To Lepto or not to Lepto
Leptospirosis (Lepto) is a disease caused by bacteria that can affect both animals and humans. It is carried by various forms of wildlife, and found it places where they may urinate, including lakes, steams, puddles, or even soil in you backyard. It is more often found in warm climates, so because my puppy Rosa and I recently relocated to Hawaii, I decided to look in to getting the vaccination for her more seriously. I asked two different veterinarians here on Maui if they would recommend it for my small chihuahua (4.5 lbs), and they both said yes. The current vaccine only protects against certain types of the multiple different variations of Leptospira bacteria that cause leptospirosis. However, having your dog vaccinated does decrease their risk of becoming sick with leptospirosis.
Flooding has been linked to outbreaks of leptospirosis, which happens quite regularly here in Hawaii. The risk of leptospirosis is also related to land cover (e.g. evergreen forests, percentage of wetlands and public open spaces) and proximity to forests. Given leptospirosis’ widespread prevalence and potential to cause death in dogs, many veterinarians disagree with the vaccine’s status as non-core and it may be considered a core vaccine depending on the area in which you live. Earlier versions of the leptospirosis vaccine were reported to have higher risks for side effects than other common vaccines for dogs. However, newer production methods have significantly reduced the risk for adverse effects with two studies reporting between a 0.4 and 0.6 percent risk of reactions to the vaccine.
All injectable vaccines, including the lepto vaccine, will commonly produce mild side effects which typically resolve in one to two days including:
Tiredness
Soreness and mild swelling at the site of injection
If these symptoms persist beyond a few days or are causing your dog significant discomfort, you should contact your veterinarian.
Rarely, a leptospirosis vaccine may cause more serious side effects due to an allergic reaction, also known as a vaccine reaction. Symptoms of a leptospirosis vaccine reaction include:
Vomiting
Diarrhea
Facial swelling
Hives
Difficulty breathing
Collapse
Injection site swelling
Several of my friends have decided against the vaccine for their small dogs. One of my friend’s dogs has severe facial swelling for several days after being administered the vaccine. To say the least, it has been a struggle for me to decide whether to get the vaccine for Rosa. As of now, I have decided to go ahead with it, since several of the variables mentioned above do apply to the area where we live. I will report back to let you know if Rosa experiences any of the more serious side affects (which I hope she does not)!
