Leptospirosis is a bacterial disease that causes multiple organ failure resulting in a high incidence of mortality. "Lepto" usually presents in the dog with a high fever, jaundice, dark-colored urine, vomiting, abdominal pain, and severe lethargy.
Leptospirosis is completely preventable by vaccination. For complete disclosure, many of us older veterinarians stopped immunizing our dogs for Leptospirosis many years ago. We did so because of the high incidence of vaccine side effects. When I purchased Flowertown, the previous owner did not use Leptospira vaccines in his protocol and I continued that practice.
We're sending you this email in order to change that. Not only is the incidence of Lepto on the rise, but today vaccine technology has made the Leptospiral vaccines safe or safer than any of the others we administer to your pets. Not only that, but the current vaccines also protect against a larger number of "serovars," the different "families" of this bacterium.
Beginning immediately we will incorporate the Leptospiral vaccine into our yearly vaccine package for dogs. In addition, we are recommending every dog in our practice - at risk - begin a 2-dose vaccination.
Here's the most recent listing of who is at risk; you'll see that it includes almost every dog in our practice:
- Does the owner live near a wooded area?
- Does the dog or owner live on a farm?
- Does your dog swim in lake or pond?
- Does your dog travel with owners to rural locations?
- Do you use your dogs for hunting?
- Have you seen raccoons, possums, rats, and mice living near where your pet lives.
- Do you and your dog spend time outdoors - it is now thought the organism is carried by mosquitoes and ticks.
If you answer "yes" to any of the abovementioned risk factors, then we highly recommend we start your dog(s) on the 2-dose vaccination schedule. Once done, the boosters will be given during the yearly visit.
Please call us to schedule the vaccine administration. We are not charging an office fee or examination to our current clients. We simply want to protect the health of your pets. The cost of the vaccine is $15.62 or $31.24 for the 2-dose program.
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