There are alarming reports of a disease that is fatal for dogs that is spreading in Missouri and already several animals have had to be put down as a result.
The Pet Resource Center in Kansas City shared a status update on Facebook this week alerting Missouri pet owners that Leptospirosis had been detected in the area and two dogs had to be euthanized after they tested positive for the disease.
Pet Resource Center in Kansas City – “We’ve recently had TWO confirmed cases of leptospirosis, a life-threatening bacterial infection, at our urgent care clinic. “
The American Veterinary Medical Association says this disease affects “dogs, people, livestock” and can also infect wildlife. They say that the dogs most at risk are those who have access to stagnant water sources like ponds, rivers, lakes, or streams. They warn these are the symptoms that a dog may have Leptospirosis:
- Loss of appetite
- Vomiting
- Lethargy
- Abdominal pain
- Diarrhea
- Jaundice
- Dehydration
- Drinking or urinating more than usual
- Weight loss
- Stiffness or muscle pain
The challenge of this disease is it’s hard to diagnose since many symptoms can resemble other sicknesses and that’s why some veterinarians need assistance with the diagnosis.
How do you protect your dog from Leptospirosis?
Experts say you should try to keep your dog away from other dogs while this disease is known to be in the area and also to not allow them to drink from ponds or rivers.
This disease is normally only found in 150 dogs per year, so the sudden uptick of cases in Missouri is concerning.
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Gallery Credit: obsoleteVoids via YouTube
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