Aussie pet owners warned over hidden risk after four dogs die within a week
The four dogs died in the NSW Southern Highlands and Shoalhaven regions as a result of canine leptospirosis — a serious bacterial disease spread through contaminated water. Humans can contract it, and it's known to be fatal in dogs if not detected early.
It targets vital organs — most commonly the liver and kidneys — leading to potentially lethal complications, said Dr Bing Zhu, Internal Medicine Specialist at SASH Bladder and Kidney Centre.
In an interview with Yahoo News, she explained that symptoms in dogs can include vomiting, diarrhoea, fever, lethargy, muscle tenderness, and in severe cases, jaundice or kidney failure. She said leptospirosis is most commonly spread through water or soil contaminated with the urine of infected animals, particularly rodents.
What is leptospirosis, and how does it spread?
Zhu warned the disease is more common in warmer, wetter climates, especially following periods of heavy rainfall. Vaccination is available and strongly recommended in high-risk areas. "If I saw my dog walking along and there was a puddle on the ground, especially in an area that had rodents, I wouldn't let them drink from it," she said.
"I'd try to discourage it. But at the same time, you can't clean every single surface. They're going to go on the grass — rats are going to pee on the grass as well — so you can't completely avoid exposure.
"The best thing that pet owners can do is make sure their dogs are vaccinated."
Vaccination is not going to stop the disease from taking hold, Zhu said. However, it can significantly reduce how sick they get from it. "So it means that if they're vaccinated, they might be in the hospital for a few days with antibiotics," she said. "But if they're unvaccinated, they might go into really bad kidney failure, where you need dialysis to survive. That's the difference between being vaccinated versus not.
"Take your pets to the vet earlier — don't wait. If your pet's unwell, especially in the rainy season, and you've got rodents around, don't wait a week or two of them being off-colour."
Zhu recommended requesting a blood test if the dog has been off for a day or two. "The earlier you get this disease diagnosed and start antibiotics, the better chance you have of essentially getting through without anything major," she said.
The specialist said that while leptospirosis isn't considered a common illness, it is present across much of Australia and tends to appear in seasonal spikes, coming in waves, often during rainy periods.
"When rainwater collects and dogs sniff, lick, or flick at the ground, that's when cases start to rise," she said.
At her clinic alone, Zhu estimates they treat between five and 10 cases a year, noting that many more are diagnosed at other veterinary hospitals. "It's not something we should dismiss as rare,' she said. 'It's uncommon and unfortunate, but any vet seeing a dog with kidney failure should have it high on the list of things to test for."
What is the survival rate among dogs?
In Australia, while official data on canine leptospirosis outcomes may still be limited, Zhu said information shared within the veterinary community suggests the fatality rate could be as high as 80 to 90 per cent. She said that many dogs are euthanised, often because the disease is detected too late, or they've progressed to a dialysis-dependent state.
In some cases, dogs are treated with IV fluids but without a full understanding of how to manage kidney failure effectively.
Zhu said excessive IV fluids can actually worsen the condition, pushing dogs into dialysis dependence. "Ideally, the moment a dog shows signs of illness, they should be taken to a vet," she said.
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"Even the slightest changes in bloodwork should prompt a referral to a specialist — even if treatment isn't pursued there, early intervention improves the chances of recovery."
She added that the cost of dialysis remains a major barrier. "Many of these dogs could survive if we had the resources to support them through dialysis, but the financial burden (around $30,000) is just too much for most families in today's economy."
Yahoo News Australia has contacted the Southern NSW Local Health District for comment.
Do you have a story tip? Email: newsroomau@yahoonews.com.
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