Canine leptospirosis is a disease caused by exposure to the leptospires bacterium, which falls under the category of a spirochete. When examined under a microscope, the bacterium is seen to have a question mark shape.

Infection occurs when the bacterium makes its way into your dog’s bloodstream. This may happen as the result of contact with the urine of an infected animal with an open wound or even a simple cut. When the bacterium enters the dog’s bloodstream, you may notice symptoms such as fever, joint pains, and nausea. Further complications may arise when it makes its way to the kidney where the bacterium reproduces, causing inflammation, kidney and liver failure and possibly even death. Still other symptoms of the disease are bleeding, depression, reduced appetite and overall poor health.

You can protect your dog from contracting the disease by administering the lepto vaccine while it is still a puppy. This is typically given along with the routine vaccinations for distemper. Although this vaccine won’t provide total protection against all instances of the disease, it will help generate antibodies that will at least reduce the ill-effects on your pet.

It is only through blood testing that the presence of the leptospirosis bacterium will be detected. After a positive diagnosis of leptospirosis, treatment begins with the administering of intravenous fluids, along with tetracycline therapy and even hemodialysis in extreme cases, or as the veterinarian sees fit. Proper treatment and prognosis is absolutely essential for successfully ridding your pet of the disease, and the extent of damage to the organs is an important factor to consider as well. This is why you should consult with your veterinarian as to the proper vaccination schedule to follow.

Leptospirosis can actually occur in animals other than dogs, and the disease may even strike humans as well. In any case, it is estimated that as many as one-third of all leptospirosis cases in humans are the result of contact with infected dogs. Other cases are caused by contact with other infected animals, particularly rats. It is important to note that while animals that have been vaccinated for leptospirosis won’t suffer from the disease as much as dogs that haven’t been vaccinated, they may still serve as carriers for the disease.

Dogs that are given the leptospirosis vaccine as part of a complete distemper prevention program may exhibit a number of symptoms as a result. Some of the more common effects of being vaccinated for leptospirosis are soreness and swelling (especially on the area of the skin where the dog was injected), loss of appetite and lethargy. Some dogs may also experience difficulty in breathing, and hives may break out on the face. If these symptoms occur in your dog and shows no sign of clearing up, you should take your pet to a veterinarian for immediate attention.