A veterinary hospital in Nantwich South Cheshire have printed warning signs to say that there has been a confirmed case of leptospirosis (weil's disease)in a dog from the River Weaver in Nantwich. the normal vaccinations plus boosters cover lepto, however older dogs/smaller pups would be more vunerable and that sometimes the vaccine can only give a few months protection.

Please crosspost everywhere you can.

I understand what you are saying and for that reason I always had my dog titre tested prior to vaccination.  The vaccine was also split into two never giving it for all conditions only offering protection for what he was tested low for.

As I no longer have dog (cannot believe I am saying this) I would need to update myself with the latest info should I decide to have one again.   

http://www.leptospirosis.org/topic.php?t=48

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/River_Weaver

We lost a very dear friend to Weil's disease some years ago and no he was not vaccinated I don't know of any people who are because it is not usual for people to lick at the urine of other mammals with dogs this is common. He was thought to have chewed at a piece of grass to become infected so perhaps that is a lesson to us all, don't chew grass and always clean hands if you are going to eat out of doors.

>He was thought to have chewed at a piece of grass to become infected

It's more common to contract Weil's disease (leptospirosis) from water; ponds, rivers or canals are often the source of the infection. Canoeists, for example, are warned about the risks of infection from scratches or swallowing water if they capsize.

I was at the vets today in Cheshire that has the posters up everywhere telling people about the confirmed case of lepto in the river weaver in Nantwich.  This isnt really meant to be a thread about what causes lepto and whether the vets are on a vaccine drive, believe me the posters just say 'warning, please keep all pets away from the river weaver, we have a confirmed case of leptospirosis which can be fatal, please tell everyone you know with a dog in the area' 

The area concerned is a very popular place for dogs to swim, but it has grassy banks which back onto fields and it would be the perfect place for rats to live. The vets is a vet hospital and they are telling everyone, including the local newspaper and also the other vet surgeries in the area.  It is a disease that dogs can catch from the river/riverbank, however it can also be transmitted to humans.

They are also telling people that the lepto part of the normal vaccine/booster sometimes can only last a matter of months, so they arent recommending more vaccinations they are telling people to keep away from the river.  Its not a vaccine publicity drive whatsoever.

Its a horrible disease as far as I know and I would be irresponsible to take my dog there knowing there is any sort of risk. 

After having a dog having to be PTS from having Lepto when my now 16yo son was less than a week old I fully agree it is a terrible illness.
Unfortunatly what FOS is doing is telling people NOT to vaccinate their dogs against Lepto.
After having Shelley in the vets over easter weekend on a drip for 4 days, and then keeping her going until June 12th and was pts as she was a living time bomb as any of us could have contracted it off her, I donnot want to see someone advocating not vaccinating against this terrible illness.
Do everything you can to protect your dogs from this terrible illness.
Lea xxx

Pat, thanks so much for the warning - it's not near me, thank goodness, but a reminder about the risks is really important.  Particularly for those of us who allow our dogs to swim in natural waters

FofS this thread needn't become another rant against vaccinations - perhaps you could put those arguments in a new thread?

Indeed Lea, I personally don't like vaccinating adult dogs, however my boy has the Lepto vaccination and actually had a booster of it today :-)

I think that it is irresponsible NOT to vaccinate our dogs against diseases which we can try to prevent. I would never forgive myself if one of mine died from lepto/ parvo. etc. Of course we all have the right to make our own decisions but I believe that the non-vaccinators are living off the backs of those of us who do protect our dogs because the likelihood of spread is far less if we vaccinate ours. The Catherine O'Driscoll lot are just SO extreme: black & white & no grey for them. Life just isn't like that.

FOS, can you please provide the proof you have been asked for time and time again so the people that read your statements have proof they are Just and PROVEN.

An interesting article

http://www.labbies.com/lepto.htm

I thought everyone pretty much understood that rats are practically everywhere... and therefore so is Lepto.

The places we walk dogs, river banks, canal towpaths, playing fields, woods - these are top spots for rat populations, especially in summer with people dropping more food waste and litter.

They don't vaccinate people against it.. even those in high risk industries. Because the vaccine doesnt last long enough, its more likely to cause a reaction and its actually pretty rare that people die from it (and i do mean purely those in high risk jobs, such as pest controllers).