vaccines - Page 1

Just wondering would you vaccinate 4 year old for Lepto. I have given it in the past but now I am debating about giving it again, he is due for it now.

NO

NO!

Lots of problems reported with the latest Lepto vaccines, anecdotally at least. I think you should A) get the dog titre tested and see what his actual level of immunity is, without an additional injection; and B) find out whether there is a high or low risk in your immediate area, where the dog spends most time, before taking a final decision.

The problem with the disease is that it comes in variants and vaccination immunity does not last so long as those for other things, so its definitely a matter that needs careful weighing-up.

All six of my dogs are vaccinated for lepto. No problems whatsoever. The rumors regarding this vaccine are, as usual, overblown and stupid. The hysteria came from a SLIGHTLY higher rate of OWNER REPORTED vaccine reaction (so, not verified or even real) compared to owner reported vaccine reaction from the rabies vaccine (again, not verified by science or necessarily actually vaccine reactions).

Your odds of any sort of bad reaction to the lepto vaccine or rabies vaccine are basically and statistically zero, but the odds of your dog dying from lepto if they catch it are very high indeed.

Just vaccinate your dog and stop reading things like "Dogs Naturally" or Mercola or Jean Dodds or "Dr" Becker or any of those alarmist quacks.

@hundmutter, re: "get the dog titre tested and see what his actual level of immunity is, without an additional injection"

There is no way of doing this in any meaningful way at all. There is no proven "level" of immunity that can be tested with a titer. It's just a guess. Whereas vaccination is safe and covers all the bases, and is cheaper to boot. Just vaccinate.

Jill I'm sure I have read that even with Lepto you can get a fair idea from your dog's blood whether s/he has antibody levels that are likely sufficient, or not, to fight off at least the strain of leptospirosis that is most prevalent in your neighbourhood (I realise nothing is guaranteed) - bit like flu vaccines with humans. But maybe not; will do some further reading. I did think my post was a little more rational than the flat, unexplained 'No's the OP was otherwise receiving.

isn't better if dog with weak immune system rather be dead than pass that flaw to multiple of own offspring?

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5445508/

https://www.aaha.org/guidelines/canine_vaccination_guidelines/vaccine_adverse_reactions.aspx

https://www.aaha.org/guidelines/canine_vaccination_guidelines/antibody_testing.aspx

https://www.aaha.org/guidelines/canine_vaccination_guidelines/practice_vaccination.aspx

https://www.aaha.org/guidelines/canine_vaccination_guidelines/faq_antibody_testing.aspx

A little reading might be some help. If it were my dog I'd revaccinate if there was a high risk of exposure in my area and the dog hadn't shown any adverse reaction previously. If the exposure risk was low, I'd skip it.

 

 

I'd see if you are in a high risk area or if your dog frequently may come into contact with wild animals. Then weigh the benefits/risks. I'm really careful with vaccines, but also live on a farm where my dog comes into contact with all kinds of potentially dangerous things so she gets most of the recommended vaccines. But I do not use vaccines with Thimerosol (mercury based preservative) if possible and do not get multiple vaccines done at one time.

I've heard too many mixed reviews from reliable sources on tittering so I just vaccinate.