Leptospirosis killed my dog - Page 1

I recently lost my beautiful 4year old German shepherd rico to leptospirosis he was in the prime of his life and such a big strong loyal dog and my best friend 
I just need to know has anyone else came across this disease or know anyone who has lost a dog to it
Its the worse thing in the world losing a dog at any age never mind 4 years old I should of had another 10 years of his time and love but that was not to be 
so I'm just asking if anyone has experience with it and would share them with me thank you 

Oh so sorry for your loss!  I thought that lepto was almost a thing of the past?  Most vets don't even vaccinate for it anymore, that I know of.

Lepto is far far from a "thing of the past".  It is still there and in parts of the country a major health problem.  Let me tell you my story of Lepto.  In July of 2010 I sold an 8 week old Malinois puppy to a gentleman from the Detroit, MI area.  The puppy had been wormed an appropriate number of times (4, 6 & 8 weeks) and vaccinated with the Fort Dodge Puppy Shot not containing Lepto (I do not give Lepto in the first shot.  The information the purchaser was given told him whne the next shot was due and what shots I reccomend.  Over the next few weeks the puppy did well, I never thought to question him on did the puppy get it's second vaccination as he was a responsible owner with good references.  About 5 weeks down the road he called screaming at me that his puppy was sick and what did I plan to do about it.  After he calmed down he told me that the vet told him his puppy has kidney problems - probably genetic (?) I told him I would need much more information from the vet before I would comment.  We talked back and forth during the next week and sadly the puppy passed away before and definitive diagnosis was made.  The puppy was sent for a necropsy at MSU and the day before he got the results an article appeared in his local newspaper about a massive outbreak of Lepto in pets.  Yes his puppy died from Lepto.  It was determined that due to major renovation work many run down and abandoned buildings were being torn down displacing the residents therin - the rats!!  Yep rats carry Lepto big time and when they run through a yard a urinate the Lepto is there waiting for some unsuspecting dog to come along.  Leptospirosis is transmitted by the urine of an infected animal and is contagious as long as it is still moist. Although rats, mice, and moles are important primary hosts, a wide range of other mammals including dogs, deer, rabbits, hedgehogs, cows, sheep, raccoons, opossums, skunks, and certain marine mammals are able to carry and transmit the disease as secondary hosts. Dogs may lick the urine of an infected animal off the grass or soil or drink from an infected puddle.

It is also very important to state this is a disease which is transmissable to humans.  We now vaccinate all of the dogs for Lepto.

It's not a thing of the past that I know of. Every clinic around us vaccinates for lepto every year. I've seen a few cases around here. I'm sorry for your loss.

It's around and treatable w/Doxy. The vaccine is not too effective which is why many/most vets don't use it. It covers 2 strains, typically, and there are many many strains of Lepto. It also has one of the highest reaction rates to the vaccine, making it undesirable in most cases. 

our Vet never asked us they just administered the vaccine

Well that's good to know then, Several years back all the vets in my area, (Ky) were recommending not to give the lepto shots, so I guess I've learned a lesson here. I've always given my puppies the Duramune Max 5 puppy shots per my vets recommendations.  May have to revise things now. Thanks for the info.

CMills, there are known reactions, especially in puppies or small dogs to the lepto vaccine. But not as common with larger breeds. And I agree it's not 100% effective, but really none of them are. I've seen a pup get a full round of parvo shots, and still got parvo. I'd rather be safe then sorry.

Jenni the current Lepto vaccines available now cover 4 strains and have been quite effective.  While Lepto may be treatable it is usually to late to treat by the time it is diagnosed.

Judy P -  which ones do you recommend?