Dog Disease - Leptospirosis

Dog Disease - Leptospirosis

Dog Disease - Leptospirosis

Leptospirosis is a bacteria that can affect many animals. It is rare in cats, but is more common in dogs. Leptospirosis is a zoonotic disease, which means it can be transmitted from animals to humans.
Cause:
Leptospirosis is caused by a complex group of closely related bacteria of the genus Leptospira.Occur in different locations and tend to affect certain species more than others.
Signs and Symptoms of Leptospirosis:
The severity varies and depends on the dog (age, immune response, vaccination status), Leptospira strains and other factors.Some dogs may have mild symptoms or no symptoms at all, but severe cases can be fatal.
Signs and symptoms may include:
• Fever• joint or muscle pain - this can manifest as a reluctance to move• decreased appetite• weakness• vomiting and diarrhea• fluid from the nose and eyes• frequent urination - could be followed by a lack of urination• yellowing of the gums, membranes around the eyes, and skin (jaundice)
Diagnosis of leptospirosis:
A definitive diagnosis is usually made by demonstrating the presence of bacteria in the sample uri, or find an increase in levels of antibodies against Leptospira from time to time, which shows the active immune response through a test called MAT.A single antibody test may be positive due to past exposure to Leptospira bacteria (eg, infection without symptoms) or vaccination.
It is also important to note that Leptospira bacteria can be found in the urine of dogs that may not have active symptoms due to Leptospira, so it is important to clarify if the symptoms are due to leptospirosis or other possible causes. Various laboratory tests and radiographs can help confirm the diagnosis.
Treating Leptospirosis:
Antibiotics are used to kill bacteria Leptospira and often given in two stages:• a type of antibiotic to treat infections early,• followed by various types of antibiotics to combat bacterial shedding in the urine.
Earlier treatment begins, the better.
Once the kidney and / or liver failure are present, the prognosis for recovery is rather difficult.
In this case, aggressive treatment is essential, including intravenous fluids, drugs to reduce vomiting, and treat other effects of kidney and liver failure, and dialysis.
However, depending on the severity of the disease, treatment is not always successful when organ failure is present.
Prevent LeptospirosisThe vaccine against leptospirosis is available and recommended in areas where leptospirosis is common.The vaccine is only produced for certain varieties of Leptospira and does not offer a long-lasting immunity and should be frequently repeated.
The vaccine is not 100 percent effective, and does not protect against all types of Leptospira.
 The recommended vaccines and the vaccination schedule should be discussed with your veterinarian your dog based on risk factors.
Rat control measures can reduce the chance of infection and in areas where leptospirosis is a common, preventing dogs from swimming in ponds and slow moving water can also help.
Management:
Leptospirosis can cause flu-like symptoms in people, which in some cases can develop into a serious illness. If your pet has been diagnosed with leptospirosis, risk can be managed, particularly with probity. In fact, a pet that does not show signs of infection (and therefore not diagnosed and treated with antibiotics to stop the shedding of bacteria in the urine) may pose a greater risk for transmission to an unsuspecting owner.
However, if your pet has been diagnosed with leptospirosis, measures to prevent infection include:
Avoid contact with urine if possible, and use protective clothing (gloves, etc.) if you need to handle the urine.Practice good hygiene, including careful hand washing.Disinfect the surface where an infected pet has urinated (antibacterial disinfectant or bleach solution).Follow the advice vet for treatment and make sure all drugs given as directed.If anyone is related to dogs diagnosed with leptospirosis become ill, be sure to mention the canine diseases to health care providers (as a rule of thumb, it is always a good idea to mention pet exposure to health care providers when the people in the family who are sick)

Some Dog Vaccination for Prevention:
Type Vaccination
Diseases
Time




 Vaccination DP
Distemper and Parvovirus

 6-8 weeksVaccination PiBr
Parainfluenza and Bordetella
10-12 weeksVaccination DHLPI
Distemper, Hepatitis, Leptospirosis and Parvovirus
14-16 weeksVaccination DHLPII + R
Distemper, hepatitis, leptospirosis, parvovirus and rabies
20 weeks