Leptospirosis On the Rise

manuel

manuel

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1 cocker
Many areas across the US are reporting outbreaks of Leptospirosis (lepto). I'd take everything you read with a grain of salt. Pharmaceutical companies are sure to profit as a result.

Here is a short description I put together from Merck's:

Incubation 2-12 days

Early Symptoms:
  • Loss of appetite
  • Acts tired
  • Fever
Later Symptoms:
  • Vomiting
  • Acute Kidney Failure in 80-90% of dogs
  • Possible death
Treatment:
  • IV fluids
  • Antibiotics
Prevention:
  • Vaccination

News Stories:

Dangerous Dog Disease On The Rise In Area
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/29266873/

The deadly outdoor dog disease you should know about
http://www.examiner.com/x-3158-Seat...dly-outdoor-dog-disease-you-should-know-about

Deadly dog disease hits Kansas
http://www.ksn.com/news/local/39469867.html
 
and that happens to be on of the vacs we don't give -- because so many cockers have an allergic reaction to it
 
I don't give Lepto . . . Cockers seem to be very sensitive. But I don't think it's very common up here because of the extremely cold winters. Not much survives up here - no fleas, no heartworm. Thank goodness!
 
The last vet I had (that I actually liked) did not give Mendi nor Maxwell the lepto in later years cause she said the pharmaceuticals need to make a region-specific type vaccine and so long as I did not allow my dogs to play in swampy areas they would be fine. Outdated vaccines she said. Now there's an increase in incident rates? Is it cause people don't get these shots anymore maybe? Interesting since I have two for sure elderly ones that I don't want to vaccinate period especially if it's stuff they don't need!
 
Manuel, thanks for this information. Buttons never drinks from the puddles around here but Rags has to stop & gulp from every single one in the woods! I read the article in Seattle,that dog is lucky to be alive.
 
Your replies are more interesting than the news stories. They should have mentioned problems with the vaccine such as reactions and the need for region-specific types. Great input!
 
oh great! i dont give this and Savannah just got boosters yesterday....^_^ well we need to blame farmers. If they Vaccinate we dont have to
 
Jenn said:
oh great! i dont give this and Savannah just got boosters yesterday....^_^ well we need to blame farmers. If they Vaccinate we dont have to
Click to expand...
You're probably right. Wild animals, rats, mice, and cows harbor the disease. It's passed on through infected urine by the way.
 
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