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The mouse plague that is ravaging large parts of Australia has led to a spike in the deadly rodent-transmitted bacterial disease leptospirosis. Here’s what to watch out for.
The mouse plague that is ravaging large parts of Australia has led to a spike in the deadly rodent-transmitted bacterial disease leptospirosis.
Increased populations of mice and rats following wet weather in eastern Australia could explain the 107 reported cases of the disease in the three months to May. The highest number of notifications was recorded in Queensland (53), followed by New South Wales (46) and the Northern Territory (5).
This disease can affect both humans and pets, as explained by Dr Magdoline Awad – SMARTdaily’s pet columnist and chief veterinarian at Greencross The Pet Company -.
WAITING FOR PESTS
Hello Dr Mags, I was reading about the dangers of pets getting leptospirosis from mice. I often see mice running around at night and I feel quite nervous that my dog will catch them. What can I do to prevent this from happening? Is there a vaccine and what if my dog gets it? The ex
Dear Lex,
In recent months, several cases of leptospirosis have been reported in and around Sydney.
Leptospirosis, or lepto for short, is a bacteria that is excreted in the urine of infected animals such as rats and mice.
For some reason, we generally associate lepto more often with rats than mice.
We need to be aware of lepto and the potential risk of your dog catching it especially in areas where there have been rats (yards, garbage cans) in combination with standing water or puddles.
Dogs become infected and develop lepto primarily by ingesting urine from infected rats. This usually happens through contaminated water or stagnant soil or even contaminated food.
Dogs that hunt and eat rodents can also get infected, so you are right to be concerned. All dogs are at high risk if they swim or drink in slow or stagnant water, or if they come in contact with rodents or other animals that could be infected.
Common symptoms can include lethargy, fever, vomiting, diarrhea, excessive thirst, bloody urine, and jaundice (yellow skin and gums).
You should take your pet to the vet as soon as possible as the chances of recovery depend on the severity of the disease and how quickly treatment is initiated.
Unfortunately, lepto can cause acute kidney and liver failure and when this happens, many dogs will succumb to the disease.
It is best to vaccinate dogs, especially in high risk areas. You should also prevent your dog from swimming or drinking in waterways such as rivers, lakes and ponds and take steps to reduce the rodent population. Walk your dog on a leash in high risk areas, especially if he likes to chase rats.
Keep in mind that leptospirosis is a zoonotic disease, so humans can get infected through the urine of infected rats or dogs. This is why it is so important to always wash your hands and see a doctor if you think you have been exposed to lepto.
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