Eight-year-old Kito is used to dangerous work as a crime-fighting canine for the Raleigh Police Department.

But Kito, who often sniffs out drugs or tracks down suspects, recently faced his most dangerous situation yet.

In late September, Kito became sick and was taken to N.C. State's Veterinary Teaching Hospital.

"He was totally just miserable," said Kito's handler of five years, Raleigh Police Senior Officer K.A. Adams. "He was in a lot of pain."

Adams soon learned that Kito had contracted a dangerous and sometimes fatal bacteria called leptospirosis, which is often found in soil or water.

Doctors believe Kito, a Belgian Malinois, may have contracted it after walking through the woods.

In Kito's case, the bacteria was so severe it caused kidney failure and damage to his liver.

He was admitted to the hospital and given a feeding tube, antibiotics and other medications.

"Honestly, we were always hopeful, but pessimistic that he wouldn't survive," said Dr. Ashley Cruse with the hospital.

Then, after spending some time in the hospital, doctors said Kito turned a corner.

"From that point on, his kidney values started to improve," Cruse said. "He's certainly the worst case of kidney failure in a dog that I've ever seen, and certainly worse than what most of the literature would say. Most say, severe as he was, he shouldn't have survived."

But Kito did survive, and after some rehabilitation, returned to full-time duty Friday.

"It was not an option to give up on him," Officer Adams said. "He was fighting the whole time and that's what we were going to do, whatever it took to get him back."

Doctors recommend most dogs be vaccinated for leptospirosis at least once a year. Many times the vaccine can be included in a pet's yearly vaccine regimen, doctors said.

While the bacteria is rare, vaccinations are especially important for outdoor and active dogs, doctors said.