"SAN FRANCISCO (KGO) -- Health departments across California are sounding the alarm about a highly contagious bacterial disease that can be deadly in dogs if not treated. And in rare cases, it can spread to humans. It's called leptospirosis -- and it's actively spreading right now in the Bay Area and parts of the state, including Los Angeles. 7 On Your Side's Stephanie Sierra's dog, Bubba, contracted the disease and fought it for weeks."
"San Francisco SPCA veterinarian, Dr. Katherine Geating, said animals or humans can contract lepto through contact with contaminated water, soil, mud, or urine from infected animals -- namely rats. "Lepto is a really important disease. It's one of those things -- every single day, every single appointment, I'm educating clients on how serious it is," she said. "Here in the Bay Area, I tell owners any puddle of water means your dog can be exposed.""
"Nine-year-old Bubba never missed a meal, so Sierra knew something was wrong when he suddenly stopped eating. The happy-go-lucky German shepherd-border collie mix went from trotting through the park to suffering from anorexia within days. And they had no idea why. They took him to the ER at the San Francisco SPCA. Within 20 minutes, Bubba was diagnosed with leptospirosis -- also known as "lepto.""
Health departments across California are warning of an active leptospirosis outbreak in the Bay Area and Los Angeles. The bacterial infection is highly contagious among dogs and can rarely infect humans. Infection occurs through contact with contaminated water, soil, mud, or urine from infected animals, especially rats. Symptoms in dogs can include sudden anorexia and rapid decline; the disease severely damages kidneys and liver if untreated. Some veterinary clinics are seeing spikes in cases. Early testing and treatment are critical. Any puddle of water can expose dogs, so owners should take precautions and seek prompt veterinary care.
Read at ABC7 San Francisco
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