Leishmaniasis is a serious protozoal disease spread by sandflies in Mediterranean and tropical regions. Prevention and long-term management are essential for affected dogs.
Leishmaniasis causes multi-system disease with a prolonged, debilitating course. Affected dogs experience progressive weight loss, skin abnormalities, nasal bleeding, and eventually renal failure if untreated. The chronic nature of the disease means welfare harm accumulates over months to years in untreated or inadequately managed dogs. Treatment controls the parasite load and resolves many clinical signs, significantly improving quality of life, but the infection cannot be eliminated. Lifelong monitoring is required because relapse can occur, particularly during periods of immune compromise. The welfare burden of imported leishmaniasis in dogs is entirely preventable through vaccination and appropriate prophylaxis before travel to endemic regions.