Marcerella02,
You are getting some very good advice from other members here, they're quite informed!
First of all, you should be aware that small breeds of dogs are particularly prone to adverse reactions to the Leptospira vaccine and the rabies vaccine (see the information below). By giving vaccinations separately, you reduce the likelihood of an adverse reaction and the likelihood that the vaccine components will interfere with each other and neutralize or negate the immune response.
Dr. Ronald Schultz says that the rabies vaccine should
never be given with other vaccines as it is the one most likely to cause adverse events.
You should discuss this information with your veterinary care provider, who should be giving you full disclosure
before they vaccinate your dog.
Kris
Post-rabies vaccination alopecia is most commonly seen in toy or small breeds, especially Poodles, but Chihuahua cases have been reported. The lesion usually develops three to six months after vaccination. Dr. Michael Goldschmidt, Professor, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of Pennsylvania
http://www.afip.org/vetpath/WSC/wsc02/02wsc19.pdf
Regarding the Lepto vaccine, on Page 2 of the
American Animal Hospital Association's 2003 Canine Vaccine Guidelines and Recommendations, it states that
"Optional or 'noncore' vaccines are those that the committee believe should be considered only in special circumstances because their use is more dependent on the exposure risk of the individual animal. Issues of geographic distribution and lifestyle should be considered before administering these vaccines. In addition, the diseases involved are generally self-limiting or respond readily to treatment. The committee believes this group of vaccines comprises distemper-meases virus (D-MV), canine parainfluenza virus (CPIV), Leptospira spp., Bordetella bronchispetica, and Borrelia burdorferi."
Furthermore, on Page 7, Tables 1 of the AAHA Guidelines referenced above, it states under Revaccination (Booster Recommendations) that the Leptospira interrogans vaccine
"....this product carries high-risk for adverse vaccine events." Under Overall Comments and Recommendations they elaborate:
"Anecdotal reports from veterinarians and breeders suggest that the incidence of postvaccination reactions (acute anaphylaxis) in puppies (<12 wks of age) and small-breed dogs is high. Reactions are most severe in young (<9 wks of age) puppies. Routine use of the vaccine should be delayed until dogs are >9 wks of age."
On Page 8 of the
2006 American Animal Hospital Association's Canine Vaccine Guidelines, it states that "
Veterinarians are advised of anecdotal 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 high exposure risk."
Leptospira is a
“killed” vaccine and is associated with clinically significant adverse reactions. According to the
2003 AAHA Guidelines (Page 16),
"...killed vaccines are much more likely to cause hypersensitivity reactions (e.g., immune-mediated disease)." Further, the AAHA task force reports on Page 18 that,
"Bacterial vaccines, especially killed whole organism products …..are much more likely to cause adverse reactions than subunit or live bacterial vaccines or MLV vaccines, especially if given topically. Several killed bacterial products are used as immunomodulators/adjuvants. Thus, their presence in a combination vaccine product may enhance or suppress the immune response or may cause an undesired response (e.g., IgE hypersensitivity or a class of antibody that is not protective)."
A fuller discussion of the Lepto vaccine can be found on Page 14, in which it is reported that,
"Immunity is an ill-defined term for Leptospira ssp. products. If immunity is defined as protection from infection or prevention of bacterial-shedding, then there is little or no enduring immunity."
Dr. Alice Wolf, Professor of Small Animal Internal Medicine at Texas A&M College of Veterinary Medicine, stated in an address (Vaccines of the Present and Future
http://www.vin.com/VINDBPub/SearchPB...00/PR00141.htm) at the 2001 World Small Animal Veterinary Association World Congress that:
"The most reactive vaccines for dogs include leptospirosis bacterin and Borrelia [Lyme]vaccine.". Combination Vaccines, Multiple Shots--on Page 16 of the
2003 AAHA Guidelines under
Immunological Factors Determining Vaccine Safety, it states that:
"Although increasing the number of components in a vaccine may be more convenient for the practitioner or owner, the likelihood for adverse effects may increase. Also, interference can occur among the components. Care must be taken not to administer a product containing too many vaccines simultaneously if adverse events are to be avoided and optimal immune responses are sought. " Duration of Immunity to Canine Vaccines: What We Know and Don't Know, Dr. Ronald Schultz
http://www.cedarbayvet.com/duration_of_immunity.htm World Small Animal Veterinary Association 2007 Vaccine Guidelines http://www.wsava.org/SAC.htm Scroll down to Vaccine Guidelines 2007 (PDF)
The
2003 American Animal Hospital Association's Canine Vaccine Guidelines are accessible online at
http://www.leerburg.com/special_report.htm .
The
2006 American Animal Hospital Association's Canine Vaccine Guidelines are downloadable in PDF format at
http://www.aahanet.org/PublicDocumen...s06Revised.pdf .
Veterinarian, Dr. Robert Rogers,has an excellent presentation on veterinary vaccines at
http://www.newvaccinationprotocols.com/