Lepto vaccine?

**BigBrownDog** · 10-20-2009, 10:42 AM

Does anyone do this one? I am on the fence.

**windycanyon** · 10-20-2009, 11:19 AM

If it's a known problem in your area, and if you do water work w/ your dogs especially, you should do it. It just became an issue (though still not many cases reported) in C. WA but it's common in W. WA where I do hunt tests. It does transfer to humans too, so that puts it at a higher status imo. My vet really felt like she'd dropped the ball on me when she realized she hadn't pushed it for my dogs. I bought some of the Vanguard L4 along w/ a few other hunt tester/field trialer/breeders and have done my own the past 2 yrs. The key is not to give it w/ the combos if at all possible, just in case your dog is sensitive. None of us have had any probs w/ the Vanguard L4.

Anne

**Baloo317** · 10-20-2009, 11:32 AM

Most definitely not. Reactions are often volatile, vaccines are often only effective for very short periods of time and only cover a few (of hundreds) of the strains possible. It is also curable for the most part, provided you know what you're looking for and catch it in time.

**YellowJakesMom** · 10-20-2009, 11:37 AM

No, for the reasons Kate mentioned. Too many serovars and not enough protection, too many reactions.

That being said, we're in roughly the same area (I think) and I do worry about it since Jake and Charlotte are in the water all. the. time. I just remind myself that vaccine reactions are bad, and I'm an attentive owner so I would probably catch it in time to successfully treat. (ACVIM has a consensus statement on the vaccine somewhere on their web site I think...or that might just be Lyme)

As Anne mentioned, if you do choose to do it be sure it's not in a combo vaccine.

**javasmom** · 10-20-2009, 12:27 PM

Yep, Java has had her Lepto vaccine and Moka will be getting hers.
Java is a huge water dog and Moka will be, so I felt it was important to protect them both.

**BigBrownDog** · 10-20-2009, 12:40 PM

Reason I ask is that I had heard that is was hard to treat. My vet's practice is pushing both Bordatella (which I wont get) and the lepto. The vet I see agrees with me about not doing the bordatella, but thinks that the lepto is worthy. She said nothing about there being multiple strains.

**YellowJakesMom** · 10-20-2009, 01:31 PM

Lots of vets around here do think Lepto is worthy and I don't think they're unjustified, since there's a fair amount of it in our area.

Honestly, I know more about cattle lepto, but I do know there are multiple serovars for dogs and the vaccine only protects against a few. This is a good article on lepto in dogs:
http://www.vet.uga.edu/vpp/clerk/noel/index.php

**Henery&Ollie's mom** · 10-20-2009, 02:17 PM

Agree with Kate and Jess.

Henery had such a bad reaction with the lepto vaccine two? years ago that he will never have it again. He had horrible explosive (and I do mean explosive) diarrhea for a good week after the vaccine. Never again.

**Dani** · 10-20-2009, 03:59 PM

Rider does react, but I do give it. They are in such wide varying ranges of water and stuff, it's safer than not. It's the only annual vaccination that i give.

**Bob Pr.** · 10-20-2009, 04:30 PM

Puff was vaccinated for Lepto yesterday at her annual physical at KSU's CVM Teaching Hospl.

She's had it before with no bad reactions and I decided for it because she's around strange waters, marshes, & ponds everyday.

But I opted to skip her Bordatella because she's not been boarded or kennelled for several years and none is anticipated.