Leptospirosis: The emergency we wish we didn’t see.

There are a few diagnoses in ER medicine that change the mood in the room.

Lepto is one of them.

Not because it’s rare.
Because most of the time, it didn’t have to happen.

People often picture leptospirosis as a “river dog” disease: swimming, farms, wilderness exposure. But honestly, many of the dogs we treat didn’t do anything memorable that week.

They went outside.
They went for a normal walk.
They were in their own yard.

That’s enough.

Where dogs actually get exposed:

Leptospirosis is a bacterial infection spread through urine from wildlife. Most commonly rodents, but also deer and other animals. The bacteria survives in damp environments, so dogs don’t need to drink standing water to become infected.

Contact is all it takes.

Paws → licking feet later
Wet grass → grooming
Mud → nose contact
Small skin abrasions → bacteria entering the body

In Bend, that environment is everywhere:

• Irrigation canals and runoff
• The Deschutes River corridor and trails
• Parks and dog parks
• Snowmelt puddles in spring
• Summer lawn watering in neighborhoods
• Rodents moving through yards at night
• Campsites and trailheads

As we head toward spring, our mountain snowpack begins melting and Central Oregon sees a big increase in runoff, pooled water, and damp ground. This is typically the time of year we become most cautious about leptospirosis risk. Dogs don’t need to swim, just walking through wet areas is enough for exposure.

This is also why vaccination conversations often come up before spring. Protection matters most before environmental exposure increases.

How it shows up in the ER

Most families come in concerned, but not expecting an emergency.

Their dog is just… off.

Maybe skipped a meal,
Maybe vomited once,
Maybe unusually tired,

Then the labwork comes back.

Kidney values start climbing.
Liver values follow.
Dehydration worsens quickly.

A dog that walked into the lobby can become critically ill within a short period of time.

Treatment often involves:

• Hospitalization
• IV antibiotics
• Continuous fluid therapy
• Intensive monitoring and nursing care

Even with aggressive treatment, not every patient recovers.

The part many people don’t know

Leptospirosis is zoonotic, meaning people can contract it!

Now families are worried about their own exposure while their pet is hospitalized, and the patient must be handled with protective precautions and isolation protocols.

It becomes overwhelming very quickly, for the pet, the family and staff.

Why we talk about the vaccine

From the ER side, leptospirosis is a hard disease: medically and emotionally.

Because prevention exists.

The American Animal Hospital Association (AAHA) now considers leptospirosis a core canine vaccine due to widespread environmental exposure risk.

We’re not here to replace your regular veterinarian in that decision. Your primary DVM knows your pet’s history and lifestyle and should always guide vaccine choices.

But we meet Leptospirosis at its worst stage, and we often hear:

“I didn’t realize my dog could get this.”

If your dog goes outside in Central Oregon, they share an environment with wildlife whether you see it or not.

Questions about your pet’s vaccination protocol, schedule, or medical appropriateness should always be directed to your primary care veterinarian.

They know your pet’s full history and can guide you on what is best for them.

We just hope you never have to learn about this disease from a hospital stay.

— Bend Animal Emergency

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