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03-30-2009, 09:47 PM | #1 |
Donating YT 4000 Club Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Iowa
Posts: 9,493
| Interesting info on Lepto - to further the discussion I read an interesting article today about Lepto - and why the shot may be important, - it was in simple language. Mine have not had it - my holistic vet doesn't even give the parvo shot. This article was in a magazine and by a vet in Florida, so I'm going to try and retype what was said by Dr. Michael Reinhart - he isn't even totally convinced about giving it: ------- Lepto refers to a bacterial disease named "Leptospirosis." It's not new but recently the medical community - including the Center for Disease Control - has become a little more concerned because of an increase in its incidence. This spiky bacterium clings on contact and is easily contracted. Once on board, the final outcome is acute kidney and liver failure with a consensus 50 percent fatality. I have been in practice for more than 25 years, and it was not until this past year that I diagnosed a case. In fact, I have diagnosed three cases in the past year, possibly because I am looking for it more. One case was a dog - only five years old - that died of kidney failure. Once thought not to be much of a problem because the vector was typically rat urine, this has now changed. One of the more increasingly prevalent types of Lepto is now spread in raccoon and possum urine. If you live in Florida, there is a good chance raccoons have been around your house. They may urinate on the other side of your fence, but when it rains, the urine washes down into your yard, and those puddles around your house may harbor more than just mud. To make matters worse, humans can contact this, and it can be fatal. There was a recent report of the death of a teenager who was diagnosed only after death. Because of its low incidence, physicians are not very familiar with the problem, and it is low on the diagnostic list. Typically humans show flu-like symptoms that never seem to improve. Animals present with acute renal or liver problems. A blood titre is the only way to diagnose Lepto, and false negatives occur with too much frequency. There has been a vaccine developed, but most doctors are not warm to its use because of past vaccine reactions. Recently however, several pharmaceutical companies have done a better job of purifying the vaccine, and reactions may be a thing of the past. With my recent cases, we are considering making the vaccine part of our core vaccination program for dogs. Although the chances of exposure remain low, they still remain, and we believe that vaccinating the pet protects not only the animal, but possibly, his family as well.
__________________ yorkiesmiles Loved by Bubba & Roxy Holy, holy, is the Lord God Almighty, who was, and is, and is to come |
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03-31-2009, 04:43 AM | #2 |
And Rylee Finnegan Donating Member Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Metro Detroit, MI
Posts: 17,928
| I agree that lepto is a very serious disease and the vaccine is usually said to be "not a good thing" too often. It can be a very dangerous vaccine and at this time I would most likely not give it to any Yorkie of mine but that is taking a big risk, especially in Michigan. Then again, a lepto single (like Pfizer's) may be a consideration. This doesn't go for Ellie because she can't have it. Pfizer has one now that isn't in a combo shot. In my opinion, giving it separately is the way to go if you HAVE to give it. Some vets don't suspect lepto often enough and then it is low on their list of things to look for when an animal is sick, so the disease progresses. This is really an individual decision and should be based on research and what the owner is comfortable with. As long as it's caught early, the mortality rate is about 10% I think. This is why some vets push the vaccine. They aren't looking for money. They honestly feel it is best and for good reason. But I would not use the vaccine before about 16 weeks either.
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03-31-2009, 04:50 AM | #3 |
Donating YT 5000 Club Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Southeast Texas
Posts: 7,959
| One problem with the lepto shot is that there a number of different strains of the virus and the shot does not cover all of them. I did recently read about a dog that died from lepto that had been vaccinated but the dog died from a strain that was not in the vaccination. I suppose if I let my dogs run outside I would consider the vaccination but since mine are strictly house dogs I choose not to give the vaccination. I worry about the long term side effects of the vaccination. |
03-31-2009, 07:04 AM | #4 | |
Donating YT 4000 Club Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Iowa
Posts: 9,493
| Quote:
__________________ yorkiesmiles Loved by Bubba & Roxy Holy, holy, is the Lord God Almighty, who was, and is, and is to come | |
03-31-2009, 07:08 AM | #5 |
No Longer a Member Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Maryland
Posts: 2,410
| "Although the chances of exposure remain low, they still remain, and we believe that vaccinating the pet protects not only the animal, but possibly, his family as well." This is a major reason why I gave my animals the vaccination. My son has a heart condition, and managing this condition means avoiding all bacterial infections at all cost. Not everyone is in my postion, so I would not dream to tell someone else what is right or wrong for their family. But for me, there was only one choice. Excellent find, by the way! |
03-31-2009, 03:53 PM | #6 |
YT 2000 Club Member | great article thanks. I live in the middle of nowhere where wild animals run all over my property.I have rabbit poo all over my yard, I have skunks and raccoons that frequent my property so often that I have almost named them. My 2 bigger dogs stay in a fenced in area, when they are outside, my 2 little dogs are either on a leash at all times or in the small kennel in our yard, the risk of them getting lepto is small but there. I really dont have much choice but to vax them for it. For thier safety and my families. All of my dogs have gotten the vaccine with thier other shots at a small age. ( i didnt no that you shouldnt do that until this board). They all range in size from 29 pounds to 4. Not one of them have had any issues at all. Thanks goodness. I will continue to vax them from it and pray that none of them have a bad reaction. It really is a tough decision to make...
__________________ Love all 9 of my furrbutts! |
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