This fact sheet is designed to assist pet owners in answering questions related to leptospirosis in pets and the health risk to humans exposed to Leptospira -infected pets.
Leptospirosis is a disease is caused by spiral shaped bacteria called leptospires.
It occurs worldwide and can affect humans as well as many wild and domestic animals, including dogs and cats. The disease can be serious for both humans and animals. In people, the symptoms are often like the flu, but sometimes leptospirosis can develop into a more severe, life-threatening illness with infections in the kidney, liver, brain, lung, and heart. The information given here will show you how to protect yourself and your pets from getting leptospirosis and what to do if your pet does become infected. The bacteria are spread through the urine of infected animals, which can get into water or soil and can survive there for weeks to months.