If you have moved to southern Spain with a dog, or spend long periods here, there is one disease worth understanding before it appears: leishmaniasis. It is one of the main differences between the risk profile of northern Europe and that of the Mediterranean, and one of the factors that weighs most heavily when assessing pet insurance.
It is not rare or exotic. It is endemic across much of Spain, the treatment is long and expensive, and the way your policy handles it can make a difference of thousands of euros over your dog’s lifetime.
What leishmaniasis is and how it spreads
Canine leishmaniasis is caused by a parasite, Leishmania infantum, transmitted through the bite of a very small insect called a sandfly. It does not spread by direct contact between dogs.
The sandfly is most active from spring through autumn, particularly at dusk and during the night, in warm and humid areas. That is why the disease is far more common in the south, along the Mediterranean coast and in the islands than in northern Europe.
Dogs are the main reservoir. Cats can be infected, though it is considerably less common and tends to behave differently. One detail that surprises many newcomers: months or even years can pass between the bite and the first signs.
Signs to watch for
The signs vary and are often unremarkable at first. The most frequent are weight loss despite a normal appetite, skin lesions, hair loss around the eyes and on the muzzle, wounds that do not heal, overgrown claws, lameness, lethargy, nosebleeds and enlarged lymph nodes.
In advanced stages it can affect the kidneys, which is the most serious complication and the one that shapes the prognosis. That is why early diagnosis matters so much: the sooner it is picked up, the more room there is to control it.
Diagnosis is made through blood tests, serology and sometimes PCR or cytology of the lesions. It is usually accompanied by full blood work to assess kidney function.
Why it is an expensive disease
Leishmaniasis is not resolved with one consultation and a box of tablets. In most cases it is a chronic disease that is managed rather than fully cured.
The cost accumulates on several fronts: initial diagnosis with blood work and serology, specific drug treatment, maintenance medication that in many cases continues for years, and periodic check-ups with blood and urine tests to monitor the kidneys. If kidney complications develop, specific diets and additional treatment are added.
Added up across an animal’s life, a well-managed case of leishmaniasis comfortably exceeds the cost of most acute conditions. It is precisely the kind of situation pet insurance exists for: not a one-off surprise, but a sustained cost over time.
What insurance covers, and what it does not
This is the part worth understanding, and the sooner the better. The question is not whether a policy covers leishmaniasis in the abstract, but when the disease appeared relative to the date you took out cover.
If the dog already had a diagnosis, was under treatment, or showed compatible symptoms before the policy started, it will be treated as a pre-existing condition and related costs will fall outside cover. That is not a quirk of one company; it is how the sector generally works.
If the disease appears after the policy starts and once the waiting periods have passed, the position is different, and the resulting veterinary costs can fall within the cover taken out, subject to the policy’s limits and percentages. At Petplan the waiting period is 15 days for accidents and 30 days for illness, reimbursement can reach 100% of covered costs, and the annual limit goes up to €3,100.
It is worth checking the excess too. At Petplan it is €45 per illness rather than per visit, which counts for a great deal in a condition that generates repeated check-ups over years.
There is one point worth reading carefully before you buy, because it defines the real scope of cover in a chronic disease: under Petplan’s policy terms, each injury or illness is covered for 12 months from the date it occurred or first showed clinical signs. Ask the company how that period applies to a condition like leishmaniasis before deciding.
The practical lesson for new arrivals
If you are settling in an endemic area with a healthy dog, the time to arrange cover is now, not when the first uncertain blood test comes back. Once there are symptoms or a diagnosis, that route is closed for that particular disease.
If your dog has already lived in Spain and has never had serology done, it is worth discussing with your vet. Knowing where you stand before taking out a policy avoids mistaken expectations and lets you decide on real information.
Prevention: what is within your control
Prevention works and is relatively straightforward. The most effective measure is a repellent specifically active against the sandfly, as a collar or spot-on, applied continuously throughout the risk season. Not every antiparasitic product does this: ask your vet which one has repellent action against this particular insect.
It also helps to avoid long walks at dawn and dusk in the warm months, and to use fine mesh screens if the dog sleeps outdoors or on an open terrace.
There is also a vaccine against leishmaniasis. It does not replace repellents and does not guarantee the animal will not become infected, but it can reduce the risk of developing the disease. Your vet will assess whether it is appropriate based on the area, the dog’s age and a prior serology test. At Petplan, the optional vaccine plan reimburses vaccines prescribed by your vet, including the leishmaniasis vaccine, up to €90 per year.
In short
Leishmaniasis is a strong reason not to postpone the insurance decision when you arrive in Spain, and not to choose a policy on the monthly premium alone. A low annual limit or an excess charged per visit shows up sharply in a disease managed over years.
With consistent prevention, regular check-ups and early diagnosis, many dogs with leishmaniasis maintain a good quality of life for a long time. The part you can prepare in advance is the financial one, and it is prepared while the animal is healthy.
