Lepto Vaccine & Vet

• 12-19-2007 6:27 PM

  brandy76 Joined on 04-06-2007 Bergen County, NJ Posts 228 Points 5

  Lepto Vaccine & Vet Reply Contact Just came back from the vet with my 6mo old puppy (11lbs).  The vet recommended I give her the lepto vaccine, but I heard so much negative stuff about it, especially in small dogs, that I told him I don't want it.  He looked at me so shocked & upset & went into the whole explanation about the disease.  Once I said no he just said okay & huffed off. The exam was over at this point but I was shocked at how rude he was that I didn't want it.  I didn't go into details to him why I don't want it, because he wouldn't want to hear it.  I tried that at a diff appt.   I live in Northern NJ in an apt. complex.  I do see possums at night.  I'm just curious to know why the holisitc vets I spoke to on the phone said they wouldn't give it, but a reg. vet is adamant about giving it? (i wanted to go with the holistic but he was too far with bad hours)  Your thoughts.

  Post Points: 0

• 12-19-2007 6:47 PM

  In reply to brandy76

  calliecritturs Joined on 09-10-2007 Central Florida Posts 7,640 Points 2,075

  Re: Lepto Vaccine & Vet Reply Contact It pretty much depends on your area -- lepto in some areas is unheard of ... in other areas it can be a problem.  However, it is - of all vaccines - the most often associated with bad side effects.  You won't want a holistic vet for *everything* - usually you need both, to be honest.  ask around -- don't just go to a vet because it's close, or because they've got a nice building or .... small reasons.  talk to them -- find out what they think about vaccines generally and such stuff.

  Post Points: 0

• 12-19-2007 6:57 PM

  In reply to brandy76

  samshine Joined on 09-10-2007 Denver, CO, USA Posts 408 Points 0	Re: Lepto Vaccine & Vet Reply Contact Good for you for sticking to your guns! It can be intimidating to go against what the vet says. Was this a vet associated with a national chain by any chance?
  	Post Points: 0

• 12-19-2007 7:00 PM

  In reply to samshine

  brandy76 Joined on 04-06-2007 Bergen County, NJ Posts 228 Points 5	Re: Lepto Vaccine & Vet Reply Contact no this vet isn't part of a chain, just a neighborhood animal hospital.  I had interviewed them before I got my puppy & their prices were reasonable & their hours were great 4 my schedule.   They didn't go overboard with her puppy shots, just distemper & parvo so i thought they would understand if i didn't want lepto.
  	Post Points: 0

• 12-19-2007 8:42 PM

  In reply to brandy76

  terrierlover Joined on 09-10-2007 Posts 638 Points 0

  Re: Lepto Vaccine & Vet Reply Contact brandy76: He looked at me so shocked & upset & went into the whole explanation about the disease.  Once I said no he just said okay & huffed off. The exam was over at this point but I was shocked at how rude he was that I didn't want it. I would have looked at him and said " Do you get a kick back bonus for this vac"? By the way he was acting I wouldn't have liked that one bit and he was acting like some how by giving your dog this vac he was going to get something in return. Good GRIEF.... I use to be all for these vac's cause of how my vet scared me into thinking my dogs need them. A year ago I got the Lyme/Lepto vac done on Louie. I always did them seperate from the dogs regular vac's cause I feel its way to much on their systems. Anyway... Louie got deathly ill and went into a toxic shock and severe pain from one of the two vac's... They had to detox him and I had to leave him at the vets for the entire day. It was HORRID to see him so sick. I NEVER EVER did either of those vac's on my dogs ever again. And for a PUPPY I think that is way to much to put on something so small and I mean really do you hike? Does your puppy drink from a near by stream or pond?

  Post Points: 0

• 12-19-2007 9:37 PM

  In reply to brandy76

  janet_rose Joined on 09-10-2007 DFW area, Texas Posts 3,781 Points 330

  Re: Lepto Vaccine & Vet Reply Contact brandy76: The vet recommended I give her the lepto vaccine, but I heard so much negative stuff about it, especially in small dogs, that I told him I don't want it.  He looked at me so shocked & upset & went into the whole explanation about the disease.  Once I said no he just said okay & huffed off. The exam was over at this point but I was shocked at how rude he was that I didn't want it. Some people get so wrapped up in their professions that questioning a professional opinion is taken very personally.  Lepto is a serious illness, but reactions to the vaccine are common. You certainly have reason to be concerned about the vaccine: Because of the lack of cross protection between strains, the high incidence of reactions, and the need for frequent vaccination many veterinarians have begun to recommend leptospiral vaccinations only for those dogs at higher risk. 2006 AAHA Canine Vaccination Guidelines For the General Veterinary Practice Annual boosters are not routinely recommended for all dogs.  Vaccinations should be restricted to use in areas where a reasonable risk of exposure is established.  Vets are advised of anecdotal reports of acute anaphylaxis in toy breeds following adminstration of leptospirosis vaccines.  Routine vaccination of toy breeds should only be considered in dogs with known high risks.  Dogs at high risk should be vaccinated at 12 and 16 weeks of age.and then at intervals of 6-9 months until the risk is reduced. Disease prevalence is likely to vary for each serovar.  Vaccine recommendations are therefore difficult to make die to lack of information on prevalence of specific serovar infections in dogs in various geographic regions.  Anecdotal reports from vets and breeders suggest that incidence of post vaccination reactions (acute anaphylaxis) in puppies (<12 wks of age ) and small breed dogs is high.  Reactions are most severe in young puppies.  Therefore, routine use of the vaccine should be delayed until dogs are 12 wks of age.

  Filed under: Lepto vaccine Post Points: 0

• 12-19-2007 11:26 PM

  In reply to janet_rose

  erica1989 Joined on 02-21-2007 Clearwater, Florida Posts 2,913 Points 260	Re: Lepto Vaccine & Vet Reply Contact We do not vaccinate puppies with lepto, nor do we typically do it for small dogs either. It depends on your vet, and you area. All the bigger dogs get their shots w/lepto. But that's just how we do it - not true for everyone. Good for you for sticking with your gut!
  	Post Points: 0

• 12-20-2007 9:24 AM

  In reply to brandy76

  LillianD Joined on 08-02-2007 Posts 288 Points 0

  Re: Lepto Vaccine & Vet Reply Contact Good for you!   My vet has done the same thing to me regarding the Lyme vaccine.  I will probably end up getting that this spring, but last year while she was in the midst of getting all her puppy shots I didn't feel comfortable adding another one on.  My vet was pretty shocked that I wasn't getting it right than and there.  It's the same with kids though, my pediatrician will flip if I say I don't want a certain vaccine or want to delay it, so I am prepared to do what I think is right regardless of what the vet thinks.  I don't really understand why so many vets absolutely push vaccines, I have read somewhere that most of the vets' profit is from vaccines, they cost pennies for them to buy and than they charge a lot for them.

  Post Points: 0

• 12-20-2007 9:34 AM

  In reply to LillianD

  Jewlieee Joined on 03-23-2007 MI Posts 5,907 Points 4,235	Re: Lepto Vaccine & Vet Reply Contact Should have asked him how common it was for your dog to come in contact with the disease in your area. You can always google search for your area as well.
  	Post Points: 0

• 12-20-2007 9:38 AM

  In reply to Jewlieee

  Maxs Mom Joined on 09-26-2006 Livonia, MI Posts 1,635 Points 100

  Re: Lepto Vaccine & Vet Reply Contact Our vet explained the lepto vaccine, pros and cons, what it is supposed to guard against, how the animal can get it and let us make the decision. Our area has the ingredients for lepto so we went ahead and vacinated no problem. No vet should PRESSURE you into any decision.   Ann & Art Maxine CGC, UADNJIII, DDNJ-r (11 yr old Golden) Belle NJP, NAJ, OJP, OAP, CGC, UAGI, UADSJ, UADJJ (5 Black Lab) Teddi UADJJ, UJJ, CGC (2 yr old Golden) Pete 14 yr old TB

  Post Points: 0

• 12-20-2007 1:25 PM

  In reply to Maxs Mom

  mudpuppy Joined on 09-10-2007 Posts 5,621 Points 100

  Re: Lepto Vaccine & Vet Reply Contact lepto is pretty nasty- and your dog can catch it simply by wading through an infected puddle on the sidewalk, and then transmit the disease to you. The odds of your dog having a reaction to the vaccine is much lower than the odds of your dog catching this nasty disease. I would do the full puppy series of shots and the first year annual booster and then just give rabies as required by law.  Why is your dog getting shots at age six months anyway? should be finished with the puppy series by now.

  Post Points: 0

• 12-20-2007 1:36 PM

  In reply to mudpuppy

  samshine Joined on 09-10-2007 Denver, CO, USA Posts 408 Points 0

  Re: Lepto Vaccine & Vet Reply Contact mudpuppy: The odds of your dog having a reaction to the vaccine is much lower than the odds of your dog catching this nasty disease. That depends entirely on where you live. In large parts of the country lepto is almost unheard of. In places like that the risk from the vaccine is MUCH greater than the risk of the disease. Every should do some simple checking and see how many cases of the disease happen in their location.

  Post Points: 0

• 12-20-2007 2:20 PM

  In reply to samshine

  mrv Joined on 09-10-2007 west central OH Posts 2,700 Points 745	Re: Lepto Vaccine & Vet Reply Contact Lepto has many forms.  One issue to consider when evaluating risk, do you live in a housing area that has recently been farm land, especially pasture for cattle?  Much higher risk than typical housing developments that are long standing or in town.
  	Post Points: 0

• 12-20-2007 5:22 PM

  In reply to mudpuppy

  janet_rose Joined on 09-10-2007 DFW area, Texas Posts 3,781 Points 330

  Re: Lepto Vaccine & Vet Reply Contact mudpuppy: lepto is pretty nasty- and your dog can catch it simply by wading through an infected puddle on the sidewalk, and then transmit the disease to you. The odds of your dog having a reaction to the vaccine is much lower than the odds of your dog catching this nasty disease. I would do the full puppy series of shots and the first year annual booster and then just give rabies as required by law.  Lepto requires shots every 6-9 months to maintain immunity.  If one doesn't plan to do that, why give the puppy shots?

  Filed under: Lepto vaccine Post Points: 0

• 12-20-2007 7:22 PM

  In reply to mudpuppy

  brandy76 Joined on 04-06-2007 Bergen County, NJ Posts 228 Points 5

  Re: Lepto Vaccine & Vet Reply Contact mudpuppy: lepto is pretty nasty- and your dog can catch it simply by wading through an infected puddle on the sidewalk, and then transmit the disease to you. The odds of your dog having a reaction to the vaccine is much lower than the odds of your dog catching this nasty disease. I would do the full puppy series of shots and the first year annual booster and then just give rabies as required by law.  Why is your dog getting shots at age six months anyway? should be finished with the puppy series by now. She finished her series at 16weeks, we were there for a re-fill on her heartworm meds so she had to come in to be weight to get the new pills.  My apt. complex is not near any farmland as it's a very populated surbabn city 15minutes from New York City.  I don't go hiking, but as I said in my prev post I do see possums at night & the vet did say she can get it from a puddle.  The vet mentioned one outbreak of a dog in my area who only went in his backyard and he got it.   But if this has happened in my area, i'm just curious to know why the holistic vets in this area don't recommend it.

  Post Points: 0