Dog owners in Tillsonburg, Ontario, are being urged to be vigilant about a possibly serious bacterial disease spreading among canine companions. Leptospirosis, a bacterial infection carried by wildlife like raccoons, skunks, rats, and even deer, is on the rise in the area.
“We’ve seen a trend in it this year compared to what we’ve seen in previous years,” said Dr. Julia Hodgins of the Ostrander Veterinary Clinic, located just north of Tillsonburg. “It’s something that the pets don’t need to come in contact with the infected animal, it’s sharing space with them.”
The bacteria, found in the urine of infected animals, can contaminate areas where dogs frequent, leading to infection even without direct contact. The Ostrander Veterinary Clinic recently took to Facebook to warn pet owners about the disease,highlighting symptoms like vomiting,lethargy,and excessive thirst.
“We do see it in Tillsonburg a bit more frequently enough as we have ravines in the area, and there is a fair population of wildlife here,” Hodgins explained.
Adding to the concern,leptospirosis is zoonotic,meaning it can spread from animals to humans. “It is important to know that it spreads from pets to humans, so if your pet contracts it, you’re at risk as well,” Dr. Hodgins warned.
While cases are typically seen in the fall, leptospirosis can occur at any time. Diagnosis involves blood tests, and treatment depends on the severity of the infection. In humans, the bacteria can cause a range of symptoms, including fever, chills, headache, muscle and joint pain, red eyes, cough, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, and skin rash.
Dr. Hodgins recommends a yearly leptospirosis vaccine for all dogs as a preventative measure.She also advises against allowing dogs to drink from standing water, which can be contaminated.
If you suspect your dog may have contracted leptospirosis, contact your veterinarian immediately. “Cases can be a slow onset, so it happens over a few days,” Dr. Hodgins said. “Others can be very sudden and they’re sick.”
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