Lepto, Rabies and Flea Treatments.

We've had cases and phone calls recently about 3 topics that I think many pet owners might be interested in - vaccinating dogs against leptospirosis, treating cats for fleas, and the risks of cat bites.

1. Should you vaccinate your dog for leptospirosis? Many breeders advise people who buy puppies to not vaccinate for "lepto" - included in most combination vaccines for dogs. Some dogs have vaccination reactions - low-grade fever, lethargy, pain at the vaccination site, and occasionally a swollen muzzle. These are troublesome to owners, not to mention the dog, but serious reactions are rare. I've vaccinated a lot of dogs and cats since 1977 and I've never seen a reaction that was anywhere near fatal.

Studies have shown vaccination reactions are no more likely from lepto than from any of the other six diseases in combination vaccines. Reactions are more common after the first vaccination in the puppy series. Because of the way some vaccines are packaged, it is convenient to leave the lepto out. If there is a reaction to the first shot, the lepto is often left out on the second vaccination, three weeks later, in hopes of avoiding a reaction. Because reactions are less common on the second shots, this often "works." And "lepto" takes the blame.

Leptospirosis has become more common in recent years, and can be a hard disease to diagnose and treat. Skunks, raccoons, and opossums can spread lepto in their urine and even a little housedog can pick it up from a puddle or wet grass in his own backyard. The modern vaccines have most of the varieties of lepto that are likely to cause disease. I think lepto is more important than most of the other six things in a "7-Way" vaccine.

After the initial series, Lepto boosters should be given once a year. A better way to avoid a reaction in a small dog is to give a half-dose of vaccine.

2. Be careful what you use to get rid of fleas on your cat. I think the safest things are "Advantage" (not "Advantix") and "Revolution." You can buy Advantage in pet stores and on the Internet without a prescription. If used once a month, these products will almost always take care of fleas on the cat, and do it quickly and effectively enough so that you don't need to fumigate your house or spray the yard. But, for outdoor cats, you will need to continue treating once a month.

Many of the other "over-the-counter products" contain "organophosphates" or "permethrin" and can be toxic to cats. They can cause drooling and incoordination, and perhaps tremors. First aid is mainly a thorough bath with mild shampoo and lots of water. Treated cats usually recover.

3. Cat bites carry a small risk of a serious disease - rabies - and a much greater risk of serious infection. Last week we had a call about a bad bite wound on the hand, inflicted by an unvaccinated cat, in an elderly person. The lady had to be hospitalized for a few days for intensive treatment and close monitoring. The cat, a stray who was also sick, died and was brought to my clinic. Working with the Asotin County Health Department, we sent the cat's head to the State lab for rabies testing. The test was negative, and the lady is home again and doing much better.

The first rabies vaccination, in dogs and cats, should be given at four months of age. A booster is given one year later, and from then on, every three years.