Leptospirosis, the fatal disease, is a bacterial infection that was transmitted through rat urine.
Health officials are warning pet owners about a rat-borne fatal disease. In New Jersey, more and more dogs are affected by leptospirosis. This fatal disease is a bacterial infection that was transmitted through rat urine. The officials mentioned that more than 10 dogs are being treated in New Jersey.
This infection can be deadly if it’s not caught early. Two dogs already died due to the fatal disease. The others are in critical condition. Health officials stated that dogs can get infected if they drink puddle water. This is why pet owners should be alert at all times in order to stop their dogs from drinking street water.
When the pet owners observe any symptoms they should get the dog to the veterinarian. If the fatal disease is caught early it can be treated. When the condition is in an advanced stage, antibiotics don’t have the same effect. The bacterial infection causes organ failure in the final stage.
This disease can be dangerous for people too. A man died from this condition in February. Other two people got sick. Health officials mentioned that, at the moment, there are no cases of human leptospirosis. The only way to get infected is to come into contact with rat urine. People who work around these animals should be extra careful.
Pet owners should look for symptoms like loss of appetite, urination problems, and fever. If their dog suffers from any of these problems, they should take it to the doctor immediately. Once the dog receives antibiotics it will start to feel better.
“Once it gets into the bloodstream it starts to cause inflammation inside of blood vessels in various organs, one of the more common things to occur is kidney failure” specialist Benjamin Davidson said.
Pet owners should know that there is a vaccine available that can prevent this disease. They should take the dog to the veterinarian in order to give them the preventive vaccine for this fatal condition. Doctors believe that the numbers of cases of leptospirosis are beginning to rise due to the fact that it is hotter outside and people are starting to take their pets out for a walk.
What is your opinion about this fatal disease? Have you heard about it?
Image source: Pixabay
Michael Turner
