When we talk about animal health, we are not only talking about the absence of disease, but also a welfare state derived from the coverage of all the needs presented by our animal, both physical, psychic and social.
But when it comes to physical health, it should be noted that there are very few diseases unique to the human being, so our dog can suffer the same conditions as us.
- In Animal Expert.
- We will talk about the symptoms and treatment of canine leptospirosis.
- A disease of great importance because it is a zoonosis.
- That is.
- A disease that can be transmitted from the animal to the human being.
Canine leptospirosis is an infectious disease caused by a genus of bacteria called Leptospira, but those that normally affect dogs are Leptospira Canicola and Leptospira Icterohaemorrhagiae.
This group of bacteria affects most domestic and wild mammals, as well as cold-blooded animals and humans.
The prevalence of this disease increases during the months of high temperatures and is higher in male dogs, it is believed that due to the sniffing and licking habits of urine they present.
The spread of canine leptospirosis occurs when the bacteria enters the animal nasally, orally, conjunctivaly or through the skin with a type of sore.
Through the mucosa, bacteria reach the bloodstream and are distributed through it until they reach the various organs and tissues, once there an immune reaction occurs on the part of the animal.
This reaction causes the death of the pathogen that causes the release of toxins by the pathogen, and if the bacteria has managed to evade the immune system’s response, it will be deposited in the liver and kidneys, causing serious disorders, as we will see.see more.
The main route of leptospirosis between animals is water or food contaminated with the urine of other sick animals.The contagion of leptospirosis between animals and humans occurs when people come into contact with contaminated water, food or urine, although it can also be transmitted from the ground, if this surface is infected and has a habit of walking barefoot.
Since the main route of transmission is the ingestion of contaminated food or water, special attention should be paid to children living with animals.
Most of the time this disease occurs without showing symptoms, in other cases an acute or chronic progression of the pathology can be observed, but in both situations the prognosis is reserved, as it is a disease with a very high mortality rate.70-90% of cases.
Symptoms of canine leptospirosis include
Symptoms associated with urination are particularly important because they show kidney damage, which involves severe disease throughout the body.
If you notice any of these symptoms in your dog, you should consult your veterinarian right away, as the sooner proper treatment begins, the more likely your pet is to survive.
To diagnose canine leptospirosis in your pet, the veterinarian will perform a thorough examination and take into account all symptoms, but will also test your urine, which in case of infection will show a high number of proteins and hemoglobin.
The final diagnosis is made by a blood test that measures serological parameters (antibodies) or by microscopic observation of the urine where the presence of leptospira bacteria can be observed.
Treatment of canine leptospirosis requires several pharmacological and dietary measures.
To begin with, let’s talk about the combination of broad spectrum antibiotics (penicillin and streptomycin) to fight bacterial infections, it is also important to try to reverse symptoms and control liver and kidney damage, finally, it is important to offer a highly nutritious product but Low protein diet.
Remember that the veterinarian is the only person who knows how to recommend the best treatment for your puppy.
To prevent canine leptospirosis, it is recommended that the dog be vaccinated for this purpose, however, the vaccines currently available have a limitation of serotypes, that is, they do not cover all bacteria of the genus leptospira.
Vaccination is a highly recommended practice, although doses should be increased every 6 months, not annually.Periodic disinfection of the animal’s environment is also important to prevent this disease.
This article is for informational purposes only, in Animal Expert.com.br we cannot prescribe veterinary treatments or make any kind of diagnosis.We suggest that you take your pet to the vet in case of any ailment or discomfort.
If you would like to read articles similar to, we recommend that you visit our Bacterial Diseases section.