Leptospirosis Update
Leptospirosis has been prominent recently in the news due to its relationship to some of the sea lion deaths at our coast. Leptospirosis is a bacterial disease of worldwide significance that infects both animals and humans. In the city, it can be spread by the wild critters we find wandering through our gardens, including rats, possums, raccoons, and squirrels. The bacteria are spread through the urine of infected animals, which can get into water or soil and survive for weeks to months. Prevention includes controlling rodents (often attracted by bird and chicken feeders), avoiding contact with wild animals, and vaccination of your dog.
We strongly recommend Leptospirosis vaccinations for dogs, due to the prevalence of the disease in wild animals in our area. The vaccine we offer protects against four serovars (strains) of the disease and is significantly less likely to cause a reaction than previous forms of the vaccine.
We have provided links to a question and answer fact sheet from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and to the article on sea lions deaths at the coast printed by the Oregonian.
Please call our office to schedule your dog for this important vaccination, or to answer any further questions.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Fact Sheet
Sea Lion Deaths on Oregon Coast by Oregonian