Dogs love outdoor times. These are the only couple of hours when they can go out of the house and stretch their legs, get some exercise, and grab some fresh air. They love running into slush, rolling over slush and giving themselves a good scratch.
And as a pet owner, you too, get happy looking at your furry little friend being all so joyous. But more importantly, as a pet owner, you should also know the dangers behind letting your dog into the dirt. There are many unfortunate dog allergies and other illnesses that your furry friend can develop from their surroundings and knowing about these potentialities is important as an owner.
In this article, we shall learn more about Leptospirosis, its symptoms, preventions and treatments, and finally about how you can help your little buddy with CBD oil. CBD has taken the pet healthcare market by storm today, thanks to its amazing effects on a wide range of ailments. You should definitely read more about CBD and its values!
The mud and slush are home to bacteria called Leptospires. They are tiny microscopic organisms with a spiral shaped body that live in these swampy areas. And they’re deadly for dogs. They cause a dreaded disease called Leptospirosis, which when left untreated, may even lead to death.
More about Leptospirosis
Leptospires have a unique spiral shape that allows them to enter the dog’s body through the skin. Once they enter the body, they make multiply and their way into various organs such as liver, kidneys, sex organs etc. through blood.
The initial effects could be as simple as lethargy, or a mild fever. If the dog’s immune system is not able to detect and destroy the bacteria on time, the illness can get severe, including failures in multiple organs such as the kidneys.
How does it spread?
This illness spreads mainly through infected urine. If your healthy dog comes in contact with the urine of an infected one, the bacteria in the fluid attach themselves onto the skin. The disease may also spread through contact of infected mud, warm water bodies and slush.
Symptoms of Leptospirosis
Initially, the symptoms seem mild and negligible. The mild ones could be mild fever, diarrhea or simply lethargy. If the case worsens, it could lead to serious illnesses like:
High fever
Blood in urine and stool
Stomach aches
Swelling in lymph nodes
Failure kidney and liver etc.
You should definitely check this article out to explore in depth about this disease: https://www.msdvetmanual.com/generalized-conditions/leptospirosis/leptospirosis-in-dogs
How can you prevent this dreaded disease?
As this disease spreads through contact of skin, it is hard for you to totally prevent it from happening. But as an informed dog owner, you can avoid taking your buddy to areas that are damp and muddy and areas that are often visited by a lot of animals.
Also, if you feel that your dog has contracted with the illness, protect other pets you own and yourself as this disease is highly contagious. Make sure to be extra cautious if you live in warmer climates.
Treatment, cure and CBD
Leptospirosis can be cured. If detected at an early stage, it can be cured by following a course of antibiotics. Your vet will suggest clinical tests to determine the criticality of the illness, based on which he/she will decide the treatment.
However, if the ailment is detected at a later stage, then your dog may have to be hospitalized. This is aid in better treatment procedure, and prevents it from contracting any other infections. This also helps keep the ill one isolated from the healthy lot. If the case is too critical, the vet will see it viable to administer food and fluids intravenously.
Now where does CBD fall in all this? CBD is a compound extracted from Hemp. It stands short for Cannabidiol, a non-psychoactive compound with great medicinal values. And don’t worry, CBD cannot get your dog high. It lacks the properties that THC (Tetrahydrocannabinol) has that is popular for its recreational usage.
Think of CBD as a secondary medicine. It cannot cure leptospirosis all by itself, but can aid your little friend in passing the hard time with ease. It has nerve calming properties that can help reduce the pain in the body. It helps the dog to rest and sleep well.
It also has anti-inflammatory properties that can tackle inflammations that leptospires can cause near eyes or and skin infections and allergies. More importantly, it helps reduce the side effects of the medicines. Medicines may cause diarrhea, loss of appetite etc. which can be easily tackled with the right dosage of CBD.
Oh, and CBD is absolutely safe for dogs. The only thing to remember is to ensure that your vet knows you’re administering CBD and also inquire about the right dosage. Using CBD can vastly affect how your friend goes through the tough times, in a very positive way!
