08/20/2026
Leptospirosis is a disease caused by infection with Leptospira bacteria that is most often found in warm, rainy climates, like North Carolina. It affects many different types of mammals, including humans.
Dogs can be exposed to Leptospirosis in a few ways:
💧Drinking from ponds, rivers, lakes, and streams
🐭Contact with wild animals or rodents
🐕Contact with infected dogs
☣️Through contaminated water or soil
The symptoms of Leptospirosis in dogs can be vague and hard to pinpoint, often mimicking other diseases. Some of the signs include:
▪️Lethargy
▪️Diarrhea or vomiting
▪️Loss of appetite
▪️Weight loss
▪️Stiffness and muscle pain
▪️Drinking more than usual
▪️Dehydration
▪️Jaundice
Even with treatment, dogs with Leptospirosis may experience certain long-term consequences in the form of liver or kidney failure, bleeding disorders, lung disease, or damage to the heart.
You can protect your dog from Leptospirosis by keeping their Lepto vaccination up-to-date and preventing them from interacting with wild animals and swimming in or drinking from stagnant or slow-moving water sources.
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