San Francisco veterinarians are warning dog owners to stay on high alert after a local dog named Bubba was diagnosed with leptospirosis and later died, as clinicians around the Bay Area report an uptick in suspected canine cases this winter. The bacterial infection can cause serious kidney and liver damage in dogs and, in rare situations, can spread to people exposed to contaminated water or animal urine.
According to ABC7 San Francisco, Bubba was diagnosed quickly at the San Francisco SPCA and transferred to Lenity Vet Specialists in San Mateo for intensive care. Veterinarians later determined that his preexisting chronic liver disease, combined with leptospirosis, contributed to his death. ABC7 also notes that veterinarians across the state have reported new clusters of canine illness and that several counties are seeing animal and, in rare instances, human cases this season.
Emergency clinics say cases are climbing
Lenity Vet Specialists offers 24/7 emergency care at its San Mateo hospital and has treated dogs showing acute liver and kidney problems consistent with leptospirosis; clinic details are listed at Lenity Vet Specialists. Veterinary reports and expert interviews point to shifting exposure patterns, with rising urban rodent numbers, crowded boarding facilities and gaps in leptospirosis vaccination all likely playing a part. For a deeper look at why veterinarians are now seeing leptospirosis in dogs that rarely used to be considered at risk, see dvm360.
Encampment cluster and rain-driven risk
Public health officials in Alameda County and the City of Berkeley have confirmed that rats and at least two dogs near a Harrison Street homeless encampment tested positive for Leptospira. The county has issued advisories and clinician guidance in response. The Alameda County Public Health Department notes that the bacteria can linger in standing water and soil and urges clinicians to test for leptospirosis and consider empiric antibiotics when clinical suspicion is high; the advisory is posted at Alameda County Public Health.
How leptospirosis spreads and what to watch for
Leptospira bacteria are shed in the urine of infected animals, especially rodents, and can survive in contaminated water or mud for weeks to months. That makes puddles and slimy surfaces after heavy rain a higher-risk scenario. In dogs, early warning signs include increased thirst and urination, loss of appetite, vomiting and lethargy. In people, the illness often starts with flu-like symptoms but can progress to kidney or liver failure without timely treatment. Clinical details and prevention guidance are available from the CDC.
Legal and community fallout
The City of Berkeley has urged residents of the encampment to avoid a designated “red zone” around Codornices Creek while vector control and cleanup work continue. Court orders, however, have complicated efforts to clear the site and slowed more comprehensive abatement. Reporting by The Berkeley Scanner notes that Berkeley’s public health officer flagged the leptospirosis concerns in court filings, and a judge has set additional hearings to determine how cleanup can move forward safely…