Just this past October there was an outbreak in the Detroit area of a disease that claimed the lives of more than a dozen dogs. The cause of this tragic loss is a bacterium known as Leptospira. It is spread primarily through contact with the victim’s urine. Without prompt, very rigorous treatment, within days due to multiple organ failure, most of those infected succumb. Sadly, if these pets had been properly immunized not one would have gotten ill, let alone died.
Cats seem to have an innate i.e. built-in level of protection against the Leptospira organism. Hence, to date, there have been very few reported cases of cats contracting Leptospirosis. This seems almost contrary to nature, as it is urine from a mouse that is frequently involved in the transmission of this disease. And we all know how cats LOVE catching mice! I will grant you that this seems to be a bit strange, however, it is for this reason that currently we do not have a Leptospira vaccine for cats.
Leptospirosis is a “zoonotic” disease. I know some of you are thinking this means that “zoo” animals can be infected with Leptospira bacteria. Well, in fact they can be, however, zoonotic actually means that people can be infected with this disease! That’s right, people are very susceptible to Leptospirosis. Prevention for humans is quite simple. As transmission occurs via contact with the urine from a diseased mammal, washing your hands after petting an infected animal and after cleaning up their urine is generally sufficient to kill the bacteria responsible for communicating this disease.
Besides people, a variety of other species frequently contract this disease. Many farmers are quite familiar with Leptospirosis. Here again, primarily through urine contact, this disease can spread throughout an entire herd. Lepto has a very deleterious effect on reproduction. In livestock, this organism causes abortions and infertility. Cattle, horses, pigs, sheep, and goats all are susceptible to different strains of Leptospirosis. Farmers that rely on their livestock to procreate generally have an extensive immunization program in place designed to avoid reproductive failures.
Should your pet be diagnosed with Leptospirosis, if it is treated very aggressively in a timely manner, the prognosis is guarded. In fact, many pets respond quite favorably to aggressive antibiotic and fluid therapy. Likely their recovery will be prolonged. However, there is every reason to believe that the patient will survive. However, if treatment is slightly delayed the prognosis is not nearly as good.
I sincerely believe that preventing any disease is the best possible option! So it is for Leptospirosis. Quite simply, with the vaccines available today, we may begin to immunize dogs as early as six weeks of age. Subsequently they are boosted every 2-4 weeks until they are 16 weeks old. After that they need a booster but once a year. There is just one exception to this protocol, the Rottweiler. As Rottweilers have one of the poorest immune systems, we continue to vaccinate them every 2-4 weeks until they are five months of age, then annually.
Adult canines, no matter the breed, starting an immunization regimen receive a primer inoculation then in 2-4 weeks they are given a second immunization. Then they too are boosted annually.
If a pet is going to have a reaction to an immunization it is most likely due to the Lepto fraction of the vaccine. Why? Because Lepto is a bacterium whereas the other components are viral. Immunologically speaking, bacteria tend to cause more adverse reactions than do viruses. You should consult your veterinarian for strategies that can be put in play for canines that have had a reaction to the Lepto portion of the vaccine and for those who have a compromised immune system.
For decades our canine population received a “two-strain” Lepto vaccine and did quite well. About six years ago two new strains raised their ugly head. Canines of every age and breed were becoming gravely ill and dying of Leptospirosis. Subsequently a vaccine was developed that includes the original two strains and the two new ones. Since 2006 we have used the four-strain vaccine. As one might expect, in the dogs that have been properly immunized, to date I have not seen a single case of Leptospirosis!
Currently there is a new twist to the story on canine immunizations. I opened this article with some sad news concerning dogs that had been previously immunized for Leptospirosis yet they died. How can this be? You see the vaccine they were given provides three years of protection against Distemper, Parvovirus and Hepatitis but just ONE year of protection for Parainfluenza and more importantly Leptospirosis! Thinking the three years of protection was ALL inclusive, the owners, in spite of being informed of the one year of immunity for two of the vaccine fractions, chose to ignore the reminders for the timely Leptospirosis and Parainfluenza boosters. Subsequently their pets were NOT adequately protected. By in large, these were the pets that contracted Leptospirosis and died. Should you have any doubt about your pet’s immunization status, please call your veterinarian ASAP.
Let us not forget that immunizations are just a part of keeping your pet healthy. So is having them consume an appropriate diet for their life stage, providing an adequate amount of exercise, having a stool examined yearly for intestinal parasites, and initiating appropriate heartworm and flea control measures. But at the very core of any quality preventive health care program is having your pet receive an Annual Comprehensive Physical Examination.
Detecting a condition or disease before it is impossible to treat is extremely important. The best opportunity to do this is by having your pet, cat or dog, thoroughly examined at least once a year. It is on this occasion that many health care issues are identified and appropriate measures put in place that will rectify problems resulting in a longer, healthier and happier life for both you and for your furry companion!
