Does My Dog Need the Lepto Vaccine?
What Is Leptospirosis
Lepto
Leptospirosis is a bacterial infection that affects people and animals. It can pass from animals to humans when an unhealed break in the skin comes in contact with water or soil where animal urine is present.
Do Your Research Before Consenting To Lepto
The current vaccine only protects against certain types of the multiple different variations of Leptospira bacteria that cause leptospirosis.
The vaccine is approx 80% effective. It does not cover all strains of bacteria that can cause lepto, and it may lose efficacy before the end of the 12 month period.
Lepto vaccine has some serious possible side effects that include: Lameness, anaphylaxis, kidney failure, cancer, death.
Lepto can be contracted by humans, but the vaccine is considered unsafe for humans due to the side effects and increased risk of auto-immune diseases.
Most commonly, dogs acquire the disease by closely sniffing or walking through urine-contaminated water, soil, or food. Active infections in dogs can vary from mild to severe. Severe cases could cause acute liver or kidney failure, severe anemia, or even death.
The general incubation time – before clinical disease is apparent – is between 2 and 14 days.
Cats are not likely to contract lepto, but they can still shed the bacteria to pets and humans.
However, having your dog vaccinated does decrease their risk of becoming sick with leptospirosis.
Does My Dog Need The Leptospirosis Vaccine
Technically, it can be considered optional. Only you can evaluate whether your dog is environmentally exposed to this risk. What we do know is the illness, if contracted, it very treatable if caught early. Many of you will be concerned about knowing if you catch it early or not. If you are a dog mama hawk like me, you know your dog and you'll know if your dog is not acting well.
What we also know is if our dogs have strong healthy immune systems and we continue to support immunity, anti-bacterial essential oils, as well as minimize our risk of exposure - this vaccine may be optional to most.
If you decide to give the lepto vaccines, do NOT adminster it with any other vaccines. Separate any vaccines by at least 2 weeks. And follow all vaccines with a good detox protocol. See our guides and protocols for more info — or join me in the members community!
With my own dogs, I do several immunity-boosting protocols each year, as well as what we'll call cleanse and detox work aimed at keeping them as healthy as possible. I do the same for me