My Pet World: New tactics could make taking pills fun for your pet
A: "No, don't skip the vaccine," implores Dr. Natalie Marks, a Chicago veterinarian. Leptospirosis is a bacterial disease spread primarily through urine of rodents and other infected animals. Unprotected dogs can get quite sick by drinking infected water, or licking their paws after they've stepped in infected water.
Leptospirosis can make people sick, too. The disease is zoonotic, meaning people can potentially get lepto from dogs.
"Protecting our pets protects us, as well," Marks notes.
Lepto prevalence does seem to be on the rise, particularly in well-populated areas. City rats are among primary carriers.
Marks says veterinary vaccine experts now consider the vaccine for leptospirosis a core vaccine. It's that important. Talk with your veterinarian and weigh the benefit of vaccinating compared vs. the risk of leaving your dog unprotected.
"Certainly, any vaccine (can trigger) a reaction, and the most common seen in the leptospirosis vaccines are itching or swelling at the vaccine site, (although) those are rare. Even more rare are more serious reactions to the vaccine, which range from vomiting to severe allergic response," Marks says.
"The recent measles outbreak occurred because of a concern (among some people) regarding the safety of vaccination - and look what happened. Vaccines protect our pets, and in this instance protect us, as well."
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Q: Can the feline herpes virus be treated successfully? You said in a column that "once treated, the symptoms disappear over time." However, you didn't explain the actual treatment. Jack, my 16-year-old cat, has feline herpes, which has caused significant damage to his right eye. What can we do? -- K.R., Bethlehem, PA
A: "For ocular herpes, there are anti-viral eye drops," says Dr. Susan Little, president of the American Association of Feline Practitioners. "Also, there's an anti-viral oral medication called famciclovir, which has demonstrated safety for cats. See your veterinarian to determine the best approach."
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