Leptospirosis
See also:
Letter To The Veterinary Times
Lepto - Beware Smoke and Mirrors
Non Core Vaccines
Vaccination
Vets on Vaccines
Adverse Reactions
Leptospirosis is a contagious disease that affects many kinds of animals, as well as dogs and humans. It is most common in places with mild or tropical climates; in other places it is rare.
Most of the infected wild and domestic animals who spread leptospirosis do not appear to be ill. However, they can spread leptospirosis through their urine and pets can become infected by sniffing this urine. In a 2007 USA study, 25% of the unvaccinated healthy adult dogs examined had antibodies to leptospirosis, indicating that they had been exposed to leptospirosis without their owners noticing a problem.
Leptospira are generally found in standing water. Because of this, dogs who are walked in areas with standing water are most at risk from leptospirosis if it is present in the local environment. Dogs who spend their lives indoors or who are in areas which are not contaminated by carrier wildlife are less likely to become infected.
When leptospirosis does cause sudden disease in dogs, it tends to be most severe in puppies younger than 6 months old. These are the pets most likely to suffer life-threatening liver and kidney damage. It takes anywhere between 4-12 days after exposure for the pet to feel ill.
In dogs of any age that become ill, leptospirosis usually cause fever, depression and joint pains. Some strains of leptospirosis cause liver damage, while others damage the kidneys.
Affected dogs are cold, shivery, and stiff, and their stomachs may appear to be painful. They may drool and vomit and lose their appetites. Sometimes they will drink excessively.
Later, some dogs develop eye inflammations, nervous system abnormalities or pass red-tinged urine. As the disease progresses, the pet may become dehydrated. A few dogs, particularly juveniles, will die suddenly before many of these signs occur.
Leptospirosis sometimes occurs in outbreaks, and your veterinarian may be aware if it’s present in your area. However, because symptoms vary so much between pets and because the disease is rare, your vet may fail to make a quick diagnosis.
There are many canine diseases that can give the same test results as those seen with leptospirosis. These include tick-born diseases called ehrlichiosis and babesiosis, autoimmune disease, infectious hepatitis, herpes virus, a bacterial disease called brucellosis, and some poisons. Because of this, your veterinarian may place your pet on antibiotics – which are effective against leptospirosis - while other tests are run. After the first ten days of infection, antibodies against leptospirosis can be detected in your dog’s blood. However, the antibody test can be positive in pets due to previous vaccinations or a prior exposure to lepto that has nothing to do with his current health problem.
.....Leptospirosis seems the most controversial of all debates.
by permission from Dogs Today - November 2006
See also:
Letter To The Veterinary Times
Lepto - Beware Smoke and Mirrors
Non Core Vaccines
Vaccination
Vets on Vaccines
Adverse Reactions
Leptospirosis is a contagious disease that affects many kinds of animals, as well as dogs and humans. It is most common in places with mild or tropical climates; in other places it is rare.
Most of the infected wild and domestic animals who spread leptospirosis do not appear to be ill. However, they can spread leptospirosis through their urine and pets can become infected by sniffing this urine. In a 2007 USA study, 25% of the unvaccinated healthy adult dogs examined had antibodies to leptospirosis, indicating that they had been exposed to leptospirosis without their owners noticing a problem.
Leptospira are generally found in standing water. Because of this, dogs who are walked in areas with standing water are most at risk from leptospirosis if it is present in the local environment. Dogs who spend their lives indoors or who are in areas which are not contaminated by carrier wildlife are less likely to become infected.
When leptospirosis does cause sudden disease in dogs, it tends to be most severe in puppies younger than 6 months old. These are the pets most likely to suffer life-threatening liver and kidney damage. It takes anywhere between 4-12 days after exposure for the pet to feel ill.
In dogs of any age that become ill, leptospirosis usually cause fever, depression and joint pains. Some strains of leptospirosis cause liver damage, while others damage the kidneys.
Affected dogs are cold, shivery, and stiff, and their stomachs may appear to be painful. They may drool and vomit and lose their appetites. Sometimes they will drink excessively.
Later, some dogs develop eye inflammations, nervous system abnormalities or pass red-tinged urine. As the disease progresses, the pet may become dehydrated. A few dogs, particularly juveniles, will die suddenly before many of these signs occur.
Leptospirosis sometimes occurs in outbreaks, and your veterinarian may be aware if it’s present in your area. However, because symptoms vary so much between pets and because the disease is rare, your vet may fail to make a quick diagnosis.
There are many canine diseases that can give the same test results as those seen with leptospirosis. These include tick-born diseases called ehrlichiosis and babesiosis, autoimmune disease, infectious hepatitis, herpes virus, a bacterial disease called brucellosis, and some poisons. Because of this, your veterinarian may place your pet on antibiotics – which are effective against leptospirosis - while other tests are run. After the first ten days of infection, antibodies against leptospirosis can be detected in your dog’s blood. However, the antibody test can be positive in pets due to previous vaccinations or a prior exposure to lepto that has nothing to do with his current health problem.
.....Leptospirosis seems the most controversial of all debates.
by permission from Dogs Today - November 2006
| dogs_today_lepto_article_nov_2006.pdf |
Deciding whether to vaccinate against leptospirosis is not an easy one. On the one hand the disease is very rare; on the other it isn’t very nice. However, the vaccine is known to be responsible for some of the most severe, life-threatening vaccine adverse reactions.
The World Small Animal Veterinary Association said this about the leptospirosis vaccine in its 2010 vaccine guidelines:
“Non-core [optional]. Vaccination should be restricted to use in geographical areas where a significant risk of exposure has been established or for dogs whose lifestyle places them at significant risk. These dogs should be vaccinated at 12–16 weeks of age, with a second dose 3–4 weeks later, and then at intervals of 9–12 months until the risk has been reduced. This vaccine is the one least likely to provide adequate and prolonged protection, and therefore must be administered annually or more often for animals at high risk. Protection against infection with different serovars is variable. This product is associated with the greatest number of adverse reactions to any vaccine. In particular, veterinarians are advised of reports of acute anaphylaxis in toy breeds following administration of leptospirosis vaccines. Routine vaccination of toy breeds should only be considered in dogs known to have a very high risk of exposure.”
Anaphylaxis means a severe allergic reaction to the vaccine, which can lead to death. Sometimes the vaccine doesn’t protect at all – it doesn’t have a good reputation amongst the world experts.
Deciding whether to vaccinate is not an easy choice – leptospirosis is rare but horrible, but the vaccine could also mean death at your own hands and at your own expense. The WSAVA essentially doesn’t recommend this vaccine unless there is a significant chance that dogs will be exposed to this disease.
Treatment of leptospirosis is much easier than the diagnosis; it responds well to penicillin, tetracycline and erythromycin, or preferably a natural antibiotic that doesn't wipe out the good bacteria. Some dogs need medications to reduce vomiting, and others need intravenous fluids to stem dehydration. Many pets make a full recovery.
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