22/01/2025
Leptospirosis – Update on vaccines
At Malthouse Vets, we strive to provide you with the best preventative healthcare for your pets. Vaccination is at the heart of preventative healthcare and not only provides your pet with protection against life-threatening diseases but also ensures that your pet receives an annual health check with a Veterinary Surgeon.
As you may or may not be aware, vaccination schedules are changing for dogs to provide the best protection against Leptospirosis, one on the diseases we routinely vaccinate against. Please read on or speak to a member of staff who will be pleased to help you.
What is Leptospirosis (“Lepto”)?
Leptospirosis is a potentially fatal disease caused by a type of bacterium which likes to live in wet environments and spread via mammals, such as rats. It often causes sickness in animals that is not immediately obvious as Lepto, but which makes them poorly with symptoms such as vomiting. However, it also causes severe and life-threatening disease often including liver and kidney failure. Once diagnosed, it is often very expensive to treat with no guarantees of survival. It is also zoonotic meaning that it can be spread to humans.
Why do the vaccines need to change?
The suppliers have discontinued manufacturing of Lepto 2 and only Lepto 4 is available.
Why has Canigen® Lepto 2 been discontinued?
Updated WSAVA (World Small Animal Veterinary Association) Vaccination Guidelines have been published, which now have a clear recommendation for the use of quadrivalent leptospirosis ( L4) vaccines in countries where the sero-epidemiological data for the serogroups is known, which is the case for the UK: “In countries or regions where canine leptospirosis is endemic, implicated serogroups are known, and where suitable vaccines are available for use, vaccination of all dogs against leptospirosis is highly recommended and these vaccines should be considered core in those places.”
How do I upgrade my vaccines and what does it cost?
In order to upgrade to the new Lepto 4 vaccine, your dog needs to be given two vaccinations 4 weeks apart. This can be achieved by having a second vaccination 4 weeks after the normal annual booster.
This second vaccine will be free of charge providing your dog is over 15months of age and fully up to date with vaccine protocol prior to this change.
What if my dog’s vaccinations are out of date?
It is easy and straight forward to re-start your dog’s vaccinations. Please book in for 2 appointments, 4 weeks apart, our receptionists will be happy to advise you.
Is there a difference in adverse events between Lepto 2 and Lepto 4 vaccines?
There are a number of vaccines authorised in the UK, containing either two (L2) or four (L4) strains of Leptospira. Based on the most recent periodic safety update report data received for each product, the incidence of adverse animal events for all L2 vaccine products combined is 0.016%; for L4 vaccine products, this figure is 0.045%.
In other words, the Veterinary Medicines Directorate has received fewer than 2 adverse events for L2, and fewer than 5 for L4, for every 10,000 doses sold.
The overall incidence of suspected adverse events for both L2 and L4 vaccine products is therefore considered to be rare.
If you have any further questions please do not hesitate to contact us and we'd be happy to help.
