Are you wanting to know a little bit more about that lepto vaccine and why your vet recommended it? Lepto, short for leptospirosis, is a type of bacteria that can cause a severe infection in dogs. It’s called a spirochete bacteria, which means it has a spiral shape. This shape allows it to move, or be motile, in wet environments.
In addition to infecting dogs, it can also infect humans. And while most people (about 90%) will only have mild flu-like symptoms, in those who become severely ill it can be fatal.
It is most commonly diagnosed in the Midwest, southeast and east coast, and it is becoming more prevalent. It’s possible we are diagnosing in veterinary medicine simply because we are testing for it more commonly, but it also may be becoming more prevalent in the environment.
The CDC warns that the incidence of leptospirosis can increase after Hurricanes and floods. This is because the bacteria needs a warm wet environment to survive, and when conditions are ideal it can survive on the ground or in water for months. https://www.cdc.gov/leptospirosis/index.html
Leptospirosis is commonly found in wildlife such as raccoons, foxes, and rats and among domestic animals such as cattle and dogs. People have contracted leptospirosis from exposure to infected domestic animals, but also from the environment. Those who do a lot of outdoor activities like camping or hiking may contract it directly from creeks or lakes.
Another potential cause for the increased incidence of leptospirosis in my canine patients is urban sprawl. As we continue to build our communities out near where the wildlife who carry this bacteria live, we will also find more frequent positive cases appearing. In my community it is very common to see a fox roaming the neighborhoods, and I have even found one within my fenced in back yard.
It can infect animals and people through multiple avenues. It can enter the body through the mucus membranes of the mouth and eyes which is a risk when swimming in a river or lake. It can also enter through cuts or breaks in the skin so even walking on a contaminated surface can be a risk if your dog has a cut on their paw.
Leptospirosis can cause a wide range of symptoms ranging from fever, lethargy, vomiting, diarrhea, an increase in drinking or urinating, muscle pain, and many more. This can make it difficult to diagnose, and so your veterinarian may recommend multiple tests in order to figure out why your dog is sick.
Leptospirosis can infect a large number of tissues within the body, but most commonly causes damage to the kidneys and liver failure. It can also cause inflammation of the blood vessels within the lungs which can result in hemorrhage within the pulmonary tissues and respiratory distress. Because the symptoms are very non-specific your veterinarian may start with blood-work to check kidney and liver values and look for any changes to the white blood cells. If your pet is having trouble breathing they will likely take x-rays of the chest as well.
But to confirm diagnosis, blood must be submitted to an outside laboratory. In the mean time supportive care such as IV fluids and anti-vomiting medications can be given. But your vet also may go ahead and start an antibiotic called doxycycline while waiting for test results. If your dog is positive for leptospirosis you vet will have you continue giving this antibiotic for 3 weeks. Thankfully they can fully recover if severity is mild or if the disease is caught early. But it is possible for there to be permanent damage to the kidneys or, worst case, for it to be fatal.
The good news is that there is a vaccine for leptospirosis for dogs. It is a 4-way vaccine which means it protects against the 4 most common types of leptospirosis we see in canines. Leptospirosis classification is broken down in to multiple serovars, which simply means there are many slightly different versions of it. One such serovar is called canicola as it is most frequently found in dogs. Although this 4-way vaccine will not provide protection against the other serovars it does not contain, it is a great vaccine for protecting against the 4 types most commonly found in dogs.
This vaccine can and should be given to puppies who are in a location with known cases. The most fatal cases of this infection tend to occur in dogs less then 6 months of age. The first vaccine will often be given around 9 to 10 weeks of age and a booster will be given 2-4 weeks later. It is then necessary to be boostered annually as it does not provide long lasting protection after a year has passed.
I have had owners decline this vaccine because they have been told that it will cause a reaction. But studies have just not proven this to be true. Any vaccine has the potential to cause an anaphylactic reaction, but there is no difference in incidence between lepto and other vaccines.
Although the leptospirosis vaccine is not considered a core vaccine, I do recommend it for most of my patients. I live in an area near many national parks and hiking trails where many of my clients like to take their dogs. Even my clients who live downtown need to be aware that city rats can carry lepto and contaminate sidewalks. If you are walking your dog around the city after a rain, the bacteria could still be living within the puddles on the ground.
If you live a lifestyle that puts your dog at risk for leptospirosis I strongly recommend speaking to your vet about the vaccine. Because prevention of this potentially deadly bacteria is the safest choice.
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