A Cautionary Tale about Leptospirosis
Updated -- New testing, treatment, vaccination guidance, 2025
Updated April 2025 with new information, courtesy of Barbara Swartzlander.
2025 Update: AAHA guidelines designate Leptospirosis vaccine as core...The AAHA 2022 Canine Vaccination Guidelines have now officially been updated to reflect a change in status of the leptospirosis vaccine from non-core to core.
Updated March 30, 2024, with new resource information (at end of article), courtesy of Barbara Swartzlander.
Bereaved handler shares story to help others
In November 2021, Barbara Swartzlander said goodbye to her 7-year-old agility partner, ZephyrJoe. “Zeph” was an athletic Border Collie with no underlying medical conditions, and Barbara and many of her friends were shocked at his unexpected death. Nearly two weeks before, he had been diagnosed with Leptospirosis (Lepto), a bacterial disease that can rapidly become life-threatening to dogs. After being treated aggressively in intensive care, he was ultimately laid to rest after suffering from kidney failure secondary to the disease. Barbara reached out to USDAA and asked us to share her story so owners would consider discussing the pros, cons, risks and benefits of the Leptospirosis L4 vaccination with their veterinarians.
She said, “Zeph was not vaccinated. Lepto is not a core vaccination. Zeph's veterinarian said nothing about Lepto at any of his annual physicals, including one in October 2021, and vaccination was not discussed. Zeph was fit, athletic, in optimal condition, and had no underlying medical conditions. I do not know where he contracted Lepto. He never swam in or drank standing water in ponds, streams or places normally associated with Lepto. I always carried bottled water for him. He was at six potentially infectious places in southern Maine. All are wide-open fields but are located near woods or water. I thought they were safe. Lepto was not on my radar. I never dreamed that he would contract Lepto, let alone die from it.”
We at USDAA are sorry for Barb’s loss and applaud her for sharing her story and calling attention to this disease.
More about Leptospirosis
According to the Tufts Cummings Veterinary Medical Center, dogs can become infected with leptospirosis bacteria by coming into contact with contaminated water, soil or the urine of wildlife who shed it. While dogs can recover with early antibiotics and supportive care, it can target major organs including the kidneys, liver, lungs and heart, leaving permanent residual damage.
Leptospirosis is more common in areas with warm climates and high annual rainfall, but it is a zoonotic disease that can occur anywhere and spread between animals and people. Thankfully, there are vaccinations that can help prevent the disease. For further recommendations in protecting against leptospirosis, please contact your veterinarian. More information can also be found on the American Veterinary Medical Association website.
ZephyrJoe at the PAWS agility trial, September 18, 2021. Yes, he cleared the double! Photo by Donna Kelliher Photography.
New testing, treatment, vaccination guidance, 2023-2024
- American College of Veterinary Internal Medicine
- American Veterinary Medical Association
- American Animal Hospital Association
- Veterinary Voices UK