With summer vacation in full swing, pet owners will be taking advantage of the season to go camping, hiking, swimming, and playing in the backyard with their dogs.
But they’re not the only ones out in force — wild animals will be enjoying the weather, too. The problem is, wildlife can leave behind a bacterium called Leptospirosis, which infects both people and their pets.
This raccoon may be carrying Leptospirosis – a bacteria dangerous to people and pets.
LEPTOSPIROSIS PROFILE
Found in: Water, soil, mud, and food contaminated with animal urine. Flood water is especially hazardous. Also found in an infected animal’s tissues and bodily fluids such as blood and urine.
Host animals: Raccoons, squirrels, opossums, deer, skunks, rodents, livestock, dogs, and rarely in cats.
Points of entry: Cut or scratch on the skin; mucous membranes of the eyes, nose, mouth; inhaling aerosolized fluids. Drinking contaminated water; exposure to flood water.
Symptoms in people: Fever, headache, chills, muscle aches, jaundice, vomiting, rash, anemia, meningitis. Some people show no symptoms.
Symptoms in pets: Fever, vomiting, abdominal pain, diarrhea, loss of appetite, weakness, depression, stiffness, muscle pain. Some pets show no symptoms. The disease can be fatal in pets.
When will it show up in my pet: Between 5-14 days post-exposure, although in some cases it may take up to 30 days.
Gravity: In people, Lepto infection can lead to kidney and liver failure, and death if left untreated.
Who is at risk: Campers, water sportsmen, farmers, military, to name a few.
Prevention:
- Vaccinate dogs annually for Leptospirosis
- Don’t allow dogs to drink from puddles, streams, lakes, or other water that may be contaminated by animal urine
- Don’t swim in water that may be contaminated by animal urine
- Wear shoes when outdoors
- Keep dogs out of children’s play areas
- Control rodents around your home and yard
Resources:
http://www.cdc.gov/leptospirosis/index.html Visit the CDC website for comprehensive information on Leptospirosis in people and pets.
http://www.cdc.gov/leptospirosis/pdf/fact-sheet.pdf Print your own Lepto fact sheet, or send us a message using the contact form, and we’ll print one for you.
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This article was originally posted on July 8, 2011.
Photo credit: D. Gordon E. Robertson, via Wikimedia Commons.
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