Your dog could get leptospira when playing in puddles

Standing water can be hazardous, especially if small rodents have left their mark. — dpa

As much fun as it is to watch your dog splash and play in a puddle or swim in a pond, it might not be as harmless as you think. Standing water can be hazardous, especially if small rodents have left their mark.

If your four-legged friend swims in ponds or drinks from puddles, they risk becoming infected with leptospira. The thread-like pathogens come from the urine of small rodents and spread through the entire dog’s body within a week, warns the German animal welfare organisation Aktion Tier.