Top three things for vets and vet teams to know about leptospirosis

Written By Dr. Michelle Evason

Leptospirosis is one of the world’s most deadly zoonotic diseases, mainly affecting those in third world countries. Despite the fact that there are effective vaccines on the market in the US for dogs, routine outbreaks occur across the nation- not only in rural areas, but also in urban environments.

Below are three things you need to know about this dangerous disease.

1. Signs of disease in dogs can range from subtle ( e.g. eating less, lethargy or acting ‘off’, occasional vomiting) to severe (e.g. acute kidney or liver failure.

2. Treatment needs to be started ASAP if leptospirosis is suspected.

3. Protect yourself and your staff. People can get leptospirosis from contact with infected urine - learn the risks and how to decrease them


Dr. Michelle Evason

Dr. Evason is a small animal internal medicine faculty member at the Atlantic Veterinary College in PEI, and also works as an independent medical and nutrition consultant through her business: Michelle Evason Veterinary Internal Medicine and Nutrition Consultations. She has worked in general practice, specialty clinical practice at large private referral centres, in academia as clinical faculty, and in the animal health and pet food industry. Her clinical and research interests focus on the role of 'anything and everything’ that aids increased veterinary (and pet-owner) awareness and understanding of various clinical disorders, with a slightly more specific focus on infectious disease, nutrition and pet-owner and veterinary perceptions regarding health and disease

http://www.upei.ca/avc/michelle-evason
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