Leptospirosis is a bacterial disease that is a concern for dogs and can be passed to humans. The bacteria are passed via the urine of wildlife (squirrels, raccoons, possums, chipmunks, and the like) into water sources, where they reside and reproduce. The bacteria can be present in any surface water, including ponds, lakes and even puddles in the yard. Dogs can become infected by drinking, swimming or walking through contaminated water. Leptospirosis can also be present in moist soil, so dogs prone to digging are at risk of exposure. The risk of exposure is greatest in the summer and early fall months, and during periods of heavy rainfall.

Leptospirosis_in_kidney: Leptospirosis_in_kidney.jpg‎ (700 × 477 pixels, file size: 32 KB, MIME type: image/jpeg) Photomicrograph of kidney tissue, using a silver staining technique, revealing the presence of Leptospira bacteria. Photo credit: CDC/Dr. Martin Hicklin Sour Leptospirosis is contagious, and can be transmitted from wildlife host to dog, and from dog to dog. Leptospirosis is becoming more of a concern in urban areas because of the presence of more and more wildlife in cities and suburbs. The disease can lead to kidney or liver failure, and can be fatal to the dog. Leptospirosis can also be contagious to humans. Though rarely fatal, it can cause flu-like symptoms.

There are a number of signs that could indicated that your dog has been infected with leptospirosis. These include fever, loss of appetite, vomiting, diarrhea, dehydration, weakness, depression lethargy and jaundice (indicated by a yellow cast in the gums of the mouth and whites of the eyes).

Leptospirosis is relatively new to the Kansas City area. Kansas City Veterinary Care had not seen a case of leptospirosis until the fall of 2006. We now recommend that all dogs be vaccinated against the disease, due to the increasing number of cases seen since that time. (Cats appear to have a natural resistance to leptospirosis.) Following the initial vaccination, dogs need to be brought back to the clinic for a booster shot within two to three weeks. The booster can be administered by one of our technicians and does not require a doctor appointment. After this single booster shot, the vaccination is annual.