Five years ago, Penn recovered from leptospirosis. He died in September 2008 at nearly 14 years old.. (C) Jo Ellen Meyers Sharp
In the August 2009 issue of Angie’s List magazine, I talk about a deadly bacterial disease that can lurk in our landscapes. Leptospirosis almost claimed the life of my dog, Penn, about five years ago. The disease is on the rise as we continue our suburban sprawl. Here’s an excerpt.
“RIGHT BEFORE CHRISTMAS five years ago, my 8-year-old dog, Penn, became deathly ill. He was depressed and listless. He’d lost his appetite, urinated a lot, vomited and drank a lot of water.
At first, the vet thought it was kidney failure because of blood test readings. Other tests revealed Penn had leptospirosis, a bacterial disease that can be fatal to dogs and humans. Penn survived, but spent about a week in the hospital, weeks on high-potency antibiotics and was subjected to several follow-up tests, all which took the $2,200 I’d saved to remodel my bathroom. I learned a lot about this disease, which is on the rise as we continue suburban sprawl.
Leptospirosis spreads through the urine of mammals. Throughout the Midwest, raccoons seem to be the primary carriers, says Larry T. Glickman, a professor of epidemiology and environmental medicine in the Purdue University School of Veterinary Medicine. Lepto is a zoonotic disease, which means it can be transmitted from animals to humans and vice versa. Swine flu and bird flu are other examples.
All mammals can get lepto, but it’s not necessarily fatal for wildlife. Rather, they become carriers for the disease. Dogs can get sick if they drink tainted water or walk through grass and lick their paws. Cats also can be infected, but they don’t seem to exhibit as severe symptoms.”
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