Canine Leptospirosis

LEPTO IN DOGS is greatly over hyped. The disease is actually quite rare and, since it is a bacterial infection, it can be treated with antibiiotics. As with almost all vaccines, Lepto is recommended as an annual shot by the majority of veterinarians. This isn’t a good idea.

The vaccine is considered immunosuppressive and thus the side effects from the vaccination are considered more dangerous than the disease. On top of the vaccine being more dangerous than the disease, there are numerous strains of the disease organism and most vaccines contain the wrong ones. Thus most vaccines end up protecting against strains of the infection the dog is unlikely to encounter. Most research facilities and universities simply do NOT recommend vaccinating dogs for Lepto. Don’t waste your money even if your dog is a hunting dog. It’s safer not to vaccinate and a lot less expensive.