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Leptospirosis
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    Leptospirosis is a disease that can affect human and animals, including your pets. All animals can potentially become infected with Leptospirosis. While for many years occurrence among pets was rare, the disease has been diagnosed more frequently in the past few years. See below for information on how to protect yourself and your pets from leptospirosis and what to do if your pet becomes infected.

    Images of a women with a dog.

    Infection
    How can pets become infected?

    The bacteria that cause Leptorpisosis are spread through the urine of infected animals, which can get into water or soil and can survive there for weeks to months

    Signs and Symptoms
    What are the signs of Leptospirosis in pets?

    The clinical signs of leptospirosis vary and are nonspecific. Sometimes pets do not have any symptoms.

    Treatment
    What should I do if my pet has the disease?

    If your pet has been confirmed by your veterinarian as having leptospirosis, the appropriate action to take will depend on the nature of contact with your pet. Normal daily activities with your pet will not put you at high risk for leptospirosis infection.

    Prevention
    How can it be prevented?

    To help prevent Leptospirosis infection, keep rodent problems (rats, mice, or other animal pests) under control.

    Page last reviewed: June 9, 2015
    Content source: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, National Center for Emerging and Zoonotic Infectious Diseases (NCEZID), Division of High-Consequence Pathogens and Pathology (DHCPP)
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