Leptospirosis is a bacterial disease that is carried in the urine of common wildlife and rodents.  It is absorbed in the environment, but as the ground becomes saturated, the infected urine surfaces and sits in stagnate puddles.  This poses a problem and potential hazard to your dog if your dog drinks from the infected puddle.  This disease causes high fever, jaundice, vomiting and, in severe cases, fatal liver and kidney damage.  Current vaccines (the Distemper or DA2PLP booster) against canine Leptospirosis have been available for many years and offer protection against two different strains of the disease.  However, recent research has shown that other strains of Leptospirosis have emerged and are on the rise in peri-urban areas.  Areas considered to be peri-urban are those addresses that are urban now but in the recent past have been rural.  Because Leptospirosis vaccines are strain-specific, older vaccines are not able to protect against these newer strains.

Fortunately, a new vaccine has been introduced that offers dogs protection against the older strains of Leptospirosis and two additional strains, L. grippotyphosa and L. pomona.  We are now using this vaccine at Muddy Creek Animal Hospital to protect your dog from this re-emerging disease.  Canine Leptospirosis is a dangerous threat to dogs, and we are now recommending this new vaccine for our canine patients. 

This vaccine is given in a two-dose series.  Your dog will receive an initial vaccine followed by a booster given three to four weeks after the first.  After this inital series, the vaccine will be given as part of your dog's annual vaccinations. 

Thank you for taking the time to read this information.  Please make sure to schedule an appointment for your dog's Leptospirosis booster today.