Does my dog need vaccination against Leptospirosis?

Dear Dr. Forsythe: Our three-year-old bulldog has been having seizures for the last year, and we have been giving him Phenobarbital twice daily. The other day he started having seizures every two hours all night, so we took him to the emergency hospital. They told us he needed additional medication for life, and that the disease would progress. We are worried about what the seizures are doing to him, and isn’t all the medication just as bad as the seizures?
Bulldog lover

Dear Bulldog lover: No, I don’t believe the medication is just as bad as the seizures. Every time a pet suffers a grand mal seizure, millions and millions of neurons begin rapid firing in succession. During this time, brain cells are dying as neurotransmitters are released more rapidly than the pet’s brain can process the messages. When the pet begins having “clustered” seizures (repeated seizures at very close intervals), it could mean that the disorder has worsened, and the pet’s “seizure threshold” is lowering, making it easier and easier for him to succumb to more seizures.
The good thing about the medication is that if the veterinarian can use it to lessen the frequency of the seizures, the pet will suffer fewer of these potentially brain-straining occurrences, and the seizure “threshold” won’t be lowered as much. For this reason, it is important to try to use medications that are successful in preventing the seizures from happening in the first place.
Many veterinarians reach for Phenobarbital as a primary drug for seizure disorders, knowing we can supplement or replace the prescription with potassium bromide if necessary to improve the “anti-seizure” interval. We usually consider ourselves very lucky if we can reduce the frequency of seizures to every six months for a pet.
I wish you the best of luck with that beloved Bully of yours.
Dr. F

Dear Dr. Forsythe: Should I have my dog vaccinated for Lepto? I have heard that it causes vaccine reactions, but I also live in Glen Ellen and there is a stream near my house and lots of wild animals. Thanks.
Sue, Glen Ellen

Dear Sue: Yes. You probably should, unless your pet is a known vaccine reactor. In my opinion, there are many good reasons why your pet could benefit from the vaccine.
Leptospirosis is a bacterial infection that can also be spread to humans. Pets show lethargy, depression, anorexia, vomiting and fever. Reluctance to move, stiffness, increased drinking and urinating, weight loss, diarrhea, cough and labored breathing have also been reported. There are several strains of the bacterium, which can be spread by raccoons, skunks and opossums. The migration of these species around wooded areas with water bodies may provide a source of exposure for pets.
Although there is always a potential for vaccine reaction in any animal, the likelihood is still fairly low, and under the careful supervision of your veterinarian, the benefits of protection with this vaccine likely outweigh the risks that come from this disease. I would have a discussion with your veterinarian regarding Lepto and how easily this vaccine can prevent it. Thanks for your great question. Good luck.
Dr. F