Case of the month: 8-year-old Borzoi dog with acute renal failure, anorexia and acute dyspnoea

Signalment and anamnesis

For further clarification, the following radiographs were taken:

Radiographic description

Thoracic radiographs show a diffuse, mixed, unstructured, reticulonodular, interstitial to bronchial pattern that in several areas merges into a fine, nodular pattern
The lungs appear diffusely increased in opacity
In addition, the liver, which is not completely collimated in the image, appears enlarged and the gastric axis is displaced caudodorsally
There is no evidence of thoracic lymphadenopathy or pleural pathology
The cardiac silhouette and great vessels are unremarkable
The surrounding musculoskeletal structures are unremarkable

Diagnosis

The imaging findings in combination with the clinical history are highly suspicious for an infection with Leptospira bacteria, accompanied by associated hepatomegaly, renal insufficiency and leptospirosis pulmonary haemorrhage syndrome (LPHS)

Outcome

Discussion

Leptospirosis is a worldwide zoonotic bacterial infectious disease whose prevalence has increased in both humans and dogs over the last 20 years
Due to this development, it is categorised as a re-emerging zoonosis
It is a multi-organ disease that most commonly leads to acute kidney, liver and lung disease and haemorrhagic complications in dogs
Leptospirosis pulmonary haemorrhage syndrome (LPHS) in particular is a serious complication that is associated with increased mortality