NYC Rat-Related Infection Risk For Dogs: What You Need To Know

NEW YORK, NY — A rare bacterial infection called leptospirosis (lepto), caused by contact with rat urine, has led to one person's death in the Bronx, and because dogs are especially susceptible to lepto, now New York City dog rescues are spreading warnings on the Internet for dog owners to protect their dogs from the same infection.

"A fellow rescue colleague informed us that one of their rescue dogs just died within 24 hours," wrote Second Chance Rescue NYC Dogs on its Facebook group on Wednesday. The group said the dog had received a lepto vaccine and still died of the bacteria infection. A request for comment from the group was not immediately returned.

While it is unconfirmed that there was a canine death recently from lepto in NYC, it is known that lepto is a bacterial disease spread primarily from rodents and possums, through contaminated water, according to Dr. Erin Wilson, the medical director of the ASPCA Adoption Center in NYC. Lepto bacteria strains can be found in soil and water, according to the American Veterinary Medical Association. Common risk factors for lepto in dogs include often drinking from rivers, lakes or streams and contact with rodents and other dogs. Some rescues are warning dog owners in NYC not to let their dogs drink from puddles or public water bowls.

Wilson said she hadn't heard of an uptick in lepto cases in NYC in the past few years. Although she said that it's always "lurking around," it's pretty rare in dogs. On average, she sees one case in dogs every two to three years, she said.

Lepto is not considered a core vaccine for dogs, but dogs that could be considered at-risk, such as those that go hiking often, can be vaccinated, Wilson said. Dogs can also spread lepto to humans.

Lead photo via public domain