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Ask the Veterinarian
Dr. Daniel Lauridia, DVM
I have a Standard Poodle recently diagnosed with leptospirosis bratislava. I also have two Miniature Poodles.
I have no idea how this could have happened to my Standard Poodle, and I am very worried about my Standard Poodle transmitting the
disease to my other dogs. I am trying to keep the Standard Poodle's urine area away from the other dogs.
Can you provide me with any information on this disease?
I am sorry to hear about your Standard Poodle. Leptospirosis is a disease caused when your dog is infected by a spirochete (a spiral shaped bacteria)
called leptospires. Leptospires can be found in warm stagnant water. The water becomes contaminated when local wildlife carrying the disease urinates
into the standing water. The type of wildlife that tends to transmit this disease includes rats, mice, raccoons, skunks, opossums, pigs, cows and other
dogs. When your dog comes into contact with the infected water, the bacterium enters your dog’s body through breaks in the skin or mucous membranes such as the mouth.
Once the bacterium enters your dog, it infects the blood and tissues and causes kidney and liver failure.
Other mechanisms by which leptospirosis can be transmitted include direct contact with infected urine, bite wounds and ingesting infected tissue.
Dogs are more likely to contract leptospirosis in late summer or early fall.
There are actually more than 100 different types of leptospires that exist in different regions around the world...
Read more
Ask the
Trainer
Jolanta Benal,
CPDT
I took my dog to a big open meadow where he got to run himself silly for the first time in a while. He seemed ecstatic but also mindful of where I was, and he responded to my cues. There were many dogs and we played fetch and all was great. I sat down in the grass while he played with a doggie friend. My dog ran behind me and I felt an extra warmth. I turned to pet him, thinking maybe he was leaning on me, only to see him put his leg down and run off. I felt the back of my sweater - wet! My own dog peed on me!
I have never heard of this happening. I attributed it to his being deliriously happy and therefore not in his right mind when he chose his pee position, or
maybe marking me in unfamiliar territory with new dogs. Just curious if you have an observation. I felt slightly betrayed though very forgiving.
CPDT
Congratulations on having such a well-mannered, responsive dog! It is a pleasure to be able to enjoy the great outdoors safely with your canine friend.
Now, down to business. Let's take care of your sense of betrayal first. Whatever motivated your dog's behavior, be sure that it was not an expression of
contempt or disgust toward you. For your dog, urine and feces are territorial signals and also fascinating sources of information, as anyone can attest
who has watched her dog sniffing openmouthed and rapturous at the corner lamppost... Read more
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