Leptospirosis Awareness | Tillou Veterinary Hospital
Leptospirosis is a bacterial disease that attacks the liver and kidneys. Although it’s most commonly seen in dogs, humans and other animals can contract the disease in rare cases. Dogs usually catch leptospirosis from exposure to rivers, lakes, and streams contaminated by other wildlife hosting the bacteria.
If your dogs like to roam free at the park or elsewhere, they might be at an increased risk of catching leptospira bacteria. The staff at Tillou Veterinary Hospital wants to help you better understand this disease and how to keep your dogs safe this fall.
How to Know if Your Dog is Infected
Unfortunately, leptospirosis in dogs can be difficult to diagnose due the common nature of the symptoms it presents. The way the bacteria attacks the liver and kidneys can cause vomiting, diarrhea, jaundice, loss of appetite and lethargy. If you see any of these symptoms in your dogs don’t assume it’s something simple because you’ve seen it in them before; it’s always better to be safe than sorry. If your dog is acting strange, stop in and talk to Dr. Tillou to make sure everything gets taken care of.
How Your Dog is Treated for Leptospirosis
If left untreated, leptospirosis can cause permanent damage to the liver and kidneys and could even be fatal. Thankfully, if caught in time, leptospirosis can be treated with a course of antibiotics over the period of a couple weeks. Dr. Tillou recommends visiting your friendly Hamburg NY veterinary clinic whenever your dog is exhibiting unusual behavior. If your dog has a serious issue, like leptospirosis, we can address it before it gets too far.
Dr. Brett Tillou knows how serious leptospirosis can be for your dogs. That’s why all the dogs treated at Tillou Veterinary Hospital receive a yearly preemptive leptospirosis vaccination to protect against the disease. If you’re uncertain if your dog has received this vaccination, don’t hesitate to drop on by and visit your Hamburg NY veterinarian Dr. Tillou. Call Tillou Veterinary Hospital if you have any other questions or would like to set up an appointment today!
