Leptospirosis – Dr Paws Kotara Update

Leptospirosis is a bacterial disease of dogs and other mammals that primarily affects the liver or kidneys. The bacteria (Leptospira) that causes leptospirosis, is excreted in urine of affected animals and thrives in standing water.

Leptospirosis in cats is very rare and is not associated with clinical disease.

 

Leptospira bacteria are carried mainly by rats and other rodents, but can be carried by almost any mammal, including people.

Ingestion of infected urine or rodent-contaminated garbage is the most important means of transmission, but some forms of the bacteria can penetrate damaged or thin skin.

 

– High fever

– Lethargy

– Loss of appetite

– Hemorrhagic (bleeding) sometimes in the mouth and on the whites of the eyes.

– Bloody diarrhoea and vomiting may occur.

– Presence of a yellow colour (jaundice or icterus) in the mouth and whites of the eyes.