I have a 10 lb chi cross. He got his shots today and the vet recommended he get the lepro one also.
does anyone here give this to their dog?
I should add, he goes outside on a leash with me in the yard and sometimes I do take him to the dog park at a time when there is very few to no little dogs in the small dog paddock.
thanks!
Absolutely.
Guess it depends on where you live & how prevalent the virus is around you.
To me the cons far outweigh the pros so I don’t vacc. for Lepto.
What MP said… I get lepto for my dog as we had a pretty bad outbreak of it locally a few years ago.
Always. I would never let my dogs go without it.
I think it depends on where you live and the prevalence of Lepto. I’m not a veterinarian…
It’s not one of the more effective vaccines and many veterinarians in my area don’t recommend it unless your dog is at high risk of exposure. Kind of like doing the PHF vaccine in horses. If your dog has been vaccinated and contracts lepto, he/she may have less severe symptoms than an unvaccinated dog.
Personally, I vaccinate for it.
I do not, but my area is extremely low risk for lepto, especially since we don’t visit wild areas, hunt ducks or water ski with our dogs.
Interestingly, though, while I do not know of any pets who contracted leptospirosis, I did know a man who died from contracting the disease after swimming in a water hole in Hawaii. He was very sick for a long time, poor fellow.
My golden retriever is allergic to the vaccine (face swells up like he got stung by a bee), but my other two dogs get it. The golden has always been fine without it, but the country-dog lifestyle they live puts them at a higher risk for it, so I wouldn’t go without it.
If you’re in Florida. Most definitely yes this state has seen a dramatic increase in the disease recently.
we live in MA.
I didn’t get the vaccine because my little guy was getting 4 others today.
I’ll have to think about it. I know I have seen a wild bunny or two and can smell when a skunk has strolled thru my yard! 
I live in the urban core of St. Louis, and my vet said he had started recommending it again because we have had an increase in the number of opossums and raccoons in the City, and the number of cases has been on the rise. He said it was an especially good idea for my two because they go to the farm with me where my horse is boarded.
Absolutely for my area. My vet recommended it: apparently there is a bustling sewer rat population in Portland OR that carry/have Lepto. My dog came from Wyoming where it was not a problem The vaccination really set him back for a day or so (he is a 10 month old puppy).
The one thing I would strongly suggest is if you do decide to vac your pet for Lepto, give it on a day separately from any other vac or deworming. It’s not a “nice” vac. & many dogs have adverse reactions to it.
My local vet always administer Benadryl along with it for those that insist on doing the Lepto vac.
I would get it, simply because its often fatal if they contract it.
Definitely give it on a separate day of vaccines, and pre-treat 20 minutes prior with Benadryl (they should do this at the clinic).
I have seen far to many “city dogs” die from Lepto, not because it couldn’t be treated, but because it can be VERY costly to support them through the symptoms of the disease (and some can die of kidney and liver failure).
Its up to you, there are risks to the vaccine and it may be a good idea to discuss with your vet the costs.mortality rates of contracted lepto vs. vaccine reactions.
From my days in GP clinics, I had seen about 2500 lepto vaccines given, no pets died and maybe 5% had mild reactions requiring an additional dose of Benadryl.
Lepto in most cases should be given every 6 months.
I always do but I spread out my vaccines. I am in a low risk area but better safe than sorry.
I was on the fence about it because my dog had a reaction to her vaccines last year and we think it was the lepto(face swelled up). After doing some reading about it, I decided to give it to her. She is constantly with me at the barn and goes trail riding frequently with me. What we did this year is to spread her vaccines out over several sessions and premedicate with steroids.
it sounds more like it was a good thing I postponed it. I am going to call the Animal Control Officer of my Town, who I know, to see what she thinks of it.
Part of the reason I am asking about this, is the vet didn’t look me in the eye when saying it has been recommended that it be given. also, given the fact that I question the cost of going there, this makes me wonder. I feel they could be in it for the “money”, but it is difficult to tell.
4 shots, blood taken for heart worm and an exam - $200 later. seems high.
I get my dogs lepto every single year - SW Ohio here. However, they often go to the farm with me and we hike off leash on the horse trails. They also swim and drink from the various creeks that run through.
I have never given this…and most likely will not. Not prevalent in my area.
[QUOTE=HannahsMom7;7542019]
4 shots, blood taken for heart worm and an exam - $200 later. seems high.[/QUOTE]
Given the extent of what was done, and your location, $200 seems about par (knowing what SIL has paid south of Boston)
As for the vaccine, it’s use is becoming more common. In part (as Squish mentioned) when dogs get sick, they get really sick and treatment is costly. I don’t think we know true incidence of the disease as many dogs who get it, may not get tested. Knowing for certain that you’re dealing with leptospirosis doesn’t really change the treatment plan and with treatment being costly, the definitive testing is often not done.
After years of not giving it to my own dogs, I am going back to including it for them. I’ve also recently decided to give influenza as well due to lifestyle
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