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Quote:

Originally Posted by Trishe (Post 3981377)

Thanks for all the great feedback. I am still so undecided. I'm going to have to really think about this. The thought of him getting sick from the shot is scary...but then again so is Leptospirosis! I don't think I worried this much about my kids getting their school shots!! :eek:

Lepto is really very rare, in the big spectrum of things. Less than 200 cases in the U.S. and half those in Hawaii. It's really common in tropical countries with heavy rainfall. The vaccine doesn't even protect against all the different strains of the lepto. Vets see more cases of reactions to lepto vaccine, than lepto itself.

Here is a good article and an excerpt: Dogs Naturally Magazine SMOKE AND MIRRORS

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Vaccination with Leptospira is fraught with problems. Of major concern is the fact that Leptospira vaccines do not protect the dog from infection with Leptospira or of renal colonization. Leptospira vaccines have little effect on the maintenance and transmission of the disease in the animal populations in which they are applied.26 The ineffective- ness of the vaccine is due in part to the many Leptospirosis serovars and variability of pathogenic strains which are not addressed with vaccines.

Alarmingly, Leptospira can become a source of infection for the humans in contact with any dog vaccinated for Lepto- spirosis.27 There are several cases of which I am personally aware where I could say beyond any doubt that a Lepto- spira vaccine administered to the dog was the cause of subclinical infection and therefore transmitted to a human. Leptospira can and will shed in a vaccinated dog and in turn, infect any humans living in the same household! Leptospira vaccines and the overuse of vaccines in our dogs is a direct obstacle to public health.

TREATMENT

Leptospirosis is easily treated. Doxycycline is the antibiotic of choice and has the ability, even in renal compromise, to effectively rid the urinary tract of Leptospira infection. Doxycycline can be safely administered to dogs with renal insufficiency and will clear the organism from the kidneys, making it effective in both the infection of the blood and urine.11,12

The crux of the problem is, veterinary doctors do not typically know that the Leptospirosis vaccine does not confer immunity. Challenge studies are rarely done and most studies are ineffective in measuring immunity in vivo31,32 Production of Leptospira vaccines is expensive and labor intensive for the drug companies and the vaccines are already on the market: why would they spend precious monies on further testing?

Further confusing the dog owner, most information available from self proclaimed “dog experts” on the internet is false. The marketing misinformation that recommends this vaccine is everywhere. Unfortunately, this includes most of the advice found in veterinary run websites on the internet as well as that found in veterinary office brochures. I found one very fair column on the subject of Leptospirosis written by a retired veterinarian in Oklahoma and a great article that actually listed the contraindications for the Leptospira vaccines in dogs by a veterinarian in Bali: an island with a serious Leptospirosis problem.33,34 Why is this information not better understood? The truth is that too many veterinarians are painfully inept at discussing Leptospirosis because the bulk of their information comes from the very drug companies that stand to profit or at least recoup the many monies this troubled vaccine has cost their corporations.
In dogs that present with Leptospriosis, the severity may be associated with vaccine history and less likely, previous natural exposure which can create an exaggerated humoral immune response.45 Every single vaccination will impact the genetic environment by overly sensitizing the T cells and immune complex against the Leptospirosis antigen, making future vaccination for Leptospirosis and even natural exposure of grave danger due to the creation of this “super antigen”46. Vaccinations prime the immune system for over- reaction which leads to dangerous cytokine cascade and tremendous immunopathology. In the rare case of exposure to Leptospirosis, this “super antigen” reaction has the potential for lethal consequences from renal failure. The same danger exists with each and every vaccination and the likelihood and severity of reaction increases exponentially with every shot given (which in the case of Leptospirosis, may be twice a year). In fact, some dogs who are vaccinated with Lepto- spirosis die of renal failure within 48 hours: the same type of pathology that the actual disease could create. Dr. Ronald Schultz recognizes this risk and advises that you better be sure of the reason you are injecting because any time you inject, you could kill the patient.

It appears that Microbiologist Antoine Bechamp was correct about disease and the theory of “terrain”. Terrain theorystates that it is the individual’s system that determines disease and the individual response to antigen within the patient’s immune cells. Multiple administrations of vaccines over sensitize the patient to a real crisis, and when antigen and immune cells collide, disease results.

Antibiotic treatment is quickly effective for Leptospirosis, 57 as is the use of homeopathy.You must realize however that the germ is not the problem: the individual’s immune system is the determinant. Optimal nutrition is the key to immune health and prior genetic damage from vaccines is also of consequence. In regard to the Leptospira vaccine, the new genetically engineered products will not be proven any safer than earlier products. They will unleash this vaccine without really knowing if the vaccine is safe or effective, just as they have for all the vaccines that have come before.Intervet Schering Plough is revving up for their annual vaccine marketing campaign in the UK, promoting their vaccines on the questionable need for the vaccine in the first place.58 The only protection from this marketing mania is to know the lack of science behind both the manufacturing and administration of these vaccines:. Although drug companies are responsible for vaccine safety, they are not held accountable and there will be no recourse against these marketing giants if your pet becomes ill: a practice which Dr. Ron Schultz calls indefensible.

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Leptospirosis occurs worldwide, but it is most commonly acquired in the tropics. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention states 100-200 cases of leptospirosis are reported each year in the United States, with about 50% of cases occurring in Hawaii. Although the incidence in the United States is relatively low, leptospirosis is considered the most widespread disease that is transmitted by animals in the world.

What Vets don't tell you about vaccines.
by Catherine O'Driscoll
"Leptospirosis vaccine is a common cause of adverse reactions in dogs. Most of the clinical cases of lepto reported in dogs in the US are caused by serovaars (or types) grippotyphosa and bratsilvia. The vaccines contain different serovaars eanicola and ictohemorrhagica. Cross protection is not provided and protection is short lived. Lepto vaccine is immuno-supressive to puppies less than 16 weeks.

Leptospirosis Symptoms, Vaccine, Treatment, Prevention, Diagnosis and Prognosis Information by MedicineNet.com

Published: Oct. 27, 2011 E-mail Editor ShareThis
Related Links
MSU Diagnostic Center for Population and Animal Health
MSU College of Veterinary Medicine
EAST LANSING, Mich. — More than 20 cases of the life-threatening bacterial infection leptospirosis have been reported in Detroit-area dogs in the past three weeks, according to Michigan State University’s Diagnostic Center for Population and Animal Health.

Experts at the MSU center, a service unit of the College of Veterinary Medicine, diagnosed the specific strain of the disease, which can cause fatal damage to dogs and can be transmitted to humans.

In most cases, the dogs were not vaccinated against leptospirosis, or they had an uncertain vaccination history. Because this particular type of leptospirosis is associated with contact with rats, stray dogs are typically thought to be at highest risk.

“What is particularly unusual about this outbreak is that the dogs affected are not stray animals, but people’s pets,” said Carole Bolin, director of the Diagnostic Center. “Unfortunately, we expect to see more cases, and this is a very dangerous type of leptospirosis. Many veterinarians have never seen this type in dogs because it was markedly reduced by vaccination.” I would call MSU and see what THEY think you should do.

^This is why one of my dogs (non yorkie) is vaccinated. It wa the deciding factor. Yorkie had a severe reaction and can't be vaccinated.

If lepto is a problem in the area, I don't think there is a right or wrong andwer. I know dr. Schultz does not like it, there is risk, etc. but this strain is very dangerous. So we will reevaluate yearly after looking at the latest research/reaction reports/disease reports.

Lepto is diagnosed here a fair amount for being considered very uncommon.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ellie May (Post 3982280)

Lepto is also seen here as well.

I have heard of 2 Yorkies that have died because of the Lepto shot. I guess it is a risk either way.

Wow, thank you all so much for the information. I'm glad my vet gave me the option and warnings instead of just giving it without letting me decide, but now my head is spinning with the pros and cons. I have such a hard time making decisions (just picking something off a menu can send me into a spin..lol) It sounds like Michigan is a high risk area. The vet did say I will have to stay there until they know he hasn't had a reaction, so I know they are looking out for him. I have to talk to my hubby about this again after reading all of your great info. Thanks again, everyone here is so helpful!

My own personal opinion: When the denominator in the equation becomes "High Risk Area", that pretty well removes the options. (Even though they say the vaccine does not protect against all the different strains of Lepto...) I would premedicate before the vaccine is given, 20 minutes after premedication, give the vaccine and then hang out there for half an hour....anaphylactic reactions occur within minutes....now you may have site reactions later, or lethargy, or some nausea/diarrhea or whatever, within 36-48 hours...but the death inducing reactions will occur immediately, if they are going to happen, it will happen while you are in the office.

NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOo

Here in California they have recommended no giving lepto for small dogs. My male had it before the new recommendations took place and he was very lethargic after ward...later the vet told me that some small dogs have died from it.