Leptospirosis is a potentially fatal bacterial disease in dogs spread through contaminated water and wildlife urine, with prevention through vaccination being a critical welfare intervention.
Leptospirosis causes severe acute suffering in affected dogs - fever, systemic illness, organ failure, and death in a proportion of cases despite treatment. The disease is essentially preventable through vaccination, yet many dogs are unvaccinated or have lapsed vaccine coverage. Dogs that develop leptospirosis despite owner neglect of vaccination suffer preventable illness and potentially preventable death. Regular vaccination against leptospirosis is a basic welfare responsibility for owners of dogs with outdoor access, particularly near water. The zoonotic risk additionally makes prevention a public health imperative.