Leptospirosis

Leptospirosis is a deadly bacterial disease that is a threat to both pets and people alike.  It is shed in the urine of infected wildlife, livestock, and dogs, but is rare in cats.  It can enter the body through cuts in the skin or through ingestion of contaminated water or soil.  The number of canine cases has risen in recent years, as suburban homes have expanded into wildlife habitats and the deer population has exploded.  Leptospirosis is the number one infectious cause of acute kidney failure.  If recognized early and treated rapidly with antibiotics and intravenous fluids, it is possible to avoid irreversible damage to the liver and kidneys, leading to death.  Clinical symptoms are nonspecific, but can include lethargy, fever, increased water consumption, weight loss, muscle pains, and diarrhea.  The infection is diagnosed with blood and urine tests.  There are 4 main strains that cause disease in dogs, and our “Lepto” vaccine immunizes for all of them.  Puppies receiving this vaccine for the first time should be at least 12 weeks of age.   First time recipients are given two vaccines, 3-4 weeks apart.  This vaccine must then be boostered annually in order to maintain protection.

We now recommend vaccinating all dogs for Leptospirosis.  In the past, some breeds were exempt, due to their susceptibility to having allergic reactions to the vaccine.  With the new, improved products now available, that problem has largely been eliminated.  Also, many of you may recall when Lepto was included in the Distemper/Parvo vaccine which, years ago, was given to dogs annually.  Once it was determined that Distemper/Parvo could be given every three years, it no longer made sense to include Lepto, which requires an annual booster.  We now offer these as separate vaccinations.