Leptospirosis Update 13th March 2026
By John Morgan | Dated March 12, 2026
Leptospirosis is a bacterial infection that can affect the kidney and liver of pets that is spread by rats. Infection is generally via direct contact with rats or by contact with stagnant water such as ponds. Cats can rarely be infected and there is no available vaccine for cats.
While highly variable between cases, symptoms of Leptospirosis infection can include:
- Fever
- Drinking more than previously
- Vomiting
- Abdominal discomfort
- Diarrhoea
- Not being interested in food
- Weakness and depression
- Muscle pain and stiffness
In Early 2026 there was a single case of Leptospirosis diagnosed in a dog living in Mosman with no recent travel history.
In 2023 there were 15 new infections of Leptospirosis in dogs in New South Wales. None of these were in the North Shore or Northern Beaches.
We are recommending vaccination of Leptospirosis in the following circumstances:
- Your dog has known access to rats (Ie. you have seen rats on your property).
- Your dog often plays in or drinks from stagnant water such as ponds.
- Your dog travels to the following suburbs (or their immediate surrounds). Please note suburbs in bold are relevant to 2026 outbreak:
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-
Mosman
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Cremorne
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North Sydney
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Neutral Bay
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Crows Nest
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Cammeray
-
Northbridge
-
Balgowlah
-
Seaforth
-
Manly
-
- Albion Park
- Annandale
- Ashfield
- Balmain
- Bardia
- Bayswood
- Bobs Farm
- Bondi Junction
- Burradoo
- Cambewarra
- Cardiff
- Cardiff Heights
- Cheltenham
- Clovelly
- Cooks Hill
- Crows Nest
- Darlinghurst
- Elanora Heights
- Erskineville
- Falls Creek
- Figtree
- Firefly
- Glebe
- Gresford
- Horsley Park
- Huskisson
- Ingleside
- Jervis Bay
- Kembla Grange
- Lurnea
- Marrickville
- Medowie
- Newcastle
- Newtown
- Old Erowal Bay
- Paddington
- Potts Point
- Randwick
- Rangari
- Redfern
- Robertson
- Sanctuary Point
- Speers Point
- South Coast
- St Georges Basin
- Sanctuary Point
- Surry Hills
- Sussex Inlet
- Tomerong
- Tuggerah
- Trunkey Creek
- Vincentia
- Wallsend
- Waterloo
- Woollamia
- Worrowong Heights
Please call 94983000 or click here to book an appointment for vaccination online. If you are unsure you can check your dog’s vaccination status against Leptospirosis using our PetPortal by clicking here (please note “C7 Vaccination” includes Leptospirosis, “C5 Vaccination” does not).