Leish Project
What is the HFP Leish Project?
This is a special page to help re-home some of our most precious Podencos that need a little extra help getting forever homes as they have Leishmania.
Leish/Leishmania/Leishmaniasis is a manageable but not curable disease carried by sandflies that can bite and infect a dog. Leish can be managed, and over the years we have had many Podencos go on to live happy, healthy lives outside of their condition.
Leish dogs can find themselves languishing in kennels due to their condition, which on top of being a Podenco and being overlooked makes that forever home feel even further from our grasp. We want to share our knowledge to encourage people in a position to be able to take on a Leish dog to adopt them!
What is Leish?
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How can it be caught?
Leish is primarily transmitted to dogs through the bite of an infected female sand fly that carries the parasite. Sandflies are prevalent in the Mediterranean regions such as Spain where our Podencos come from, this can impact all dogs not just pods.
There are also cases of if being passed from mum to pup and through blood transfusions.
All Podencos in our care are given preventative treatment to stop the sandflies from biting the dogs, we continue this even for dogs that have tested positive for Leish.
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How can it be treated?
The aim of treatment is to bring the infection levels of Leish within the dog down to low levels that can be considered negative - however its important to remember Leish is not a curable.
Leish can be managed with:
Allopurinol: An oral medication that can be used alone or with other drugs.
Meglumine Antimoniate (Glucantime): An injectable medication used for a set time period.
Miltefosine: An oral medication that can be combined with allopurinol.
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How does it impact my pod?
Dogs with Leish, once managed, can go on to live happy lives with no other health concerns - however it does require regular monitoring dependent on the active levels with in the dog which can be tracked with blood tests.
It is important to also monitor for clinical (visible) signs in the dog such as:
Weight loss and decreased appetite
Lethargy and weakness
Fever (Intermittent or persistent)
Gastrointestinal issues (Vomiting and diarrhea)
Nosebleeds
Abnormal nail growth
Eye inflammation
Our Podencos with Leish.
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As her previous tests were positive she will continue her treatment plan.
*1 month of Leisguard & 6 months Aluporinol
*3 months off Leisguard
*1 month Leisguard
*3 months off Leisguard
*1 month Leisguard
*3 months off Leisguard
*Next test: April 2026
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Triana’s most recent blood test shows her levels are now reading as negative for Leish infection.
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As her previous tests were positive she will continue her treatment plan.
*1 month of Leisguard
*3 months off
*1 month Leisguard
*3 months off
*1 month Leisguard
*3 months off
*Next test: July 2026
Living with a Leish pod.
What should I consider before adopting a Leish pod?
We are an open and transparent rescue, our only aim is to help the pods in need and set the adopters up for success for the duration of the dogs life.
It is important to consider the financial commitment when adopting a Podenco with Leish as it will likely be considered a pre-existing condition for any insurance meaning all vet bills would need to paid in full.
Weight management and stress levels are key for optimum health as these can impact Leish.
What extra steps take place before my Pod arrives?
As with all adoptions, we will talk through the health and diseases testing that we do and we can share these results with you. We will also share any active and historical treatment plans. These should be taken to your vet prior to the dogs arrival to ensure all medication can be sourced and your vet is comfortable and knowledgeable treating a Leish dog.
We will also share the Facebook group - Living with Leish, a great source of advice and support for any Leish dog owner.
Anything else for a Leish Pod?
As with any adoption and any dog the standard considerations apply. Any dog can get sick or have an accident at any time in their lives. With a Leish pod you are just aware up front that they have an existing health challenge.
Exercise needs are the same as any pod, stimulation needs are the same as any pod - unless receiving vet treatment and guidance as with any other condition.
They will still have their moments, they will still make cheeky decisions, they will still be the incredible dogs all Poencos are.
But for a Leish pod and adopter, there is a little something special taking place, Leish pods are the most unseen, the most uncared for before making it into rescue, and we hope for any adopter - the most rewarding.
What extra support can I get after my Pod arrives?
We would say there is no more support for a Leish pod adopter than any other adopter or foster. We are here for anything - big or small, even if thats just a call to wonder why you brought a new dog into your home to disrupt your life hahahahha.
We do have a knowledgable team and support network for our Leish adopters and are always on hand - just a text message, email or phone call away. So use us!
What do I feed my Pod?
We are often asked this question for any pod adoption, but for Leish it is a really important factor to consider.
A low-purine diet is used when the dogs are being treated with allopurinol, you can find specific brands and food types for this - raw, cooked fresh, kibble, wet, etc.
There are also vet diets that are specifically low purine designed, although some adopters feel this can mean they miss out on some of the additional nutrients the dogs need.
You can of course speak with your vet for their guidance and brands in your country. And us, we have lots of recommendations around protein types and veg to use and avoid!
Is there any change to RBU if the adoption doesn’t work out?
As with the support you will receive for adopting any Podenco with us, our rescue back up policy follows suit.
We provide rescue back up to all adopters of our Podencos and any other Podencos in need.
We are here for you and will bring the dog back under the care and responsibility of the rescue until a new home can be found.
All our Leish pods living their best lives in homes!
Join our community!
We have our wonderful Hope For Podencos - Happy Days Ahead private facebook group where our community shares their experiences and new way of life with a Podenco - you can reach out to any of our adopters with Leish pods in here and of course our admin team.
We also encourage you to tag any pictures you post so everyone can follow your happy journey!
Make a donation.
The Hope For Podencos Resident fund is a monthly subscription (you can cancel at any time!), for the amount of your choice, which helps us to care for the Podencos in our networks care, this is so important for our Leish Project dogs. It’s our single most important monthly donation, because if we can’t provide the necessary testing and treatment, we can’t re-home them.