In March 2024, the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) updated their guidance on leptospirosis, and the message is loud and clear: All dogs are at risk for the disease, regardless of location or lifestyle.

Leptospirosis, known colloquially as "lepto," is a disease caused by a bacteria called Leptospira. Several strains of this corkscrew-shaped bacteria can cause the disease.

"It’s not something we see often in our Community Practice, But we do commonly see cases in the emergency room at the Veterinary Teaching Hospital,” said Jenny Marin, a clinical assistant professor at the Virginia-Maryland College of Veterinary Medicine.

How does it spread? 

The bacteria lives in wet environments and in stagnant water. It's also spread through the urine of infected animals — when an infected animal pees, the bacteria can contaminate puddles, mud, and bodies of water like ponds or streams. In addition to water, the bacteria can also spread through soil and food contaminated by urine. 

Many wild animals, like rats, squirrels, raccoons, and deer, spread the bacteria without falling sick. Once in the environment, the bacteria can survive for weeks or even months, thriving in the late summer and fall. It is most common in warmer climates, though it can survive freezing. 

It’s important to remember that dogs in both urban areas are also susceptible to leptospirosis, not just rural dogs.

Dogs can become infected through broken skin, ingestion, or through the eyes, nose, or mouth. Once the bacteria enter the body, it begins to multiply in organs like the kidneys, liver, lungs and in the central nervous system.

A dog with wet fur drinks water from a puddle after a rain. Selective focus.
A dog drinks water from a puddle. Photo courtesy of Adobe Stock.

Symptoms and treatment

Dogs show symptoms about one week after they are exposed to the bacteria. Signs and symptoms are nonspecific and include: 

  • Vomiting

  • Diarrhea

  • Abdominal and muscle pain 

  • Severe weakness and lethargy

  • Dehydration

  • Increased thirst and urination

Leptospirosis damages the kidneys and liver, creating lasting organ damage in some dogs. In severe cases, dogs might bleed into their lungs (a pulmonary hemorrhage). 

If you think your dog may have leptospirosis, call your vet immediately. Because the disease damages the liver and kidneys, early treatment is crucial. 

“Immediate examination by a veterinarian is crucial,” said Marin.  “Avoiding exposure of people to urine of possibly infected pets is also very important to prevent transmission to people.”

In a visit to the clinic, your veterinarian could use a combination of testing and assessing symptoms to make a diagnosis. Leptospirosis is treated with antibiotics to fight the bacteria, but other treatments, including hospitalization, are often necessary to treat the damage to the dog’s kidneys and liver. 

Preventing leptospirosis 

The bacteria that cause leptospirosis can infect many different animals, including humans. In humans, the disease causes fever, body aches, headaches, and chills. Cats can get leptospirosis as well, and though they do not typically become sick, some researchers believe they could be a reservoir for the disease. 

Vaccines are a major part of leptospirosis prevention. The leptospirosis vaccine protects against the four most common strains of bacteria — even if your dog has had leptospirosis, they should get vaccinated so they'll receive coverage for the other strains.

“We highly recommend vaccination for leptospirosis for our local pets,” said Marin.

Another important part of prevention is making sure your dog does not drink from or play in stagnant or slow-moving waters like ponds, rivers, and puddles. Limiting contact with rodents and other dogs can also decrease the likelihood of your dog getting leptospirosis.

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