Core vs Non-Core Vaccines - Page 1

Good article http://www.dogsnaturallymagazine.com/non-core-vaccines-for-dogs/?utm_campaign=shareaholic&utm_medium=facebook&utm_source=socialnetwork

BTW My area just had a serious outbreak of lepto - all traced to dog park dogs - yet again another excellent reason never to frequent dog parks. Just think about the level of contamination that can go on not just w/ viruses but also coccidia and giarda etc.

Dogs at the dog parks are likely getting the vaccine strains of Lepto from vaccinated dogs. Many of the wild types of Lepto found in wild animals are not controlled by the Lepto vaccines. Veterinarians are giving Lepto vaccines that they should know are at most 50% effective against the wild Lepto strains with some Lepto strains being completely unaffected by the current Lepto vaccinations. CDC link below.  They don't mention that recently vaccinated dogs can shed the Lepto strain with which they are vaccinated.

http://www.cdc.gov/leptospirosis/pets/prevention/index.html

But they do here ....  Read before you vaccinate for Lepto

http://www.dogsnaturallymagazine.com/read-this-before-you-vaccinate-for-lepto/

"Get your pet vaccinated against leptospirosis. The vaccine does not provide 100% protection. This is because there are many strains (types) of leptospires (the bacteria that causes Leptospirosis), and the vaccine does not provide immunity against all strains. It is important to get your pet vaccinated again even if it gets leptospirosis because it can still get infected with a different strain of leptospires.

Pet owners should also take steps to prevent themselves and others from becoming infected with the disease due to an infected pet. The primary mode of transmission of leptospirosis from pets to humans is through direct or indirect contact with contaminated animal tissues, organs, or urine.

In some instances, shedding of leptospires in the urine may persist for as long as 3 months after infection as a result of inadequate or lack of treatment. Always contact your veterinarian and your physician if you have concerns about a possible exposure to an infected animal."

My area has not been known for any lepto outbreaks, so I have not ever had any of my dogs vaccinated for lepto in the 5 years that I've been in dogs. I do vaccinate for parvo, distemper, hepatitis and adenovirus, because all of these have had cases turn up at least once in the past 7 years and those are the vaccines that I have deemed necessary for my dogs. My puppies all get 3 rounds of the vaccines as a puppy and then again get boostered for them at a year and after that I do titer tests to see if they have adequate immunity against those diseases and if they do, which they always have using my program, then I don't revaccinate that year. I also only do the 3 year rabies vaccine, as that is still acceptable by law here in my state and I feel that it's not over vaccinating as bad.