X LEISHMANIASIS IN SPAIN

IMPORTANT INFORMATION ABOUT LEISHMANIA IF YOU KEEP OR BRING A DOG TO SPAIN

The chance of a dog catching Leishmania inSpain is extremely high, many veterinary surgeons put it as high as 30 to 35 percent. In reality, the figure is much higher because there are many stray dogs with the disease and the figure given applies only to dogs registered with a veterinary surgeon. It is an incurable disease and one that has been widely publicised here in Spain yet many people hear of it for the first time when they arrive in Spain from other parts of Europe. However, there are still many dog owners who are not aware of this disease. 

Newcomers to Spain are surprised when they learn about Leishmania. They have rarely heard about it (if at all) in their own country. Visitors from Northern Europe who bring their dog with them for a holiday often comment that they wish they had not - and rightly so if, in their ignorance of the disease, they subjected their dogs to the possibility of contracting it.

What are the symptoms?  Watch out for prolonged nail growth, ulceration of the ear tips, thick dandruff, bald patches on the skin, sunglasses effect around the eyes, getting thin although eating well (in this latter case, check firstly for worms), whiteness of the cornea of the eyes. These are all warning signs that your dog could have Leishmania.  The only way to make absolutely sure is to visit your vet who will analyse a blood sample and you will have the results within a day or so. 

Follow this LINK to detailed information from a Vet based in Alicante Province.