One common in New York City has been linked to four bounder last , but the bacterium causing the disease is common everywhere .
A rotter - overrun orbit of a New York City park has been linkedto several swamp fever casesthis calendar month . Sadly , the bacterium - repulse disease has led to the end of four dogs , according to the metropolis council member represent the orbit .
While these particular cases are isolated to McCarren Park in Brooklyn , leptospirosiscan taint your dog almost anywhere there is filth and weewee . gratefully , there are safeguards , including a vaccine , you could take to protect your pup when you lead outside or to your local wienerwurst common .
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" proprietor may want to study have their dogs vaccinated against lepto if they visit public spaces where other animal might have urinated — and this is the compositor’s case for most dog , " enjoin Jenna Stregowski , RVT and Daily Paws ' pet health and behavior editor . " babble out to your veterinary about the endangerment of lepto in your area . "
The Lowdown on Leptospirosis
The draw - shapedLeptospirabacteria life in soil and water across the orb , but more so in warmer climates and domain with raft of rainfall . It spreads through the urine of infected beast , Stregowski says .
So dog become septic when they make out into contact with the corrupt urine . That go on when they booze contaminated water and soil ; eat infected rodents ; or contact other infected animate being . They might ingest the bacterium if it attaches to their paws and lap it while groom , Stregowski says . The most common cause is wassail septic body of water .
Leptospirosis can damage your dog’sliverandkidneysand also have symptoms such asweight loss , lethargy , bloody weewee , tummy ache , difficulty breathing , and acrimony . It ’s treatable — the to begin with the detection the in force — with antibiotics but it can sometimes precede to a Canis familiaris ’s last . Dogs can also transmit the illness to humans , though that ’s not unwashed , according to Stregowski .
What’s Happening in New York?
City Councilman Lincoln Restler told theNew York Daily Newslast calendar week that four dogs had died after visiting the McCarren Park . He theorized the dirty dog at the parking lot may have make in the suffer water , place the dogs who booze the water at risk of swamp fever .
A local dog trainer toldGreenpointersthat it only took four hour for violent symptoms — vomitinganddiarrhea — to impact aFrench bulldognamed Oreo , who later had to beeuthanized .
On Thursday , Restlersaid on Twitterthe metropolis ’s wellness section was investigating the possible eruption . Meanwhile , the park was closed Monday as the New York City Department of Parks and Recreation began restore the park ’s drainage and installing gnawer - resistant garbage cans .
The wellness department also commence solve to exterminate the lowlife .
How You Can Protect Your Dog From Leptospirosis
There is a swamp fever vaccine , and your veterinarian can help oneself you settle whether it ’s right for your dog . It ’s not consider one of the core vaccines — likerabies — but Stregowski says more vets are recommending it because it can spread in both the rural wild and officious urban areas . It requires an annual booster .
Besides the vaccine , you could also minimize your firedog ’s exposure to the harmful bacteria . If you ’ve learn of leptospirosis outbreaks in a certain domain , steer clean-cut . Stregowski also urge supervising your dog when she ’s outside , making sure she does n’t tope from puddle , exhaust thing off the ground , or get into striking with any unfamiliar animals .
As always , contact your veterinarian if your dog is pallid after they ’ve been alfresco .
