Monsoon pet care in India: leptospirosis, paws and ears

The Health Ministry's 2026 advisory notes that leptospirosis cases start rising in the monsoon in endemic states. The bacteria are passed in the urine of infected animals such as rats, wash into puddles, drains and flooded streets, and survive a long time in surface water. A dog that walks through that water, drinks from a puddle or has a cut paw is exposed, and the disease can pass from dogs to people.

Damp is the second problem. Warm, moist skin, ear canals and the gaps between toes let bacteria overgrow, so wet walks that are not followed by a good dry can lead to skin fold infections, ear infections and sore paws. Ticks are the third: studies in Chennai, Bhubaneswar and Tripura found ticks on dogs most often in the monsoon months. India's National Centre for Disease Control runs a national programme against leptospirosis in people, and outbreaks in people have followed floods in Kerala. The water that puts your family at risk puts your dog at risk too, so treat a flood warning for your area as a warning for your pet.

Then there is the practical side. Waterlogged roads make a night trip to a 24-hour vet slower, thunderstorms frighten noise-sensitive dogs, and a snakebite needs a vet fast. None of this means keeping a dog indoors for four months; it means changing the walk, the drying routine and the plan for an emergency.

Dogs catch leptospirosis through contact with contaminated urine or water, through bite wounds or broken skin, or by eating infected meat or carcasses, and occasionally at birth. The bacteria survive a long time in surface water, which is why floodwater, drains and puddles near garbage points, where rats feed, are the riskiest places in a city. Some infections cause no signs; others come on suddenly and become severe.

Kidney damage is the most common pattern: lethargy, poor appetite, vomiting, dehydration, back pain, and too much or too little urine. Sudden liver failure can turn the gums, skin and eyes yellow. Some dogs bleed, with nosebleeds, bruising or blood in the stool or vomit, and some cough or struggle to breathe. Diagnosis needs laboratory tests, and very ill dogs are treated in hospital.

Dogs that survive can carry the bacteria in their kidneys and shed them in urine for months or years. If your dog is diagnosed, Merck advises letting it urinate only where you can clean and disinfect, wearing gloves to clean up urine, washing your hands well after handling the dog, and talking to your own doctor about any health concerns. The Health Ministry's advice for people is to avoid stagnant and flooded water and areas frequented by rats, and to wear gloves and boots where contact is likely.

WSAVA's 2024 vaccination guidelines call the leptospirosis vaccine core where the disease is endemic, the disease-causing types are known and a suitable vaccine exists. In India the types have not been established. The American College of Veterinary Internal Medicine advises yearly vaccination for all dogs, and the Health Ministry's 2026 advisory asks pet owners to consider vaccinating against it.

The vaccine is given yearly, starting with two doses a few weeks apart (2 to 4 weeks, depending on the vaccine). Vaccines cover the common types but not every strain, so a vaccinated dog still needs to stay out of floodwater. If 18 months or more have passed since the last dose, WSAVA advises restarting with two doses, so a lapsed dog needs planning a month or more ahead. Time the booster so it is not overdue when the rains arrive, and see the dog vaccination schedule for the full card.

Noise sensitivity was the most common anxiety trait in a survey of 13,700 Finnish dogs, affecting about a third, and fear of thunder often goes with fear of fireworks. If your dog trembles, hides or tries to escape in storms, give it a quiet den in an inner room, close windows and curtains, and keep it on a lead for toilet trips in bad weather. The same plan works for Diwali, and our Diwali guide covers it in detail.

The Animal Welfare Board of India's 2026 monsoon advisory asks citizens to help community animals through the rains: temporary shelters on dry, raised, ventilated ground away from paths, parks, staircases and parking areas; clean drinking water in stable, wide-mouthed metal bowls; good drainage and waste disposal so food and water are not contaminated; and coordination with local vets for sick or injured animals. It also encourages people to let stray animals shelter in porches and garages where they can.

When Petym opens in a city, a sitter will follow your pet's plan as you write it and log each walk and meal as it happens, with a photo update every day of the booking. For the rains, write the monsoon rules into the plan: which routes flood, how long walks should be, where the towels are kept, how you dry the ears and folds, and the tick product and its due date.

Every Petym sitter completes pet first-aid training before the first booking and has a named 24-hour vet within reach. If your dog is dull, vomiting or off its food after wet walks, has yellow gums, or is bitten by a snake, the sitter will call you and take it to the nearest 24-hour vet on the city's list, telling the vet about any floodwater or ticks. A free meet and greet before the first booking is the time to walk the route together.