Leptospirosis is a bacteria that can infect multiple species including humans and dogs and is more commonly known as Weils disease. It is so named after Adolf Weil who first identified, in 1886, an acute, infectious disease that caused liver, kidney and splenic damage. It took another 20 years before the actual bacteria was identified. The most common source of transmission are rodents, although cattle and wildlife are also known to be hosts of the bacteria. Rats, mice or cattle pass it in their urine and humans and dogs become infected by contamination of food or water.

Dogs drinking from stagnant water or streams and rivers that have farm waste run off are at risk of the infection. It has also been reported in housebound dogs that lick rodent urine off the floor. People working with animals (vets, farmers or abattoir workers) can be at a higher risk but it’s also reported in people who engage in outdoor water activities such as rowing, kayaking or wild swimming.

In dogs the bacteria causes a wide variety of symptoms from vague illness and lethargy to much more serious kidney and liver damage, bleeding disorders and death. Being a bacteria it can be treated with antibiotics and supportive therapy, but permanent damage may have already occurred by the time a diagnosis is made.

New Dog Vaccine available
Fortunately in dogs there is a very effective vaccine available. It is one of the diseases that we routinely vaccinate dogs against, along with parvovirus, distemper, hepatitis and parainfluenza. There are, however, multiple strains of the leptospira bacteria and until recently we only had a vaccine against two of those strains – Leptospira Canicola and Leptospira Icterohaemorrhagiae. This was known as a Lepto 2 vaccine. We now have a new vaccine called Lepto 4, which also protects against Leptospira Bratislava and Leptospira Grippotyphosa. These extra strains have caused recent outbreaks in the UK, most notably in the Bristol area.

We are particularly sensitive to this disease due to its infectious nature to humans, so vaccinating our dogs not only protects them but us at the same time. On the plus side, cats are pretty resistant to the bacteria so at least we don’t need to vaccinate ‘Fluffy’! If you are concerned about what vaccines are most appropriate for your pet have a chat to your vet. Age, health status and contact with other animals all influence what vaccines we give and how often.