08/21/2025
Leptospirosis is a serious infection that is becoming more and more common in our area. Lepto is a bacteria that is spread through the urine of wild animals. When a wild animal urinates and your dog comes into contact with it, then they can become infected. This could be as simple as a squirrel urinating near your front porch and your dog sniffing near a puddle contaminated with the squirrel’s urine. Leptospirosis can cause liver and kidney failure and symptoms include vomiting, diarrhea, lethargy, not eating, difficulty breathing, and icterus (jaundice or yellowing of their eyes, skin, and gums). The good news is that there is a safe and effective vaccine to help prevent infection and serious complications if your dog is exposed to Lepto. Due to the serious nature of this infection and the effectiveness of the vaccine, Lepto is now considered a crucial and core vaccine for dogs by AAHA (American Animal Hospital Association). To help protect your dog from this preventable disease, Oxford Veterinary Hospital recommends annual vaccination against Leptospirosis for all dogs.
Cats can rarely become infected with Lepto, but fortunately they seem to be more resistant to infection when compared to dogs. There is not a vaccine available for cats at this time.
Please call if you have any questions or need to schedule 513-523-3234
