In New York, a concerning outbreak of leptospirosis has prompted local veterinarians to urge caution to pet parents everywhere, with one heartbroken family offering their story.
Leptospirosis, or lepto for short, is a contagious bacterial infection. When contracted by a dog, it attacks their liver, kidneys, and eyes, as stated in a 7ABC Buffalo report.
That’s exactly what happened to Kaitlyn Keser’s ten-week-old family puppy with deadly results. She hopes that other pet parents will learn from this tragedy.
How Do Dogs Get Leptospirosis?
Typically, canines pick up leptospirosis when playing in wet and muddy areas that are frequented by wild animals. These animals, such as mice, rats, squirrels, or even deer, carry the bacteria that causes lepto in their urine.
Dr. R. Reed Stevens, Ellicott Street Animal Hospital Director, states that the disease is most common in the fall. “The key point is, if things are wet, which they are in the fall, like they are today, they are at risk of getting leptospirosis if they are not protected.”
“If one of those animals is carrying that bacteria in their urine and urinates in a puddle of water, or even on wet grass that your dog can lick from or drink from, they can ingest the bacteria,” Stevens further explained.
If you live in a rural area with this kind of wildlife, keep your pet from playing in these kinds of settings, or drinking from puddles.
It may seem harmless, but a family from Tonawanda urges otherwise.
A Family Loses Their Puppy In The Outbreak
Over the past month, 24 cases of lepto in the Buffalo area have been reported. Ken-Ton Animal Clinic, a veterinary emergency facility, has seen four, they told 7ABC.
Kaitlyn Keser’s puppy, Oslow, a ten-week-old Blue Heeler-Border Collie mix, was one of these cases. Keser reported her story to 7ABC, in hopes of making other pet parents aware of the disease.
“He was seven weeks old when we got him. He had his first round of vaccines,” Keser explained.
Three weeks later, Oslow started showing signs of illness, so Keser took him to the vet and learned he had contracted lepto. He hadn’t yet been vaccinated because he had been too young for that particular vaccine when they first brought him home.
“He threw up on the way home. We thought it was car-sickness because he had that early when we got him too. We didn’t think much of it until Halloween, he started throwing up a little more,” Keser said.
“It was phlegm. It wasn’t food; he wasn’t able to digest anything or really even water. He was throwing up five times every hour.”
A short time later, the irreversible damage to Oslow’s liver and kidneys became clear, and Keser was left with only one humane option.
“We had to take the unfortunate action and not let him suffer through it anymore,” she said.
Recognizing The Disease & Prevention
Stevens conveyed to 7ABC that signs of jaundice are often a clear indicator of leptospirosis. “If their gums are turning yellow, their eyes are turning yellow, the inside of their ears are turning yellow, that’s a very advanced disease.”
And it’s a disease that can be transmitted to humans, Stevens cautioned. When treating a dog with lepto, veterinary staff have to be vigilant in order to keep themselves safe from exposure. So, those of us at home certainly do.
Vaccination is critical. Vets recommend annual lepto vaccination as soon as your pup is old enough — eight to nine weeks old. For young pups, a booster shot is also recommended.
Aside from vaccination, be mindful of the areas where your pet plays, drinks water, or picks up sticks. You can find DogTime’s full guide to the symptoms, causes, and treatments of leptospirosis in dogs here.
Were you aware that your pup could contract leptospirosis from puddles? Do you vaccinate your dog and stop them from drinking or playing in water that might be contaminated? Let us know in the comments below.
