Once thought of as a rare disease, it has settled in and certainly found a home in our community.
Leptospirosis is a dangerous disease, with a handful of cases reported each year, and many pet parents don’t realise how easily their dog could be exposed.
It is a bacterial infection that spreads through the urine of infected rats and mice, often contaminating puddles, soil, or outdoor water bowls.
Parklands with poor drainage can be a particular hotspot, however, with a recent rat plague, even urban Sydney saw a spike in cases.
Here’s the problem with leptospirosis—it’s sneaky.
The early signs are vague. Your dog may seem lethargic, skip a meal, or develop a mild fever.
It doesn’t look like an emergency… until it suddenly is.
Once the bacteria spread, they can attack your dog’s liver and kidneys. By the time the serious symptoms appear, it’s often a critical situation, and antibiotics become less effective.
Treatment is intensive—hospitalisation, IV fluids, antibiotics, and round-the-clock monitoring.
Even with the best care, recovery can be slow, and sadly, in many cases, it can be fatal.
The good news? Leptospirosis is preventable.
While it’s not part of the standard “core” vaccine group, we strongly recommend adding the leptospirosis vaccine to your dog’s annual schedule.
It’s one small decision that could make a life-saving difference.
At Lilydale Vet Centre, we use vaccines that protect against the most common strains of Leptospira found locally, including those responsible for severe disease in Melbourne.
The vaccine is safe and effective, providing broad protection against these dangerous bacteria.
Vaccination starts with two boosters, spaced 2 to 4 weeks apart, and then just a yearly booster after that—usually alongside your dog’s regular vaccinations.
If your dog visits parks, daycare, boarding facilities, or areas with standing water, this vaccine is especially important.
Leptospirosis doesn’t just affect dogs—it can spread to humans, too. That means vaccinating your dog also helps protect your entire family.
Even if your dog doesn’t seem at risk, rodent activity can happen anywhere—in suburbs, backyards, and even gardens.
We can check your pet’s vaccination record and help you decide if adding Lepto protection makes sense for your dog’s lifestyle.
Older dogs are especially vulnerable to illness, which is why our Senior Pet Vaccination Program includes a complimentary blood test for pets aged 7 years and older.
This helps us detect early signs of liver or kidney changes—conditions that leptospirosis can worsen.
We see leptospirosis cases every year, and each one reminds us how quickly it can turn serious.
Please don’t wait until symptoms appear—by then, it’s often too late.
If you have questions or would like to add Lepto vaccination to your dog’s next appointment, our team is ready to help.
Let’s keep your best mate protected—before the puddle becomes a problem.
