Articles with leptospirosis

Canine Leptospirosis Vaccination Decisions: Endemic Spread and Risk-Based Choices

Leptospirosis a zoonotic bacterial disease that affects many species, including dogs. The infection can cause mild flu-like symptoms or can turn into a life-threatening disease. Leptospirosis responds well to antibiotics—if treatment starts early. The real problem is recognizing it in time. Early symptoms often look like a mild flu—lethargy, poor appetite, vomiting—so diagnosis is frequently delayed. By then, the bacteria…

by Jana Rade

Angry Vet On Leptospirosis: Sandy’s Untimely Death

As a sad reminder of leptospirosis’s reality, we had two cases of acute renal failure in otherwise healthy young dogs. One of the dog’s kidneys completely shut down and would not respond to treatment. Consequently, we had to euthanize her. The other dog has responded and is now home and expected to make a full recovery. I dedicate this post…

by Dr. Robert Foley

Canine Leptospirosis: Your Dog and Leptospirosis Infection

Leptospirosis is a bacterial infection caused by Leptospira bacteria, which are present worldwide. It can infect many types of animals, both wild and domestic, including: Because leptospirosis can also infect people, it makes the disease even more troublesome. On the other hand, infection in cats is uncommon and often mild or subclinical. What causes leptospirosis? The bacteria responsible for leptospirosis…

by Dr. Lorie Huston

Jana Rade

I am a graphic designer by day, dog health advocate, dog writer, member of the Dog Writers Association of America, and an award-winning author in my spare time. Jasmine, the Rottweiler of my life, was the largest female from her litter. We thought we were getting a healthy dog. Getting a puppy from a backyard breeder was our first mistake. Endless veterinary visits without a diagnosis or useful treatment later, I realized that I had to take Jasmine's health care into my own hands. I learned the hard way that simply seeing a vet is not always enough. There is more to finding a good vet than finding the closest clinic down the street. And, sadly, there is more to advocating for your dog's health than visiting a veterinarian. It should be enough, but it often is not. With Jasmine, it took five years to finally get a diagnosis for her initial issue. Unfortunately, other problems had snowballed for that in the meantime. Jasmine's health challenges became a crash course in understanding dog health issues and how to go about getting a proper diagnosis and treatment. I had to learn, and I had to learn fast. Helping others through my challenges and experience has become my mission and Jasmine's legacy. I now try to help people recognize and understand signs of illness in their dogs, how to work with their veterinarian, and when to seek a second opinion. My goal is to use 20 years of hard-earned experience to save others from the steep curve of having to learn things the hard way, as I did.

View Full Profile →