MrSnappy Posted December 24, 2003 Report Share Posted December 24, 2003 It turns out that Red Dog most likely contracted Leptospirosis. His initial Lepto titers came back at 1:800 for L.pomona and L. bratislava, and after treatment and antibiotics, his retest on the titer came back at 1:12,800 for both. So he goes on the Doxycycline now and it would appear that with his chem panels improving all the time and his kidneys starting to concentrate his urine, he's going to be okay This is a nice Christmas present for me, and for Red Dog too. Happy Holidays to all of you! RDM Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kyrasmom Posted December 24, 2003 Report Share Posted December 24, 2003 Great news!! Not knowing...even when things get better, always bugs the heck out of me! It's good to have a diagnosis and a complete recovery. Great Holiday Gift! Maria Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
2 Devils Posted December 24, 2003 Report Share Posted December 24, 2003 I am glad Red Dog will be OK... That is great news. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tassie Posted December 25, 2003 Report Share Posted December 25, 2003 Hey RDM, that is great news - well not great about the Lepto, but great that you know what the problem has been and what to do about it. That is a great Christmas present'. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cholla1 Posted December 25, 2003 Report Share Posted December 25, 2003 Was wondering if your dog was vaccinated for that/those strains? We lost an 8 year old horse to Leptospirosis a few years ago. Affected his hearth. It is fairly rare in horses. We vaccinate dogs and cattle here, maybe cats, don't know if that is in their vaccine. Even then, vaccines are not 100%, for many reasons. I was starting to think that Fanconi's disorder, that is found in Basenjis, may be a possibility with Red, but didn't think the picture was fitting. Good to know what it is. Now, Red Dog, heal! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AK dog doc Posted December 25, 2003 Report Share Posted December 25, 2003 YAY, I'm glad you got a definative answer at last! Lepto is a re-emerging disease, alas, *probably* in part because people stopped vaccinating for it as much... I haven't seen any up here (and maybe wouldn't anyway, due to the considerations of environment and population and lifestyle and so on), but some of my friends who practice in the lower 48 are starting to see it. Do you have any thoughts about how he contracted it? Anyway, I'm glad you've got the culprit ID'd now and can go full steam on treatment and recovery! High fives from Finn and Kenzie (Buddy doesn't know how to do that...) Happy Holdays, everyone! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MrSnappy Posted December 25, 2003 Author Report Share Posted December 25, 2003 Originally posted by AK dog doc:YAY, I'm glad you got a definative answer at last! Lepto is a re-emerging disease, alas, *probably* in part because people stopped vaccinating for it as much... I haven't seen any up here (and maybe wouldn't anyway, due to the considerations of environment and population and lifestyle and so on), but some of my friends who practice in the lower 48 are starting to see it. Do you have any thoughts about how he contracted it? I have no idea, and my vet is a little stumped as well, given that my dogs are nearly always together and none of the others got it. Plus, of all my dogs, RD is the one least likely to drink out of a puddle or go poking around in places he doesn't belong in. Additionally, we almost never see Lepto here at all - I mean, it's SO rare that even my allopathic veterinarian does not recommend the vaccine. Either way, I'm pleased as punch he's going to get better Merry Christmas! RDM Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cholla1 Posted December 25, 2003 Report Share Posted December 25, 2003 ---"...it's SO rare ..."--- You and your vet may want to give it a thought, that some diseases today "being so rare" may have something to do with people vaccinating heavily over the last many years, not that it is really "rare" in any one area. Some people are using odd vaccine protocols here now, like testing for titers first to decide if to revaccinate, etc. Not a very good way to go about it, since titers don't correlate well at all with how an immune system will responds to a new exposure, as studies have shown. It only indicates how it did respond before. We are learning much about what for and how to vaccinate, but we are not to the point where we should chance some of those diseases coming back, or to experiment on ourselves, our kids and animals, by not vaccinating. Vaccines are getting better all the time. Diseases have done much more harm that overvaccinating ever has. Now I will get off my soapbox. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MrSnappy Posted December 25, 2003 Author Report Share Posted December 25, 2003 Actually, the last known recorded case of Lepto in my area in humans, according the medical health board, was in the 1960s. The number of dogs who contract Lepto in my area is very low, and the numbers tend to remain static on a year-by-year basis with no significant rise reported. In fact, if you do any reading about Lepto you will see that it is a relatively rare problem in most parts of North America on the whole. You don't know me, but let me assure you that I'm not a complete idiot. I have weighed the risks and benefits of not vaccinating my animals regularly and I'm comfortable with my decisions. "The commonly used vaccine only contains serovars Lepto. canicola, and Lepto icterohaemorrhagiae, and no cross protection is provided against the other three serovars ... Newer vaccines containing Lepto pomona, and Lepto grippotyphosa are available but the duration of immunity is less than one year. To provide protection for a dog against Leptospirosis would require two vaccines with four serovars twice per year. How you vaccinate your animals is absolutely your business, just as how I vaccinate my pets is mine, and I'm not soliciting opinions on my decisions. I know that the range of Lepto vaccine reactions is large and dangerous. Some are as simple as itching, breathing problems - some are big as seizures, Lupus and other autoimmune disorders and death. I choose not to take that risk with my pets. My understanding is that there is no vaccine available for the most dangerous strains of Lepto, and that the vaccines that are available cover the most treatable strains. Dogs can recover, as it would appear RD is doing, and despite what I've been through with him I'm still comfortable with my vaccine protocol decisions. Now, I'm going to go enjoy my dog this Christmas, because there's simply no arguing the fact that I am very happy he is alive and well, even if the Doxycycline he's taking is the colour of viagra, which creeps me out a little twice a day. Merry Christmas. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cheri McDonald Posted December 29, 2003 Report Share Posted December 29, 2003 So glad to hear he is on the mend! All our best to you and Red Dog! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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