By Scott Weese on Posted in Parasites,Rabies1) Pick up baby raccoons and take them away Rarely does this end well. It’s illegal in many areas (including Ontario). Raccoons don’t do well long-term in households for various reasons (their curious and destructive nature being a big one). And, they are potential sources of a number of zoonotic diseases (rabies being a big one but not… Continue Reading
By Scott Weese on Posted in Cats,Dogs,Other diseasesPublic Health England has launched an investigation following identification of leptospirosis in an animal shelter volunteer. Leptospirosis is caused by the bacterium Leptospira, a bug that can be found in a variety of animal species. It’s shed in urine and loves to survive in cool, moist environments, so people and domestic animals are often exposed… Continue Reading
By Scott Weese on Posted in Dogs,VaccinationVaccination discussions can get pretty heated. It’s not as bad with animals as with humans (thanks in part to the discredited (and formerly Dr.) Andrew Wakefield). Yet, there is still a reasonable number of people who are opposed to vaccination of pets, and probably a bigger number who are wary. There are various reasons for… Continue Reading
By Scott Weese on Posted in DogsLeptospirosis is a bacterial infection that’s been described as a re-emerging problem in dogs in North America. (It’s been described as that for many years now so maybe we should drop the "re-emerging" and just say it’s a problem). The causative agent, Leptospira interogans, is a widespread bug that’s carried by a variety of wildlife… Continue Reading
By Scott Weese on Posted in DogsStudies that look at risk factors can be pretty variable in terms of what they tell you, the impact they have and how accurate they are. Some findings are pretty logical, clear and indicate something that should be done. Smoking is a risk factor for [insert many diseases here], so to reduce the risk of… Continue Reading
By Scott Weese on Posted in DogsLife with Merlin has been busy but going pretty well. There’s been no pee on the floor in the past 48 hours so we’re making progress. Speaking of pee (which, sadly, I seem to do a lot), we need to decide about leptospirosis vaccination for Merlin. A good preventive medicine program is important for every pet.… Continue Reading
By Scott Weese on Posted in Other animalsEarlier this year, a troop of Boy Scouts in the US beat off a rabid beaver that was attacking their leader (I wonder if there’s a badge for that). Boy Scouts and infectious diseases are in the news again, but not with as happy a story. In the recent incident reported on ProMED, ten Boy… Continue Reading
By Scott Weese on Posted in DogsVeterinarians at Michigan State University’s College of Veterinary Medicine are warning of an upswing in leptospirosis in dogs in the Detroit area. More than 20 cases of leptospirosis have been reported in dogs in the Detroit area, and it’s likely that many more unreported cases have occurred. Leptospirosis, a bacterial infection, can cause very serious… Continue Reading
By Scott Weese on Posted in DogsLeptospirosis is disease caused by several types of Leptospira bacteria. It’s often called a re-emerging disease in dogs, because the incidence has been increasing over the past couple of decades in many areas. While the overall number of infections is limited, when it does occur lepto can cause serious disease, including kidney failure. It’s also… Continue Reading
By Scott Weese on Posted in Other animalsBritish champion rower Andy Holmes has died of leptospirosis, which was suspected to have been acquired from the water during the annual Boston Rowing Marathon on the River Witham (UK) in September. The 51-year-old Holmes, an accomplished Olympic rower from the 1980s, started to feel unwell in the days after the race, and developed a… Continue Reading
By Scott Weese on Posted in DogsVeterinarians are reporting a potential cluster of leptospirosis cases in dogs near Lake Aquitaine in Mississauga (Winston Churchill Blvd. & Derry Rd. area). Leptospira gryppotyphosa has been confirmed in one dog, with other cases being suspected but not confirmed because owners declined testing. Leptospirosis is a bacterial infection caused by different types Leptospira spp. These… Continue Reading
By Scott Weese on Posted in DogsVeterinarians are reporting an apparent spike in cases of leptospirosis in dogs in southern Michigan. Leptospirosis is considered a re-emerging disease in many areas of North America. This disease, caused by various types of the Leptospira bacterium, can affect many different species, including dogs and people. A wide range of illnesses can result, including fatal… Continue Reading
By Scott Weese on Posted in DogsWhen we have a -30C windchill and snow on the ground, my first thoughts usually aren’t about survival of bacteria in the outdoor environment. However, some microorganisms are well adapted for survival in various adverse conditions and we shouldn’t assume that cold=dead for every bug of concern. Along that line, we received a question recently… Continue Reading
By Maureen Anderson on Posted in DogsThe latest newsletter from the University of Guelph‘s Animal Health Laboratory contains a brief update on the percentage of positive MAT tests for canine leptospirosis that the lab has seen in the first half of 2009. Approximately 30% of the tests have been positive, which is up from the previous two years. However, the prime… Continue Reading
By Scott Weese on Posted in Other diseases,Pocket petsA recent edition of the Veterinary Record contains a case report of Weil’s disease in a person that adopted a feral (wild) rat (Strugnell et al, 2009). Weil’s disease is a severe disease of the kidneys, liver and other body systems that can develop after acute leptospirosis (infection by Leptospira bacteria). This group of bacteria… Continue Reading
By Maureen Anderson on Posted in Other animals,Other diseases,VaccinationBack in the 1980s, Vietnamese Pot-Bellied Pigs were a popular fad pet. These stout little oinkers are still out there, though they’re not quite as popular as they once were. Potbellied pigs are cute (at least to some people… to each their own!), supposedly quite smart, and can even be house trained/litter trained. As with… Continue Reading
By Maureen Anderson on Posted in Dogs,Other diseases,VaccinationFrom Guest Author Dr. John Prescott, Professor, Department of Pathobiology, University of Guelph. More information about Leptospira and leptospirosis can be found on our Resources page. The last decade has witnessed a surge in leptospirosis in dogs throughout much of North America. Ontario and Québec have been part of the surge, which is associated with… Continue Reading
By Maureen Anderson on Posted in Dogs,Other diseases,Parasites,Rabies,VaccinationThe warm weather is just about here, and that means the start of camping season. Lots of people love to spend time in the great outdoors during the summer, whether it’s at a summer cottage on the lake, trailer camping in a park with electricity and running water, or roughing it in a tent in… Continue Reading
