Protect your Pets, Protect your Family: Vaccinate for Lepto
You may have heard the word “Leptospirosis” on the news lately due to the death of sea lions on the Oregon Coast. The disease, however, is actually closer to home. In a survey by Multnomah County, 14% of rats in Northeast Portland tested positive for Leptospirosis. In addition, one of our patients contacted Leptospirosis at home in the backyard and died.
Leptospirosis is a bacterial disease that is carried by rats, livestock, and wildlife. It is contagious to dogs and humans. A third of humans with the disease actually catch it from their dogs. Transmission is usually through contact with animal urine.
Signs you might see at home may include high fever, depression, decreased appetite, vomiting, diarrhea, and bloody urine. If left untreated, this disease leads to liver and kidney failure and even death. Fortunately, Leptospirosis is treatable and responds well to antibiotics.
Vaccination can prevent Leptospirosis. We recommend all dogs over three months of age be vaccinated. The vaccine is given in two doses a month apart. A second booster four weeks later is essential. If you miss this second appointment, you will need to start the series over again. After that, the vaccine is given yearly at the annual exam.
If you’ve already brought your dog to see us earlier this year for the annual exam, we’ll have you make an appointment with one of our Technicians. The cost is $22 per vaccine. Please call us if you have any questions or would like to make an appointment.
OPB News: Sea Lion Deaths Attributed To Bacterial Disease
This article is reprinted courtesy of OPB news, Kristian Fodel-Vensil, Tuesday, November 9, 2010.
Scientists are reporting a sharp increase in the number of dead and sick California sea lions along Oregon’s coast. As Kristian Foden-Vencil reports, necropsies conducted on dozens of animals suggest an increase in the bacterial disease; leptospirosis.
Leptospirosis is a disease found in a variety of animals: from rats to sea lions and dogs. And it can also be transmitted to humans. Jim Rice of the Oregon Marine Mammal Stranding Network, says that’s why he issued a warning. On Sunday alone he says, he received reports of 10 dead animals. Jim Rice: “That’s much higher than any numbers we’ve seen previously. Even with Leptospirosis outbreaks in the past, it just seems we’re getting a sudden increase in the numbers that are showing up right now.”
Rice doesn’t know why there’s a spike in deaths. But he says, Leptospirosis has been around for years, it’s just that in some years there are more casualties than in others. Sick sea lions he says, can live on the beach for several days before passing away — or getting better. The state doesn’t have a program for disposing of their carcasses. But state parks will sometimes bury a dead animal. If not, says Rice, it’s left for nature to take its course. Jim Rice: “Basically you’d have to survey the beaches on a daily basis to find every carcass that’s out there and then hire someone to go ahead and remove it or bury or it on site. Those resources have not been put in place previously and I don’t see that changing overnight.”
And as anyone who’s ever owned a dog can tell you, a dead animal like a sea lion is an attractive lure for Fido. But experts caution that the sea lions can pass on the disease to dogs and other animals through their waste. Jim Rice: “The transmission is through direct contact with the animal’s urine. Or with sand that’s been soiled by the animal. So it’s not something that you get by breathing close to the animal or by just being on the beach necessary. You would have to have direct contact with where the animal is or had recently been.” Rice is advising coastal visitors to avoid sea lions and keep their dogs on a leash.
In humans, the disease can be successfully treated with antibiotics. And dogs can be vaccinated against it. State veterinarian, Doctor Emilio DeBess, says people should be cautious, but not unduly worried about the bacteria. Emilio DeBess: “The organism really does not survive very well anywhere, other than standing water. You know, it’s got to be a fairly wet environment and just a dog licking your face does not constitute an exposure.” The Centers for Disease Control say there are between 50 and 100 human cases of leptospirosis in the U.S. every year. A third of those were traced to contact with infected dogs. Another third are believed to have resulted from contact with infected rats.
Last year, the Oregon Marine Mammal Stranding Network reported 350 sea lion strandings, for a variety of reasons, including disease. This year, the state is on pace to significantly surpass that total.
© 2010 OPB
