptoms does the dog get?

What symptoms the dog gets and how severe they are depends on the amount of bacteria the dog has ingested and the dog's immune system. Usually the bacteria cause only mild symptoms or no symptoms at all. However, dogs can also suffer from more serious infections, and in the worst case, life-threatening disease can develop with liver and kidney damage. The dog may then show symptoms such as fever, vomiting, blood in the urine or faeces and unwillingness to move.

Treatment

Leptospirosis is treated with antibiotics and therapy to relieve symptoms. Sometimes the dog may need to be admitted to a veterinary hospital for intensive care if the disease has progressed.

Vaccine

In most parts of Sweden, dogs do not need to be vaccinated regularly against leptospirosis. However, vaccination may be necessary if several dogs in the same area are affected by the disease. Check with your local vet if this is something that is recommended for dogs where you live. Vaccination does not provide complete protection and even vaccinated dogs can become infected and spread the bacteria further. However, the vaccine reduces the risk of serious illness.

The Standing Committee on Vaccination in Veterinary Medicine (StIKo Vet) has issued an urgent recommendation for dogs in Germany to be vaccinated against leptospirosis. There this vaccination is one of the so-called core vaccinations, i.e. essential vaccinations that protect animals against widespread and dangerous diseases. These are strongly recommended by StIKo Vet because they target pathogens against which dogs should be protected at all times.

If you are travelling abroad with your dog, it may be a good idea to vaccinate your dog against leptospirosis before you leave. Remember that a basic vaccination against leptospirosis involves two injections at one-month intervals, so make sure you are out well in advance of your trip. The onus is on you as a pet owner to find out what vaccinations are recommended in the country you are travelling to.

Prevent infection

• Ask your vet about recommended vaccinations for your dog

• If you are travelling abroad:
  - Check with the country you are going to what vaccinations are recommended
  - Leptospirosis is most contagious in areas where dogs are crowded, such as dog parks, playgrounds or urban areas, so try to avoid these environments as much as possible
  - Try to avoid your dog drinking from stagnant water

Read more about Leptospirosis in dogs on the SVA (Swedish Veterinary Medical Institute) website.

If you want more information about Leptospirosis in humans, you can read more on the Swedish Public Health Agency's website or on the website of U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.