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Friday, April 01, 2011
Disease a moving target
By Dr. Jeff Nichol
Of the Journal
Q: Our vet recommends Luke have a leptospirosis vaccine. In what specific areas are the large outbreaks of lepto occurring? Does a dog have natural immunities to lepto? Does the vaccine protect against the most lethal versions? Our dog is never off leash, so won't come into direct contact with wildlife.
Dr. Nichol: Luke is a lucky dog to have owners so concerned about his safety. Leptospirosis, an infectious disease of the kidneys and liver, is caused by an organism that is transmitted primarily through contaminated urine. It's found most often in moist areas where infected pigs, cattle, horses and wildlife live in large numbers. Free-ranging dogs can be at risk; cats get a pass.
There have been more cases in recent years, including dogs infected by strains that had not previously caused canine disease. The latest vaccine covers all four of the problem strains but it has less than a perfect record of protection. And there have been adverse reactions, most often affecting small dogs.
It's tough to get our arms around the lepto problem in part because it's a moving target. In the past we have recommended vaccination for dogs in rural areas, but recent studies have found the same strains in urban and semirural pets. Experts now advise vaccinating dogs that live where the prevalence is high — and that keeps changing.
There is no consensus on how often to vaccinate; the duration of immunity varies with the individual, ranging from no response to 12 months. According to Dr. David Lewis, board certified in veterinary internal medicine, "The rule of thumb is to use only those vaccines that are medically necessary and vaccinate as infrequently as medically appropriate." Dogs in New Mexico are at low risk for leptospirosis right now. Stay tuned.
Q: Our neighbor passed away two years ago. Her cat has been roaming the neighborhood since. It started getting real cold and we felt sorry for him, so we let him inside and started feeding him. One evening he attacked my arm and bit me. I bopped his nose, he jumped back then attacked my arm again. I walked into the living room and he grabbed my leg. I don't want to be afraid of a cat in my home.
Dr. Nichol: Feline aggression is pretty scary — and dangerous. Bite wounds can get severely infected. Go the next mile for this kitty, and for your safety; have him examined and vaccinated against rabies.
For a vagabond, this cat sounds pretty normal. His biologic clock tells him to forage for his food in the evening. At the very time he would otherwise be stalking dinner, who is hanging out with him but you? He's a serious hunter and he's watching. You move, so of course he pounces.
Nose bopping won't fix the problem. This obligate predator is not deficient in blunt-force trauma to the face; he just needs healthy after-school activities. Be proactive when the sun gets low. To borrow from the Dear Abby of yesteryear, either "Throw the bum out" or outfit your home with a primal feline fantasyland. You'll find Feline Environmental Enrichments listed in my Web site, drjeffnichol.com.
Dr. Jeff Nichol provides medical care for pets at the Petroglyph Animal Hospital in Albuquerque (898-8874). He treats behavior disorders at the Veterinary Specialty Centers in Albuquerque and in Santa Fe (505-792-5131). Contact Dr. Nichol on his website www.drjeffnichol.com (click Submit a Question?) or 6633 Caminito Coors NW, Albuquerque, NM 87120. Find me on Facebook.
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