Barney is getting tested for Leptospirosis!

[Bitsy]

I'm so sorry you are going through this. I just said a prayer for him.


About Lepto....I don't give my dogs the vaccine because of what I've read on YT. I didn't know that people were now saying it is better to give. I'm going to look into it and do some more research. Thanks for bringing attention to it by sharing your situation.

Pleasevkeepnus posted and give a smooch to Teddy from us.

[Bitsy]

I'm so sorry you are going through this. I just said a prayer for him.


About Lepto....I don't give my dogs the vaccine because of what I've read on YT. I didn't know that people were now saying it is better to give. I'm going to look into it and do some more research. Thanks for bringing attention to it by sharing your situation.

Pleasevkeepnus posted and give a smooch to Teddy from us.

[107barney]

Originally Posted by MauiGirl

So sorry for your worries, and I sure hope it all turns out ok.

Where I live my vet only recommends Lepto vac. for dogs that are around livestock, or go hiking in the mountains where wild animals roam. Based on the sheltered life my dogs live (in house & yard mostly), he said it wasn't necessary. But that's based on my area and lifestyle and not applicable to other cases, so not meant to confuse anyone.

This was exactly why I stopped giving it - my dogs are mostly indoors or in our yard. We do the occasional walk on sidewalks and in recent years don't do anything in the woods or anything. I live in an urban area but we do have racoons and other carriers of the disease. I see racoons all the time so I always think about whether they have come into my yard and peed infectious urine out there. I would see my dogs sniffing around and think about it.

[ladyjane]

Originally Posted by Bitsy

I'm so sorry you are going through this. I just said a prayer for him.


About Lepto....I don't give my dogs the vaccine because of what I've read on YT. I didn't know that people were now saying it is better to give. I'm going to look into it and do some more research. Thanks for bringing attention to it by sharing your situation.

Pleasevkeepnus posted and give a smooch to Teddy from us.

This is exactly why I keep saying that people should take what they read and discuss it with their vet. Just because someone says something on the Internet....no matter how bright and well informed they may appear to be...does not mean they are correct!

[107barney]

Originally Posted by ladyjane

Cathy, how long before the Lepto test results are back?

He said everything would be back in about 5 days. I told him to just call me once both results were in and also Teddy had a urinalysis so that too.

A skunk just sprayed outside my house and as I was sitting here listening to Barney get angry and the smell seeping in (lovely!) I made the mistake of googling about skunks.

They too carry leptospirosis.

[Bitsy]

Originally Posted by ladyjane

This is exactly why I keep saying that people should take what they read and discuss it with their vet. Just because someone says something on the Internet....no matter how bright and well informed they may appear to be...does not mean they are correct!

I did discuss it with my vet. I've read about it here on this site quite a bit. My conversations were similar to what 107barneys were.

For example, my vet would give the rabies now, but I've read on here to wait until they are 6 months old.

[Bitsy]

We have raccoons and rodents around us....there are woods nearby. I'm going to call my vet tomorrow to have an in depth talk about the risks.

Again, I'm so sorry you are going through this. By sharing you are bringing attention to something that very well may save a pets life.

[107barney]

Originally Posted by Bitsy

We have raccoons and rodents around us....there are woods nearby. I'm going to call my vet tomorrow to have an in depth talk about the risks.

Again, I'm so sorry you are going through this. By sharing you are bringing attention to something that very well may save a pets life.

I need to do the same with my vet, but not tomorrow. Tomorrow I am talking to her about testing the others. I am still hopeful that Barney's changes on his imaging do not turn out to be lepto, and I would be surprised if he did have lepto. But I am worried, much of this disease can be subclinical with no symptoms. Squirrels are also carriers as are coyotes and we've got plenty of those. Now I am understanding the urban cases more than I did before but I still would like to look at more data with my vets and my own research as well before figuring out what do do. I am really not liking any of this and I would like the day to start over and end with "Barney's ultrasound was perfect, no need to come back or do more"

[Bitsy]

My heart goes out to you. I am right there with you on the vaccine...same worries and hesitations.

My Yorkies are inside only with the exception of car rides and the occasional walk. Recently we had a few field mice in our house. The first thing I thought of was Lepto. I don't expose my pups to the outdoors too much, but here was the "outdoors" coming indoors!! When we do go on walks it is in my mind. Rodents and raccoons are everywhere. It seems like everyone would be at risk?

So scary. I really pray Teddy is okay.

[linda44]

Oh Cathy Im so sorry Barney isnt well. I will say big prayers for him and that whatever it is, it gets better. I vacinated half of mine with Lepto, and they had reactions, so they rest have not had that vacine, nor have I gotten boosters of lepto. Im nervous now myself as our neighbor just trapped a big raccoon and we live in the city. Well what little grey hair I dont have (from raising teens), the yorks are turning grey! lol
Seriously, well wishes, prayers and hugs are flying your way.

[Lil Sis]

Cathy I am so sorry you have to go through this. I have read how much you love and care for your furbuts... I know you have always done everything in your power to do what is best for them. No one knows the future...
so you did what was right at the time.


I hope the results of the test are in your favor.. and all works out well. I don't know too much about the infection, all I remember is the vet here said it is rare and dog get it from drinking dirty water outside. I kind of remember something about rats .. maybe peeing in standing water? But now I will certainly check more. See, your post may save many people from having the same worries.

I have you and Barney in my thoughts and prayers.

Shinja

[BonBon]

Thinking of you and Barney, Cathy. How's he feeling?

Was he showing any outward symptoms when you took him in for testing?

[OwnedByJezebel]

We don't live far from a river, and there are all kinds of critters that I'm sure can get into my "safely" enclosed back yard. I've never seen rats in my yard, but I have seen one scurrying around vegetation in a greenbelt area, and our neighbor found on drowned in their pool. We also have deer around the development, and the occasional wild hog. Raccoons and skunks aren't uncommon, either. I wouldn't be surprised to see any of these in my back yard (except for the deer and the skunk), and I have to assume they all get there from time to time. Furthermore, my dogs go on walks where any of these creatures might be found only a short time earlier. I have to assume that my dogs are getting exposed to lepto. Mine get the vaccine, but I get nervous about it.

My cousin caught lepto 2-3 years ago. He's a large animal vet, so he's around a lot of herd animals out in the pasture. It was nasty, nasty, nasty. He was lucky to come out of it without major organ damage. It's nothing to fool around with.

[107barney]

Originally Posted by BonBon

Thinking of you and Barney, Cathy. How's he feeling?

Was he showing any outward symptoms when you took him in for testing?

Barney is feeling good. No, he was not showing any symptoms. He really just had one liver enzyme that has been elevated for about a year (mild elevation). We were watching it because my vet figured it was left over from pancreatitis which can smolder for a long time and the liver lives next door to the pancreas so when one is acting up the other can also be.... Then on a recheck of his blood, one kidney value (creatinine) was elevated slightly. I had to take Daisy back to the internal medicine specialist so I took Barney also just to see what he thought. That is when we talked about checking the liver - ultrasound first and possible biopsy if the #s worsened.

It took me about a month to schedule it because it was nothing urgent. So the consideration of infection or specifically leptospirosis infection took me by surprise. I did not know until yesterday that this illness can be subclinical and show no signs until very advanced. That's why the two findings on the ultrasound raised the question. So I am glad we learned this, because if he has it, we can treat him before it destroys his organs.

I don't really think he has it, but if he does, all I can do is get him through it.

[Breezeaway]

I just got home from my vet with my Charlie, He went in for his 4th vaccination series shot. He is 16 weeks old. He got a lepto this time. My vet does not give the lepto until they are older. I have never had any reaction to the lepto when given to pups 16 weeks or older. I have been going to my vet for 30+ years. He does not recommend bypassing the lepto, just wait until the pup is older.
Heres a good site on Lepto.
Leptospirosis in Dogs