Barney is getting tested for Leptospirosis!
 

My heart is in my stomach............I just got off the phone with the board certified internal medicine veterinarian. Barney went in to have an abdominal ultrasound because of a mild but persistently elevated liver enzyme. So I wanted to make sure we did not miss anything.

To make a long story short, Barney's liver is showing some mild changes to the architecture which may be due to age, left over inflammation from his pancreatitis episode last year, or some unknown liver disease (cancer, copper storage deficiancy, etc). The only way to know about the liver is to do a biopsy, which I am not doing because (1) Barney is not showing clinical signs or symptoms of illness and (2) a biopsy needs to be invasive to be worthwhile and there is a risk of internal bleeding and death which is increased in a dog of his size (8.5 lbs). He will be treated with liver antioxidants, denosyl, marin and another drug I forgot the name of but will post later...it started with a "u". Pancreas looked good.

Then we get to the kidneys........and they were showing "bright" on the ultrasound. Two mildly elevated kidney values as well on blood work last month. Concern: DOES BARNEY HAVE AN INFECTION, AND IF SO, IS IT LEPTOSPIROSIS.

LEPTOSPIROSIS? WHAT??!!! This as my WORST FEAR stopping the vaccine and not taking the advice of my vet who said to vaccinate him for it. I bantered back and forth about this - NO LEPTO NO LEPTO NO LEPTO. Finally dropped the vet for persisting and annoying me with it.

Where did this leave me? Testing my Barney for LEPTO.

I'm sick to my stomach, I feel like throwing up.

As an aside and to share...........I asked the specialist "what is your opinion about the lepto vaccine especially in small breeds.."
Here was his answer, an exact quote:

"I have seen enough cases of leptospirosis in dogs we could not help to SCARE me enough to vaccinate my own dogs." One of which is a small dog around 15 lbs.

I went further - what about reactions in toy breeds and risk.... The recommendation was to VACCINATE my dogs. His opinon: the risk of reactions in the current lepto vaccine was not any greater than any other vaccine and greatly outweighs the risk.

I am hoping and praying to god that Barney does not have this disease becasue I will not be able to live with myself for not vaccinating them the last couple of years.

Once again I'm reminded that I do not know more than my vets and I'm just sick over this. I'm hoping in 5 days from now I do not hear that he has it. :(

Im sorry I hope you get better news. Please dont be hard on yourself I have pondered on not getting the lepto vacine even though my vet insists also. Ill keep Barney in my good thoughts and prayers

I hope Barney does not have leptospirosis. Please don't beat yourself up over your decision about vaccination. I am sending prayers for Barney and you. I hope you get good news.

I'm so sorry. I'll be praying that Barney's test results come back clean with no signs of Lepto.

I've struggled with the decision of whether or not to vaccinate for lepto. My vet and I have had a few lengthy discussions over it. He finally convinced me to give it by telling me what your vet told you - that he has seen so many cases of lepto in our area, and the poor animals are usually too far progressed to be helped by the time they're diagnosed, that he almost refused to vaccinate if I didn't include the lepto. He didn't actually go that far, but I could tell he felt strongly about it, about losing so many innocent pets to this illness. So I vaccinate all of mine.

When will the test results be in? Please give Barney some extra huggins for me.

And hugs for you too,
Bonny

OH NO!!!!! I'm so sorry!!! Will keep you and Barney in my thoughts!!! Please let us know what you find out!!

I am so very sorry to read your post. Your situation is one of those where we do the very best with the information we have at the time. Unfortunately we don't have a crystal ball and can't tell who will and who won't have reactions. You WERE doingthe very best for Barney with the information you had - protecting him against known serious reactions to the Lepto vaccine. I sure hope Barney knows how much he is loved.

I will keep you and Barney in my thoughts and prayers.

Oh no I'm so sorry this happening to Barney. Prayers will be going out for Barney that his tests come back negative for Lepto.

I am one that doesn't vacinate for this. My Lizzie had a very bad reaction to it when she was 2 yrs old and she was sick for over 4 day's before she pulled out of it.

My Vet does ask me every year, and still say no.

Oh my Cathy I'm so sorry. I don't know what else to say. Please hang in there.

I hope you get good news, and the 5 days passes very quickly.

I hate that you have to wait so long. That will be torture. I'll be keeping Barney in my prayers. He's such a sweetie.

Awww Cathy I'm SO sorry to hear about Barney!! I'm praying for his test result to come out negative and that he feels better! I can't imagine how hard this must be :(

I am hopeful that this is not Lepto. Thank you so much, Cathy, for posting this. You cannot beat yourself up...you have done what you believed was right. I also thought the lepto vaccine was dangerous until about a year ago. One of my fosters was adopted out and the people who adopted him said their vet recommended Lepto vaccine. I was very upset and called my vet who told me that where he went Lepto was a concern and that, yes, he should have it! She further said that the risk of side effects was not as bad as I had been led to believe. I agree with you that sometimes we listen to the wrong sources....there is a lot on the internet that just is not accurate! I am fortunate to have found a vet whom I have great trust in.

As I always say.....we need to weigh the risks of meds and vaccines against the benefits. There is nothing in life that comes without a risk. I personally think there is way too much of a focus on vaccine reactions without a real focus on the benefits. I shudder to think of a world without vaccines for children and animals.

Keeping my fingers crossed for you and Barney

Oh...my stomach sank when I saw this thread!!! I took my new pup for her 2nd set of shots at the vet at the beginning of the week & turned down Lepto, telling the vet, who encouraged it, not now, but that I would do further research. After looking into it all week long, I've decided she will get the lepto. It is just not worth the risk, especially when my vet said he would give benadryl before hand and we could hang out for a while after to make sure there is no reaction.

I know it is easier said than done, but ...do not blame yourself. We all make what we believe is our best decision for our beloved pets. I'll keep Barney in my prayers. Wishing you the best :)

Oh wow Cathy, I know this is a hard day for you. I will be praying for you AND Barney.

You are such a good momma and have always made the right decisions. Don't second guess yourself now. (It will only make you feel worse.) All of us have made decisions that we wonder should we have done things differently.

I will be waiting with you anxiously to hear about the results.

Dang.

Figures - you go in to look for one thing and that's okay but you find something else wrong. His BUN and creatinine are up??

It definitely is possible. Sigh. Are they doing anything now just in case?


There was a time when I would have said no lepto. Now I would be getting it for my dogs (as long as there was no history of serious reaction). It may be becoming safer anyway. I'd just be particular about which one (I like lepto as a single given separately).

BTW, I wouldn't go to a vet that was constantly on me about something either. Asking at wellness visits if I changed my mind is fine. Nagging me to do something isn't.

The liver med is probably ursodiol (Actigall). Be cautious with it in pancreatitis patients (so you'll know if he has a flare-up, it's probably this drug).

Oh I am so sorry to read about this. Honestly I am ashamed to admit I know nothing about Lepto and the vaccine. I am sure my vet and I have not discussed this so I do not think Buster has received the vaccine. I will start doing my due diligence now. Buster and I will be saying our prayers for you and Barney.

Cathy,
I'm hoping that you and Barney have good news. It's just so hard to wait for test results. As for the vaccine, you did what you thought was best at the time based on the information you had. That's all any of us can do. Don't start playing the 'if only' game right now, you'll just stress yourself out for what could turn out to be no reason. Just focus on Barney and keeping him happy and comfortable.

Did you get any news about Barney? :hug:

Cathy, there are a very, very few (that I know) as conscientious of dog Momma's as you so, just remember, you will never be to blame...whatever the outcome!

I will be thinking only the most positive thoughts for you and Barney!
:love::love-hug3:love:

Re: the lepto vaccine - one of our vets insisted we do the puppies and assured me the risk were "old school" thinking and the vaccine had changed. Despite my hesitation I finally agreed. They had two rounds and the 3rd set of shots I gave to them myself and left the lepto out. After the 2nd set they did have a mild fleshy tumor shot location reaction but disappeared after a couple weeks (since it was a combined shot we don't know which vaccine caused it, most likely the lepto, since they didn't react to the ones I gave them)
Sorry to hear of your pup's troubles. Wishing him and you well. It's so hard to make the right decisions with all the conflicting info out there.

Other than nothing replaces the physical exam part of a vet, I'm planning on doing all their shots from now on, that way I can be in charge of what goes into my dogs.

I hope you are prepared in case of an emergency. A pup can be lost quickly if anaphylaxis occurs. I would never administer vaccines in my home. If you speak with a vet prior to vaccines being given and let them know what you want given that is what will happen!

Is this what your Vet determined or is this your interpretation of the reaction you observed at the injection site?

I've never heard of this but, I have heard of hematoma's at injection sites.

Cathy,

I am so sorry that you and Barney are dealing with this. please do not even think that you are anything good mommy. we all do the best that we can and hopefully we make the beat choices. hugs to you and Barney.

I am so sorry Cathy
I will keep Barney (and you) in my prayers.
Please keep us updated.

Palms and paws together for you and Barney.

So sorry for your worries, and I sure hope it all turns out ok.

Where I live my vet only recommends Lepto vac. for dogs that are around livestock, or go hiking in the mountains where wild animals roam. Based on the sheltered life my dogs live (in house & yard mostly), he said it wasn't necessary. But that's based on my area and lifestyle and not applicable to other cases, so not meant to confuse anyone.

Thanks everyone...... A little more info...

We picked up Barney after all his testing today. His liver was "mottled" which is some abnormal texture and it should be smooth...that raises the possibility of liver disease (cancer, copper storage or other problems) or the lepto infection. We are treating the liver with Denosyl as a first step and rechecking liver enzymes in a month unless the lepto test shows infection.

The kidneys showed "brightness" which could be inflammation, infection, or just aging. We are doing a urine culture to see if there is an infection in the kidney. If so, we will treat. In case it is lepto, we did the lepto screening.

We also learned that his blood pressure was 175 mm/Hg (normal is 100-120). We are not sure if this was stress from the ultrasound causing the blood pressure so we have to take him back again and quiet him down and take it when he is more relaxed. He loves going to the vet, it's a big outing for him, so I think that was all it was. But, since blood pressure could be related to the kidney issues we need to repeat it when he is not acting like a crazed maniac having a grand old time. If the BP is still up, we will need to bring it down with medication.

So I should know more next week on the status. I feel a little less horrible than I did earlier. Thanks for everyone's support.

Cathy, how long before the Lepto test results are back?

I forgot to add - I had previously done the "older" lepto vaccines in both my older dogs and then the new vaccine came out and we did that version. Fortunately, none of my three have ever had a reaction to a vaccine, it is such a non-event. I stopped giving Lepto a few years ago because I did not think the risk was that great but what I learned today was that it is affecting dogs in urban areas and not only those dogs who are outdoors more often. It is often not caught until advanced when there is not much they can do to treat or save the animal. I see raccoons very often so it worries me about risk. I was recently thinking a lot about this and wondering if I should go reconsider my position and start vaccinating again and then this comes up. I'm dealing w/ the immediate issues, then I'll think some more about this.