When Lennox first became unwell, his owner was understandably worried. He had gone off his food, was lethargic, and had developed a fever. There was initially concern that he could have a GDV (bloat), so after speaking with Vetora veterinarian Oisin, his owner was advised to head straight to an after hours referral facility to give him the best chance of receiving the urgent care he needed.
On arrival, Lennox's blood tests showed several abnormalities, including elevated liver enzymes, mild kidney changes, and discolouration in his urine. His blood count also revealed a mild increase in white blood cells.
Importantly, Lennox was not vaccinated against leptospirosis and had potential exposure to rats, which are a common source of Lepto infection in dogs. A Lepto test was performed to confirm the diagnosis.
Lennox stayed overnight with the referral team and responded well to initial treatment, including intravenous fluids and antibiotics. However, this was only the beginning of what would become a long road to recovery.
Once his leptospirosis diagnosis was confirmed, Lennox continued treatment through the referral centre, with the Vetora team helping to provide ongoing care and monitoring closer to home. This included weekly check ins, monitoring his feeding tube, and regularly testing his urine.
Leptospirosis can cause significant damage to both the kidneys and liver. Lennox's recovery required time, close monitoring, and most importantly, an incredible amount of dedication from his owner. At one stage, his care involved managing very high water requirements at home because his kidneys were struggling to concentrate his urine.
After weeks of treatment and monitoring, Lennox was finally cleared by the referral team on 12 August, marking a major milestone in his recovery journey.
Today, Lennox is a very different dog from the one we first met. Seeing him back at home, full of energy and enjoying life again is a wonderful reminder of how far he has come.
His owner did an amazing job with his home care, and Lennox's story is one of resilience, teamwork, and determination.
Lennox's journey also serves as an important reminder about the value of leptospirosis vaccination.
Leptospirosis is spread primarily through infected urine, with rats being a common source of infection in New Zealand. The disease can cause severe illness and may affect the kidneys, liver, and other organs.
Following Lennox's diagnosis, his other furry family members received preventative care, including antibiotics and vaccinations, to help reduce their risk.
Thankfully, Lennox has lived to tell the tail.
If you're unsure whether your dog's vaccinations are up to date, talk to your local Vetora team. Prevention remains one of the best ways to protect pets from serious diseases like leptospirosis.
