Atlantic Animal
Hospital is very proud to introduce our Companion Animal of the Month for March
2009... Tucker! He is a seven year-old black and white Cocker Spaniel that owns
two humans, Debbie and Dan Duplessis. He has a brother named Colby, also a
Cocker Spaniel, and his feline siblings are Sawyer and Eclipse. Tucker adopted
the Duplessis' in July of 2002. He emerged out from under a porch, dirty and
disheveled, but with the sweetest little face. It was this instant that Debbie
knew Tucker was just the puppy for their family. Since then, he has always been
at Debbie's side, bringing happiness and laughter to all.
Tucker has a toy bunny, which is his absolute favorite. He plays with it, sleeps with it, and will find and bring it to Dan and Debbie when they ask. The first time that Debbie tried to wash the bunny, Tucker sat by the washing machine with a very worried expression on his face. Debbie felt so bad for him that she stopped the wash cycle. Whenever Tucker's bunny needs cleaning, she has to wash it without him ever knowing about it!
One day, Debbie
noticed that Tucker seemed very lethargic. He didn't want to eat, had diarrhea,
and he began vomiting. Dr. Sukhija ran some blood and fecal tests which
showed
that Tucker was dehydrated and experiencing kidney failure. Radiographs showed
that one kidney was twice the size of the other. Initially Tucker was
hospitalized for treatment by us and later referred to a specialist for a kidney
ultrasound. Additional tests were sent out to a
laboratory to confirm the suspected diagnosis of Leptospirosis.
Leptospirosis is a contagious bacterial disease that can infect animals and
humans. It thrives in water and is typically found in moist soil. It is
particularly abundant in tropical areas, such as the southern states, and is
contracted primarily through contact with an infected animal's urine but it can
also be transmitted through bite wounds or by ingesting an infected animal. The
bacteria can enter the body through the mouth, nose, or eyes. Drinking
contaminated water can also cause infection. Many strains of Leptospirosis are prevalent
in wildlife, and it is suspected that the disease has entered suburban areas
with populations of raccoons, opossums, and small rodents. Dogs and cats
in fenced yards can be exposed by walking through or sniffing urine spots of
other animals.
Once it has been
contracted, the Leptospirosis bacteria quickly invade the blood stream and start to
multiply in the kidneys. The kidneys suffer the most damage from the infection
and can acutely fail. The liver can also suffer severe damage and some patients
have disease in both organ systems. Like Tucker, many infected animals will
first
present with vomiting, decreased appetite, increased thirst, and lethargy.
Other symptoms can include fever, pain, and shivering. These symptoms are not
specific to Leptospirosis, so a diagnosis must be based on blood tests and titers. Blood
chemistry tests show any abnormalities in liver and kidney enzymes, and titers
test for the presence of antibodies that the body has created to fight Leptospirosis.
Treating Leptospirosis involves fluid therapy, antibiotics, control of vomiting, phosphate binders, uremia reducers, and supportive care for kidney and/or liver disease. Special precautions are also taken to help reduce spread of the infection. Blood, urine, and any tissues are treated as infectious biohazard waste and infected areas and items are washed and disinfected thoroughly. Gloves must be worn when handling these items in order to avoid transmission to humans and other patients. Typically, patient survival rate is as high as 80-90%, but chronic renal failure can be a lasting effect. In Tucker's case, renal bloodwork is being checked every three or four weeks, and he is being given long term medications for renal failure. His lab results are showing improvement! Leptospirosis is very contagious, but can be prevented with some simple precautions. Get your companion animal vaccinated. Although the vaccine does not provide 100% protection against all strains of the bacteria, it does offer protection against some of the more prevalent strains. Also, keep rodents and other pests under control, as they can carry and spread the bacteria. All dogs should avoid stagnant, muddy water as much as possible.
Tucker is feeling
much better now. The Leptospirosis infection has caused renal failure, but Debbie is
continuing to give him subcutaneous fluids and medications prescribed by Dr.
Sukhija. Tucker is on a special renal diet called Hill's K/D. This is
specially formulated to slow the progression of renal disease by minimizing the
workload on his kidneys. The renal failure may or may not resolve after a few
months, which is why Dr. Sukhija continues to monitor Tucker's lab results and
adjust his medications accordingly.
Debbie says that Tucker is her little boy and best friend. He brings so much joy into their lives. He loves truck rides, is the first to the dinner table, and takes up as much space as possible on their bed at night. He knows how to sit and give a paw. When asked if he can do anything else, he will offer the other paw! It's easy to see why they wouldn't trade him for anything in the world!
--Written by Jennifer Liggett (Client Advocate)
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