Source: ABC Action News
Dr. Melanie Bizzarro of Harmony Vet Care in Brandon, Florida, is warning pet owners about a rise in Leptospirosis cases in Hillsborough and Pinellas counties. Leptospirosis is a bacterial infection found in contaminated soil or water, often spread through the urine of wild animals like raccoons and rats. Symptoms in dogs include fever, vomiting, diarrhea, lethargy, and jaundice. Two recent cases at the clinic’s Oldsmar location were successfully treated, but Dr. Bizzarro stresses the disease is zoonotic—meaning it can spread from animals to humans, especially since many people share close living spaces with their dogs.
She urges pet owners to check their dogs’ vaccination status, as the Leptospirosis vaccine was recently upgraded to a core vaccine. Harmony Vet Care offers the vaccine for $30 and encourages prompt action to prevent further spread. Early prevention is key to protecting both pets and their owners from this potentially serious infection.