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.