Leptospirosis 

Leptospirosis is a disease caused by Leptospira bacteria, found worldwide in soil and water. This zoonotic disease can affect both animals and humans, though human cases in the United States typically result from water activities rather than contact with infected pets. However, transmission from pets is possible, though rare.

Risk Factors for Dogs
Dogs may be at higher risk if they:

• Drink from or have exposure to rivers, lakes, or streams

• Roam rural areas with potential exposure to infected wildlife or farm animals

• Have contact with wild animals or rodents, even in urban settings

  Leptospirosis is more prevalent in warm, rainy regions but can occur anywhere.

Leptospirosis Vaccine Considerations
The World Small Animal Veterinary Association (WSAVA) notes:

• The leptospirosis vaccine offers only short-term immunity (3-12 months).

• Vaccine effectiveness varies by strain, offering limited protection against certain strains.

• This vaccine is linked to more adverse reactions than other dog vaccines.

Efficacy and Immunity
The vaccine provides limited immunity, often lasting only a few months, with minimal long-term memory. While it may reduce disease symptoms, it may not fully prevent infection or bacterial shedding, especially after six months. If the prevalent strain in your area differs from the vaccine strain, the vaccine’s protection will be minimal.

Human Vaccine for Leptospirosis
Currently, no vaccine exists for humans. The Lancet (2003) highlights challenges in human vaccine development:

• Killed bacterial vaccines have severe side effects.

• Protection tends to be short-term and may be incomplete.

• Regional variations in Leptospira strains complicate universal vaccine effectiveness.

• Risks of autoimmune reactions, such as uveitis, are significant.

Given the high rate of side effects and limited efficacy in both animals and humans, it's worth questioning the routine vaccination of dogs for leptospirosis.

Lyme Disease

Lyme disease, caused by Borrelia burgdorferi bacteria, is transmitted to animals and humans through the bite of infected deer ticks (also known as black-legged ticks). Although Lyme disease can affect dogs, horses, and possibly cats, most dogs that test positive do not show symptoms. When symptoms do occur, they often include lameness, swollen lymph nodes, joint swelling, fatigue, and appetite loss.

Considerations for the Lyme Vaccine in Dogs

The Lyme vaccine is generally not recommended for dogs due to limited and inconsistent efficacy. Unlike core vaccines that prevent severe, life-threatening diseases, the Lyme vaccine does not consistently prevent infection or symptoms in all dogs, and it requires frequent boosters to maintain limited immunity.

Alternative Prevention Strategies

Effective management of Lyme disease risk can often be achieved with consistent tick prevention measures:

• Use natural tick repellents and conduct daily tick checks.

• Keep outdoor spaces free of tall grasses where ticks thrive.

• Promptly remove ticks to prevent transmission.

For dogs in Lyme-endemic areas, a combination of regular prevention and prompt tick removal is often more effective and avoids the potential side effects associated with the Lyme vaccine.

Bordetella Bronchiseptica
(Kennel Cough)

Kennel cough, or canine infectious tracheobronchitis, is a highly contagious respiratory illness that spreads easily in environments where dogs gather, like boarding facilities, dog parks, and daycare centers. It is transmitted through airborne droplets, direct contact, and shared items (e.g., food bowls). Most cases are mild and treatable, but puppies, immunocompromised dogs, and those in poor living conditions may be at risk for more severe illness, such as pneumonia.

Symptoms of Kennel Cough

• Persistent, honking cough

• Nasal discharge

• Lethargy

• Decreased appetite

• Fever

Treatment
Most adult dogs recover without medication, as kennel cough often resolves on its own. Antibiotics can be effective for young or vulnerable dogs if treated early. Severe cases are rare and typically occur in puppies or immunocompromised dogs.

Bordetella Vaccine Considerations
The World Small Animal Veterinary Association (WSAVA) notes that the kennel cough complex includes multiple pathogens, and vaccination may not prevent infection completely, as kennel cough affects the localized respiratory tract. The intranasal Bordetella vaccine, often combined with parainfluenza, is commonly used but can cause mild, temporary side effects like coughing and nasal discharge. In rare cases, it has been linked to outbreaks in kennels.

Alternatives
If your dog's risk for kennel cough is low and your groomer, boarding facility, or veterinarian requires the Bordetella vaccine, consider discussing alternative options or a waiver if appropriate for your dog’s lifestyle and health status.

Parvo

• Parvovirus is a highly contagious virus that mostly affects young, unvaccinated dogs.

• It causes severe diarrhea, vomiting, abdominal pain, and anorexia. The symptoms are severe and often lead to death.

• Infected puppies often require long hospital stays in order to recover fully.

• Parvo lives well in the environment, both indoors and outside. It can survive indoors and outdoors for months to years, especially in dark, moist environments.

Distemper

• Canine distemper is a contagious and serious disease caused by a virus that affects the respiratory, gastrointestinal, and sometimes even the nervous systems of puppies and dogs.

• Symptoms often start with the respiratory system which includes nasal and ocular discharge, coughing, and eventually difficulty breathing due to pneumonia. Symptoms then may progress to the gastrointestinal and neurological systems.

• The virus can also be found in wildlife such as foxes, wolves, coyotes, raccoons, skunks, mink, and ferrets and has been reported in lions, tigers, leopards, and other wild cats as well as seals.

Rabies

• Transmission-The virus does not survive outside of the infected host very long, so direct contact with fresh secretions is required for transmission.

• This infection has nearly 100% mortality, therefore, preventing it in pets becomes crucial to preventing it in people.

• State law governs the frequency required for this vaccine.

• Some states allow for medical exemptions from rabies vaccines for pets who are ill or have had a prior adverse reaction.

• Rabies vaccinations should never be given at the same time as another vaccine. They should be given alone, separated from all other vaccinations by at least three weeks.

•  Since rabies is the only vaccine required by law, it should be the only repetitive vaccine you give your dog.