What is leptospirosis?
Leptospirosis is a bacterial infection caused by spiral-shaped bacteria of the genus Leptospira (also referred to as leptospires) which can cause damage to vital organs such as the liver and kidneys. Leptospirosis is a zoonotic disease which can infect many different species; in dogs and humans it can lead to serious illness if left untreated.
How is leptospirosis spread?
Leptospirosis is a water-borne disease which is spread though contact with the bodily fluids of an infected animal. Either through water or soil which has been contaminated with urine from infected animals (such as rats) or through direct contact with blood or urine from an infected animal (such as an infected dog). Rats are the main culprits for spreading the infection, due to their sheer prevalence.
What are the symptoms of leptospirosis?
These can include:
- Anorexia
- Fever
- Depression
- Vomiting
- Diarrhoea
- Jaundice
- Drinking and peeing more than usual
- Abdominal pain
- Bleeding from the gums
How is leptospirosis treated?
Infected patients will need to be isolated and may be treated with antibiotics, pain relief and anti-sickness medication. If the disease is diagnosed and treated quickly, some dogs can recover, but unfortunately the prognosis for infected dogs is not good.
How can I protect my dog?
Dogs can be vaccinated against leptospirosis which will decrease their chance of infection and serious illness. Puppies and dogs who have never been vaccinated or whose vaccinations have lapsed will require 2 injections, 4 weeks apart and a single injection each subsequent year.
There are several different infectious strains of Leptospira and you may have heard vaccines being called L2 or L4, this refers to how many strains of the bacteria the vaccine will protect against.
L2 vaccines protect two of the most common strains in the UK, Leptospira canicola and Leptospira icterohaemorrhagiae, whilst L3 protects against Leptospira Grippotyphosa in addition to the previous two and L4 protects against Leptospira Grippotyphosa and Leptospira Australis in addition. These additional strains used to be more common on mainland Europe, but are now just as prevalent here in the UK.
I’ve read that the vaccine is dangerous, is this true?
There is a wealth of misinformation online about canine vaccines, particularly leptospirosis. We so often hear from new pet owners who are reluctant to have a particular vaccine because they ‘heard that it can harm dogs’ or their breeder told them it is dangerous. We urge pet owners to read information about vaccines from reputable sources and to consult qualified professionals for advice regarding their concerns. The Veterinary Medicines Directorate, the governing body which receives reports of adverse events due to vaccinations released the following update regarding leptospirosis vaccines in 2023:
“There are a number of vaccines authorised in the UK containing either two (L2) or four (L4) strains of Leptospira. Based on the most recent periodic safety update report data received for each product, the incidence of adverse animal events for all L2 vaccine products combined is 0.016%; for L4 vaccine products this figure is 0.045%.
In other words, the VMD has received fewer than 2 adverse events for L2, and fewer than 5 for L4, for every 10,000 doses sold.
The overall incidence of suspected adverse events for both L2 and L4 vaccine products is therefore considered to be rare.”
The majority of reported signs were allergic type reactions, a well recognised potential side effect of any vaccine. As with any vaccination or medication, there is a risk of adverse reaction but this risk is minimal and is far outweighed by the benefits of immunisation.
How can I keep my puppy safe before they are fully vaccinated?
We recommend puppies are kept away from unvaccinated dogs and public areas until 2 weeks after their second vaccination. They are fine to run around your garden as long as no unvaccinated dogs have visited recently and you don’t have a rat or fox problem. Puppies can meet friend’s dogs as long as you can be sure of their vaccination status. Puppy classes are usually very low risk, just make sure they require puppies to have had at least their first vaccination. The focus of socialisation for puppies should be them getting used to the sights and sounds of the world around them rather than meeting and greeting other dogs – this can be done by taking them out, but carrying them so they are not walking on the ground outside. This will allow them to start to experience the world without increasing the risk of them contracting leptospirosis.
Call us on 01435 864422 if you think your dog may be showing signs of leptospirosis or would like more information about vaccinations.
