Deadly dog disease hits Kansas

Not to be an alarmist here, but there are reports from people who have recently acquired puppies from pet shops and shelters (Kansas is one of the top 5 puppy mill states) --- and because the symptoms are similar to the flu bug in us humans, most new owners have thought that's what they had.

Puppy kisses (especially around the face) should be avoided as well as increased usage of hand sanitizers after contact. Even if a new puppy did not come from Kansas, via the interactions at the pet shops and shelters with other puppies and dogs origination does not eliminate the risk. Only blood tests can confirm or deny the existence of the disease in dogs and humans.

Apparently this stuff can take a month after contact to show up after contact, but others are reporting even longer periods. Mills seldom include lepto in their vaccines because it often causes allergic reactions. The initial vaccine was only good for 6 mos but it seems they have improved it to last one year. The initial series is 2 vaccinations/2 weeks apart and then yearly boosters.

It is spread from dog-to-dog and dog-to-human - both puppies and adults can have and transmit. Just another one of those protocols we need to make our individual decisions on.

================================
KS: Deadly dog disease hits Kansas
By Krystle Brooks
Story Created: Feb 11, 2009 at 8:45 PM CST
Story Updated: Feb 11, 2009 at 9:28 PM CST

WICHITA, Kansas - Dog owners should know that veterinarians are recommending you add another vaccination to the list of yearly shots your dog gets. Make no mistake about it dog lovers, love their dogs. And as dog lovers our job is make sure our pets are healthy. But there's an old threat making a comeback that can put your pet's life at risk.

Dr. Christen Skaer, a Kansas veterinarian, says she made a call to an internal medicine specialist at KSU and they said "oh yeah Wichita, we are seeing a lot of cases of Lepto from Wichita." It's called Lepto for short, Leptospirosis is a bacteria that can be passed from wild animals to your dog.

Although, she says the symptoms can be pretty vague and hard to pinpoint. Some things to look for are: increased drinking and urination.

If left untreated, Leptospirosis can be deadly. Fortunately, there's a vaccine to treat the bacteria and it's been around for years. With more cases popping up around Wichita, and across the state, Dr. Skaer recommends dog owners talk to their vets about getting the vaccine.

Cats aren't immune to Leptospirosis, but they rarely become infected.

Dr. Skaer points out that animals contract the bacteria from open wounds and urine of infected animals.

Source: http://www.ksn.com/news/local/39469867.html

===========================================

More on Leptospirosis from the CDC is here:
http://www.cdc.gov/ncidod/dbmd/diseaseinfo/leptospirosis_g.htm

===========================================

As Gilda would say, "It's always something...."... sigh...