Leptospirosis in dogs is an infectious disease caused by the bacteria in the genus Leptospira. Leptospirosis is a zoonotic disease found in the multiple wild and domestic species, including dogs and often transmitted by the direct contact with urine or other body fluids of an infected host, although environmental contamination by urine can lead to transmission if conditions are suitable.
Definition of Leptospirosis In Dogs : Leptospirosis in Dogs
Leptospirosis in dogs is the bacterial disease of dogs may occasionally develop severe lung disease and have the difficulty in breathing. Leptospirosis can cause bleeding disorders, which can lead to the blood – tinged vomit, urine, stool or saliva. Nose bleeding and pin point red spots that may be visible on the gums and the other mucus membranes or on light – colored skin. Leptospirosis leads with fluid accumulation in legs or we can say that there is swelling of the legs due to fluid accumulation.
Details Of Leptospirosis in dogs :
Leptospirosis is a disease caused by the infection with the Leptospira bacteria. These bacteria can be found in the worldwide in the soil and the water. There are many strains of Leptospira Bacteria that can cause disease. This is the zoonotic disease that means it can spread from animals to people. So this is more important point to know about the Leptospirosis disease. As we can compare with this disease with other disease it may resemble the flu like disease symptoms. This disease will cause severe effect on the kidney and liver disease.
Leptospirosis is the more common in the areas of the warm climates and the high annual rainfall environment that may help to spread this disease as per world wide areas. And also can transfer this to anywhere so keep protection from this disease.
Clinical signs / Symptoms of Leptospirosis :
1. Acute kidney injury.
2. Lethargy ( Weakness ).
3. Anorexia ( loss of appetite ).
4. Vomiting ( Nausea like feeling ).
5. Abdominal pain ( Stomach pain ).
6. Polyuria ( Production of large volume of dilute urine ).
7. Oliguria ( The production of abnormally small amounts of urine ).
8. Anuria ( Failure of the kidneys to produce urine ).
Test Regarding with Leptospirosis :
Serum Analysis : Serum Analysis or serum blood gas analysis this will show abnormalities such as azotemia, hyperphosphatemia, metabolic acidosis, hyponatremia and hyperkaliemia. All these analysis denotes the leptospirosis in dogs. Serum Analysis involves all the abnormalities that is related to the Leptospirosis. Bacterial contamination relates with this disease that may cause serum analysis. Serum Analysis denotes the metabolic acidosis.
Urine Analysis : Urine analysis might show the abnormalities of the such conditions as the hyposthenuria, isosthenuria or minimal concentration that leads to proteinuria, glucosuria ( with normal blood glucose ), Cylindruria, hematuria or pyuria. Urine analysis denotes the removal of protein in the urine and glucose in the urine.
Such dogs that survive with the acute kidney injury may return to the baseline or the progress top the chronic kidney disease. Chronic Kidney Disease may cause severe effect on the urine formation in the dogs body. Leptospirosis should also be considered with previously diagnosed chronic kidney disease that will be develop acute stag on the kidney injury.
Serum Biochemical Analysis might show the following abnormalities :
- Increased alkaline phosphatase ( ATP ) activity.
- Increased ALT activity ( usually increased that ALP activity ).
- Increased bilirubin concentration.
CBC or Complete Blood Count :
Complete blood count or CBC that resemble to show the moderate thrombocytopenia ( not severe enough to cause spontaneous bleeding ). This coagulation testing might to show increased fibrin degradation products.
There is another non – specific CBC changes might include the neutrophilia, lymphopenia, lymphadenopathy, monocytosis or mild anemia. This is all about complete blood count or blood test.
Treatment of Leptospirosis in Dogs :
The treatment is depend upon the supportive care together with the specific antimicrobial therapy. An antibiotic that name is doxycycline helps to eliminate the leptospiremic and carrier phases of infection.
Supportive Measures : Fluid therapy and electrolyte supplementation as necessary in the case of acute kidney injury or liver disease. Few antiemetics, phosphate binders, hepatic support medications or the appetite stimulants.
Renal replacement therapy
Prevention of Leptospirosis in dogs :
Vaccines are available to provide the good protection from the disease for at least one year. Prior recommendations for the vaccinating every 6 months are also no longer justified. Vaccination is the key point of prevention from leptospirosis.
Key points of Leptospirosis in dogs :
- It is the zoonotic disease that found in multiple wild and domestic species, including the dogs and often transmitted by the direct contact with the urine or the other body fluids of an infected host.
- Serological testing is the diagnosis key points.
- Treatment key point is doxycycline antibiotic.