Dog Leptospirosis Symptoms

Dog Leptospirosis Symptoms and Warning Signs

Photo Credit: o5com via Flickr

            In our previous post, “What Is Dog Leptospirosis?” we discussed the Leptospira bacteria as an organism, what it requires to thrive, and how long it takes for the bacteria to infect a dog. Veterinarians are continuously seeing cases of this disease and issuing vaccines, antibiotics, and other medications in an effort to combat it. Your veterinarian should be well aware of the different types of symptoms that infected dogs will display, but this list will help the owner to determine when to seek medical help for his or her dog should Leptospirosis be a suspect.

            This infection can display many non-specific symptoms, but most of the warning signs to follow can help to identify this illness. Since there are many different strains of Leptospirosis it can be hard to establish solid symptoms. Some dogs may show very light symptoms of this illness and recover very quickly without medical assistance. Usually, this disease will affect a dog in different ways depending on the immune system of the animal, its age, and whether or not the canine has been exposed to the Leptospira bacteria in the past.

Symptoms of Leptospirosis Infection in Dogs

• Fever: Like many other infections, fever can accompany the illness in dogs. If fever is suspected, the temperature of the animal can be taken with a veterinary thermometer. Usually, the temperature of a dog is taken through the anus.

• Muscle pain, shivering, and joint pain: Shivering can occur with a fever, or may appear on its own. Muscle pain and joint pain are not uncommon with infections, as the body becomes infested with the reproducing bacteria.  As the leptospirosis infection begins to clear, these symptoms will begin to clear as well. 

• Diminished appetite and vomiting: As the dog begins to enter the peak of the infection a decreased desire to eat may occur. Leptospirosis can take a hefty toll on the health of a dog, and it is not uncommon for the dog to become very disinterested in food and begin vomiting. Vomiting in dogs is very common with infection, and it will go hand in hand with a feverish temperature. Should the dog begin to vomit, it becomes crucial to ensure it is able to hold liquids down. If liquids cannot stay down, it is time to visit a veterinarian. If the illness worsens after traditional business hours it may become necessary to contact an emergency vet. 

• Heightened breathing and breathing difficulty: Should the infection move into the lungs, the dog can develop a respiratory infection. This could show itself in the form of rapid breathing and difficulty with breathing. Should the dog begin to have excessive difficulty breathing, he or she may require additional oxygen. 

Dog Leptospirosis Can Result In Eye Drainage.

• Discharge- nose and eyes: When dogs become ill, some of the most tell-tale indicators of sickness are excessive discharge from the nose and eyes. This is a result of a working immune system in the heat of battle. Some infections of Leptospirosis may only come with this symptom, while the dog seems to be otherwise healthy and happy. 

• Increased thirst: an increase in thirst can occur for several different reasons when a canine falls ill. This is definitely one symptom that will follow others. For example, a desire to drink more can accompany a higher frequency in urination, diarrhea, vomiting, and fever. This could be a sign that the dog’s system is not getting the fluids that it requires, or that it may be expelling lots of fluid in the form of waste. 

• Weakness and fatigue:  As you might imagine, becoming ill from this incredibly vicious bacterial infection can cause weakness and fatigue for the afflicted dogs. As the body attempts to fight off the infection, it wears the animal out physically and mentally. All of its physical resources are dedicated to fighting the bacteria and getting the infection that ravages the body under control. Weakness and fatigue tend to strike at the peak of infection and tend to last until after the body has healed and rested.

• Diarrhea: As the infection begins to enter the gastrointestinal tract, the natural bacterial balances within the intestines and colon will become heavily unbalanced. The lower digestive tract recognizes the infection and immediately begins to flush itself in an attempt to clean itself of infection. This uses up a lot of the fluids within the dog’s body, increasing the need for water. 

• Changes in urination: As the dog falls ill, there could be changing urination patterns. If there is little to no fluid intake, there could be little to no urination. This can also be true if the dog is drinking lots of fluids, but also has diarrhea in addition. If there is an increase in urination, the dog may be drinking excessive amounts of fluids to compensate for fluid loss. As the infection spreads to the kidneys, the kidneys will increase urine production to rid themselves of the bacterial infection.

• Jaundice: In some cases, the dog’s gums, skin, and membranes surrounding the eyes can become yellowed. Jaundice indicates that there is bilirubin in the blood, a byproduct of red blood cells that have been broken down. The liver is responsible for filtering this substance out of the blood stream. When jaundice occurs, it can indicate that the blood cells are being broken down at faster rates than normal, the liver is not correctly doing its job due to infection, the flow of bile out of the liver is obstructed, or the liver is potentially failing. If jaundice becomes a symptom of Leptospira infection, it is important to get to a veterinarian’s office immediately.

In Serious Cases of Dog Leptospirosis, Inflammation
Can Occur.

• Inflammation: this symptom of Leptospirosis can occur in different areas. The eyes can become inflamed and painful for the dog in some cases. Other cases may involve inflamed limbs. Both of these can be due to fluid retention within the animal’s body. If inflammation becomes severe, it may become necessary for a vet to prescribe an anti-inflammatory drug in addition to the treatment regimen that has already been prescribed. 

• Unusual bleeding: A less common symptom of Leptospira infection is unusual bleeding. The infected dog may develop a nose bleed, blood in the urine, blood in the feces, or blood in the vomit. In rare cases, even the saliva can become tainted with blood. Losing blood can be very concerning; and if it occurs in conjunction with leptospirosis, a veterinarian needs to be contacted immediately after discovery to determine the source and reason behind the strange bleeding. 

Contacting the Veterinarian

        If a dog owner is concerned that his or her dog is infected by Leptospira bacteria, it is important to contact the veterinarian. Diagnosing the illness is the first step, and this is only done through a vet. Preventing Leptospirosis in Dogs is the best way to avoid this particular infection, but it is not always possible to keep your dog from contracting it; especially if there is a wild rodent population around the home, or a wide variety of animals that the dog comes into contact with.