Canine Leptospirosis

It likely goes without saying how vital vaccination is for your pet’s health. Systematic vaccination is essential to avoid severe, and often fatal, diseases. A comprehensive vaccine protects your four-legged friend against rabies, infectious hepatitis, distemper, parainfluenza, parvovirus enteritis, infectious tracheobronchitis (kennel cough), and leptospirosis. Today, we would like to discuss leptospirosis in more detail.

Leptospirosis is a bacterial infectious disease spread by rats, mice, and infected dogs through contact with an infected animal’s urine. For an unvaccinated dog, simply licking grass where an infected animal has urinated is enough to contract the disease. The infection primarily affects the kidneys and liver, often leading to organ failure and, if left untreated, death.

Symptoms of leptospirosis include:
– Fever;
– Vomiting;
– Diarrhea;
– Weakness and lethargy;
– Abdominal pain.

It is crucial to note that an infected pet can also pass leptospirosis to you, making zoonotic transmission another very compelling reason to maintain a systematic vaccination schedule.

Puppies are vaccinated in two stages: starting at approximately 8–9 weeks of age, followed by a booster according to the veterinarian’s recommendations (but no earlier than 12 weeks). This vaccination must be repeated annually. Please remember that unvaccinated puppies should not have contact with other dogs until their full vaccination schedule is complete.

For your convenience, “Siaurio Šnauceris” veterinary clinics have implemented a reminder system to ensure you never miss this important visit!