Hello XXXXXXX,
I am sorry to hear that your pet has had such a horrible illness in the last few weeks. I agree with you that your pet's symptoms share some of the very same manifestations of Leptospirosis, the disease, but I believe that acquisition of Leptospirosis has never been proven via inoculation with the modified live virus that we use in clinical practice today.
With that said, Lepto vaccine is one of the vaccines that dogs DO REACT TO violently and the vaccine reaction itself may very well have triggered the many problems that you are seeing in your pet at this time........it just is not likely a true case of "Lepto" as you may be inferring.
Leptospirosis can be tested for by doing a series of titers or by doing a PCR test that your vet can tell you more about.
The treatment for leptospirosis involves providing supportive IV care, antiemetics, and using both Ampicillin IV, and then sending the pet home on Oral Doxycycline for anywhere from 3-6 weeks. Doxycycline must be used as an antibiotic if Lepto is truly suspected as being in the pet's system.
Please be aware that there are presently 6 different strains of Leptospirosis that can cause illness in humans, livestock, and companion animals. Not all vaccines protect against every strain. Not all vets use the same type of vaccination. Case in point, would be that your pet could be vaccinated for 2/4 of the strains of lepto....you would think they were "protected", but they could still come down with lepto due to no protection to the two strains not used in the vaccination.
At my clinic we use a 4 way serovar vaccine by Fort Dodge that protects against 4/6 most common types of Lepto. You will need to check with YOUR veterinarian to see which vaccine your dog has received in the past. With that said, you may want to request that your vet submit titers on your dog to see if his titers are high and above normal for any particular strain of Lepto at this time.
As mentioned, your pet has possibly manifested a severe allergic reaction to the Lepto vaccine. This should be reported to both the USDA and the manufacturer of the vaccine used. This information is incredibly important for them to know in order to make vaccines safer for future pets!! Many vaccine companies will help you pay some of your hospital bills if it can be determined that the vaccine did cause your pet's illness, so it is definitely worth mentioning to your vet and exploring!!
I would NEVER vaccinate my pet for LEPTO again if your vet has any suspicion that the vaccine caused this type of reaction/illness in your pet.....it's just too risky and the reactions only get more violent with repeated inoculations!
I hope that you found this information helpful.
Please remember to PRESS ACCEPT so that I can be compensated for my time and professional recommendations concerning your pet.
I encourage feedback and appreciate any size bonus! Please feel free to contact me in the future with any further questions regarding your pet's health or welfare that I may assist you with online! Best wishes to you and your pet,
Dr . Jodi Lynn Smith
Veterinarian
13 years of practice experience in exotics, small animal internal medicine and surgery.