Clayton Animal Hospital Leptospirosis

Leptospirosis is a bacterial disease
that is carried by common wildlife and
rodents. This disease causes high
fever, jaundice, vomiting, and in
severe cases, fatal liver and kidney
damage. Current vaccines against
canine leptospirosis have been
available for many years and offer
protection against two different strains
of the disease. However recent
research has shown that other strains
of leptospirosis have emerged and are
on the rise. Because leptospiral
vaccines are strain-specific, older
vaccines are not able to protect
against these newer strains.

Fortunately, a new vaccine has been
introduced that offers dogs the
protection against the older strains of
leptospirosis and two additional
strains. L. grippotyphosa and L.
Pomona. We are now using this
vaccine at Clayton Animal Hospital to
protect your dog from this re-emerging
disease. Canine leptospirosis is a
dangerous threat to dogs, and we are
now recommending this new vaccine
for our canine patients.

This vaccine is given in a two-dose
series. Your dog will receive an initial
dose of vaccine followed by a booster
given three weeks after the first. After
this initial series, the vaccine will be
given as part of your dog's
semi-annual vaccinations.