Leptospirosis

What is Leptospirosis?

Leptospirosis is a bacterial disease that can affect canines by being spread through contaminated urine by other wildlife or through water contaminated with infected urine. This disease is zoonotic, meaning it has the ability to be passed from dogs to humans. You may have heard our doctors mention this disease during your regular appointments and it is for a good reason! Not only are they looking out for your furry friend, but also for you! With instances of Leptospirosis increasing, multitudes of doctors are encouraging owners to vaccinate their dogs against it. In fact, the American Animal Hospital Association (AAHA) has changed the status of the leptospirosis vaccine from non-core to core, fitting in with Rabies and Distemper/Parvovirus vaccines (AAHA, 2025).

What type of areas or populations are at risk?

Anywhere and everywhere! Whether you live in an apartment in the city or a house out in the country, your dog is prone to contracting Leptospirosis everywhere they go. The sole reason for moving this vaccine up to its core status was because of the prevalence of the disease in dogs of any size and breed in both urban and rural areas (AAHA, 2025). The bacteria survive best in lukewarm, slow and still water after heavy rains or small floods. Once the water retreats, that bacteria can contaminate the soil below for several months. Maybe you don’t take your dog to outdoor activities, can they still get it? The answer is yes! A case from 2021 in Los Angeles began in boarding facilities, where dogs are exposed to other dogs’ urine in yards and drainage pathways. This did lead to a Leptospirosis outbreak (Brooks, DVM, 2024).

What symptoms should you look for?

If your dog is infected with Leptospirosis, they can become increasingly ill within just 7 days. Symptoms such as fever, abnormal bleeding through diarrhea or vomit, and lethargy are just a few of the early-stage symptoms of this infection. Any of these signs are all red flags to bring your pet to your trusted veterinarian to take a closer look. Leptospirosis is especially damaging to the kidneys, a crucial and vital organ with multiple responsibilities. Kidney damage can take place within just 2 weeks of infection and can ultimately lead to kidney failure through inflammation (Brooks, DVM, 2024). This cycle of infection is something that no animal should be put through, including yours!

How can you protect your pet from it?

Lucky for you, protecting your beloved dog from this nasty infection is much easier than you think. The first thing on that list should be to vaccinate your dog against Leptospirosis! This reduces the severity of the disease if your dog were to contract it and decreases the symptoms of it. Additionally, when taking your dog on a walk in the city or in a park, keep them away from any standing water such as puddles. Those are prime hotspots for Leptospirosis, even if your dog might think it’s a refreshing drink. All in all, we hope that this information is beneficial to all who come across it and gives you some piece of mind about Leptospirosis and what it means for your pet. Taking the time to carry out your own research and getting questions answered can be one of the reasons your pet stays happy and most importantly, healthy!

Interested in learning more? Check out these resources!

Leptospirosis in dogs. (n.d.). Vin.com. Retrieved June 18, 2025, from https://veterinarypartner.vin.com/default.aspx?pid=19239&catId=254096&id=4951453&ind=341&objTypeID=1007  

Vyn, C. M., Libera, K. C., Weese, J. S., Jardine, C. M., Berke, O., & Grant, L. E. (2024). Social and environmental risk factors for canine leptospirosis: A scoping review. The Veterinary Record, 195(11), e4437. https://doi.org/10.1002/vetr.4437  

Waranius, B., Tillman, C., Van Houten, C., Harrist, A., Digianantonio, R., Hasel, H., Atherstone, C., & Curren, E. (2024). Human case of leptospirosis during a canine disease outbreak – Wyoming, 2023. MMWR. Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report, 73(27), 602–606. https://doi.org/10.15585/mmwr.mm7327a1

(N.d.). Singler, Emily VDM ,AAHA. Retrieved June 18, 2025, from https://www.aaha.org/newstat/publications/leptospirosis-vaccination-recommended-to-be-core-for-most-dogs/

Service content written by Macy Milburn