DAGUPAN CITY — The Dagupan City Veterinary Office (CVO) is reminding the public that pet animals can also catch and transmit leptospirosis.
“It is a common misconception that only people could be sick with leptospirosis but animals can also catch it. Even our pet animals can also infect us with leptospira bacteria while petting them,” city veterinarian Dr. Daniel Paolo Garcia, said in an interview on Monday.
Garcia said most pet owners do not know that their animals are sick, which only contributes to the spread of the bacteria.
“Animals also experience the same symptoms that we do when infected with leptospirosis –they can also experience flu-like symptoms, jaundice, body pains, and more,” he said.
Garcia advised the owners to keep their pets’ food and drink clean and uncontaminated, and not to let them wade in floodwaters, to prevent catching the disease.
He also advised pet owners to consult veterinarians if symptoms are seen in their animals.
Meanwhile, the CVO vaccinated 12,000 pet animals in the city since January this year, 33 percent higher than the 9,000 of the same period last year.
“The number of vaccinated animals increased because more people have willingly vaccinated their pets after they have become more aware on its benefits,” Garcia said.
“Pet owners are confident that the rabies virus would not easily infect them because the anti-rabies vaccine would help them in case their pets bite someone, or were bitten by a rabies-infected animal,” he added. (Ahikam Pasion/PNA)
