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Leptospirosis Update!
Dear Valued Clients: We want you to be aware of a potentially fatal and contagious disease that can affect your dog and as well as, yourself. This disease is called Leptospirosis (lep-toh-sper-OH-sis). It is caused by a bacterial organism called Leptospira. Leptospirosis was a disease that was only occasionally to rarely seen in the San Antonio area. But in the last few months there has been an increase in cases in the entire San Antonio area. All areas of San Antonio are being affected by this disease. There are have been confirmed cases at Lincoln Heights area, 281/Bitters area, Medical Center area, and right here in our SE San Antonio area. We at 4 Paws Animal Hospital had a confirmed case last month. Because this disease is on the rise, the doctors at 4 Paws Animal Hospital are recommending that you vaccinate your dog against Leptospirosis if you have any of the following environmental situations:
Because you may not be aware possible exposure, we strongly recommend vaccine your pet if any of the above situations occur. Vaccine Protocol: Your pet will need 2 boosters of this vaccine at 3-4 weeks apart. Your pet will need to be vaccinated yearly to prevent disease exposure. Also, if your pet weighs less than 20 pounds, we recommend pre-treating with a Benadryl injection prior to the vaccine, as the smaller pet is more at risk of vaccine reactions.
What if my pet was
recently vaccinated with the Lepto 2 Strain
vaccine? Your pet will still need to be vaccinated with the 4 -way serovar Lepto vaccine, we have the vaccine as a solo vaccine or in combination with the Distempe/Parvo/Hepatitis/Parainfluenza combo vaccine.
How do people and
animals get Leptospirosis? Leptospira bacteria thrive in the spring and autumn when wet soil conditions and moderate temperatures support their survival. The recent summer rains that our area had over the summer months, has created an excellent environment for this bacteria to live. This is the suspected reason why this disease is seeing a recent rise in our area. Rodents are the most common source of these bacteria. Animals that can spread this disease include rats, mice, squirrels, raccoons, deer, livestock, skunks, and opossums. Infection by contact with the infected urine or other body fluids (except saliva), or ingestion of urine-contaminated water or through contact with infected soil are the most common means of transmission. The bacteria can enter through the skin, especially a cut or scratched skin or mucous membranes (eyes, nose, or mouth). Once your dog has been infected, then the chance of the owner becoming infected is greater. Dogs can pass the bacteria between each other through the contaminated urine. Once your dog has been infected the chance that the owner may become infected is much greater (Through exposure with the urine of the pet; not another human.) Symptoms of
Leptospirosis: The symptoms in your dog can vary and can be non-specific. Some pets do not have any symptoms until they are severely ill. Common symptoms include fever, vomiting, abdominal pain, diarrhea, refusal to eat, severe weakness and depression, stiffness, severe muscle pain, change in color of urine (more yellow to orange color, or very colorless urine) or yellow skin or mucous membranes, frequent urination or less urination and dehydration . The time between exposure and the signs of disease can range from 3-30 days. Can the disease be
fatal to my dog or to me? Yes, this disease is potentially fatal to both dogs and people. It can cause infections in the kidney, liver, brain, lungs, and heart. These infections can progress to kidney and/ or liver failure if not diagnosed and treated early after exposure. How is the disease
diagnosed? If you notice any symptoms or if you suspect that your dog has been exposed to any wild animal that could be a potential source of infection, call us for an appointment immediately. A full history and physical exam and diagnostic tests on the urine and blood will be done. The only way to diagnose the disease is to do antibody titers, which is a blood test that goes to the lab and may take 3-7 days for confirmation results. Also, occasionally, the dog may have the disease and not make antibodies initially. In this situation, the test will need to be repeated in a few weeks for confirmation. How is Leptospirosis
treated? This is a treatable disease (if diagnosed early enough) with certain antibiotics for a long period of time (3-6 months. ) If early treatment is initiated, your pet may recover more quickly and organ damage can be less severe. Some patients can be treated at home while others may require intense treatment in the hospital. It is important to note that even after treatment; dogs can continue to shed the bacteria in their urine and can pose an infectious risk to other animals and humans for up to 3 months.
Prevention
Tips *Keep rodents and other wild animals under control in the environment. *Avoid stale, free standing, or puddles of water that may be contaminated with these bacteria. *Practice good sanitation by washing your hands especially when handling items contaminated with your dog’s urine. *Get your dog vaccinated with the current Leptospirosis vaccine that contains 4 types. Remember, your dog will get one vaccination and then a booster in 3-4 weeks, then annually. If you fail to get the booster within 4 weeks, your dog must begin the series again. Are there risks
associated with the vaccination? As with any vaccine, there are always potential adverse allergic reactions that can occur in certain individuals. We feel that the risks of the vaccine reactions outweigh the risks of this disease at this time. Current data shows that a small percentage of dogs may have an adverse vaccine reaction. The new Pfizer brand of Lepto vaccine that we carry is made with a purification process, limiting reactions. There is only 1 other vaccine brand that is out on the market that is a 4 way Lepto vaccine and has been known to be highly reactive. If your pet has been vaccinated before with this other brand of Lepto and had an allergic reaction please let us know : There is a risk to vaccination. At 4 Paws Animal Hospital, we recommend pre-treating any small dog under 20lb with a bendryl injection. The smaller dog is more at risk for vaccine reactions with this type vaccine. As a side note: the majority of confirmed cases that are being seen in this area have been very small dogs under 20 pounds. Are cats affected by
this disease? Even though cats are potentially at risk for Leptospirosis, they appear to have natural resistance to it and therefore are not vaccinated against this disease. We at 4 Paws Animal Hospital want to be pro-active against this disease called Leptospirosis, and will continue to update you on this emerging disease as well as any other potential diseases and problems that our area is faced with. Please strongly consider vaccinating your dog against this potentially fatal disease. If you have any questions, my staff will gladly assist you. Your caring doctors and staff at 4 Paws Animal Hospital
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