Bacterial infections can be carried by squirrels and raccoons and can infect your dog.
a couple of days, you should promptly take your dog for a check-up. Diagno- sis is usually made by taking a urine sample to confirm the presence of the bacteria or taking a blood sample to find increased levels of antibodies to Lepto- spira. Antibiotics are used to treat the infection and usually urine samples are taken until the bacteria are completely flushed from the kidneys. You can reduce the risk of infection
by controlling the rodent population around your home, keeping your pet away from ponds, slow moving or stag- nant water and, of course, maintaining your dog’s health. However, if your
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healthy dog suddenly seems less healthy, you should keep a watchful eye. Since lepto is a totally treatable bacterial infec- tion, if diagnosed early dogs need not suffer unnecessarily nor have any perma- nent damage.
Vaccine falls short Although a vaccine for leptospirosis
is available, there is some controversy over its use and effectiveness. Firstly, it protects against only a few of the various strains of Leptospira bacteria; secondly, it doesn’t offer long-lasting immunity; and lastly, it has the highest adverse reaction of any canine vaccine.
We do not live in an endemic area for this disease so the chances of your dog being infected are not great. However, the chances increase if your dog spends much time in rural areas, loves swim- ming in questionable water sources and travels to warm, humid climates. Summer is a time when dogs
should be happily playing in the great outdoors. It is the responsibility of the pet owner to be alert for signs of illness
since greater exposure allows for greater chances of infection from
the many pathogens that lie in wait. V
Robert Urano is a former pet store owner. SUMMER 2013
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