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Deadly bacteria on the rise in Boston dogs

BOSTON — Over the weekend, a dog owner brought their pup to the Animal Rescue League of Boston.

The dog might have been drinking a lot of water or urinating a lot; it could have been vomiting or having diarrhea. The owner didn’t know what was wrong.

But the veterinarians at the ARL knew what it was.

Leptospirosis.

It’s the third case the ARL has diagnosed recently and that’s a worrisome trend.

The bacteria can infect household pets and humans alike and can be deadly in both cases.

It’s spread through the urine of infected animals and can infect humans who come in contact with urine, water or soil that has been exposed to it.

In the city, the CDC says it is commonly spread through rodents, city parks and fountains. The easily-spread bacteria can cause kidney and liver failure.

The common symptoms include fever, increased drinking or urination, vomiting, diarrhea, anorexia and weakness.

The Animal Rescue League urges dog owners to discuss vaccination with their primary veterinarian.

The ARL says the uptick in positive cases is troublesome and can easily spike into more cases.

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Animal Rescue League alerting public of uptick in Leptospirosis, a deadly bacteria that can infect both pets and humans.

Posted by Boston 25 News on Wednesday, October 10, 2018

MORE: MSPCA: Cases of Leptospirosis are on the rise in Boston