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Originally Posted by 107barney   I totally agree. $$$ for the vet twice a year to pump up my little dogs with a vaccine that doesn't cover my state's emerging strains that cause the most cases. No thanks. |
I totally agree that geography should be taken into consideration. From the research you posted above, I bolded the following from the research which supports my vets views:
How Effective Are Vaccines Against Canine Leptospirosis? Do They Prevent Development of the Carrier State? What Is the Duration of Immunity after Vaccination? Current vaccines appear to effectively prevent disease resulting from experimental challenge and to a large degree prevent shedding caused by the serovars in the vaccine. They also protect for at least 12 months.
21,78,h Currently available bacterins elicit serogroup-specific immunity, but partial immunity to heterologous serogroups has been documented in some studies.
80,130–132 Naturally occurring canine leptospirosis has been reported after vaccination with bivalent serovar Icterohaemorrhagiae and Canicola vaccines.
20 The panel is unaware of leptospirosis in dogs that have been fully vaccinated with 4-serovar vaccines, but published data are lacking regarding the incidence of naturally occurring leptospirosis in such dogs. This may partly relate to the difficulty in definitively diagnosing leptospirosis in fully vaccinated dogs.
Go to: What Adverse Effects Might Be Associated with Vaccination for Canine Leptospirosis? Concern has been raised regarding the development of anaphylactoid reactions in dogs after leptospirosis vaccination, especially small breed dogs, although such reactions may occur in any breed. There is anecdotal evidence from veterinarians and industry that the prevalence of these reactions is decreasing, and may be similar to the rate induced by vaccines for other pathogens. In a study of acute vaccine reactions in dogs utilizing a large database, vaccines containing leptospiral antigen were no more reactive than other vaccines for dogs.
133 Go to: When Should Vaccination Be Recommended for Prevention of Canine Leptospirosis? Annual vaccination with 4-serovar vaccines is recommended for at-risk dogs, regardless of breed, with the understanding that the definition of “at-risk” may vary geographically. In geographic locations in which infection occurs in urban, backyard dogs, all dogs may be at risk, and the vaccine may be considered part of a core vaccination protocol. In other locations, only dogs that contact wildlife, swim, hunt, or roam on farmland may be at risk.
In short, the reactions are reduced, the vaccines are affective and further reading shows that there are a lot of States in the US where Lepto is still a problem. This takes me back to the point that a conversation should be had with the vet re: this type of research and how relevant it is to an individuals situation.
To the OP: Your vet is a scientist who is informed in vaccinations as treatment and prevention. I would have a conversation re: what they think the risks are for Lepto in your area and make a decision on this basis.
The types of research articles above are very useful but have to be read in full and considered in alignment with your situation and vet advice. I really wouldn't worry about it too much. Although there are reports of reactions (which are not to be dismissed), this paper and my own vet (in September 2014) suggests that contraction of the disease is far more serious than any current vaccination reaction risk.
At the end of the day, it's your dog and your decision! We all decided that we made the best decisions with the info we had to hand and all of our dogs are safe and healthy - which is great.