02/20/2026
You need to read this because vets are now pushing Leptospirosis as a CORE VACCINE, in addition to Distemper, Parvo, and Rabies.
Here is what you need to know:
1. There are now 4 NEW Leptospirosis Vaccines, and they treat 4 strains of Lepto. There are 20 different strains of Leptospirosis. The original Leptospirosis vaccine covered 2 strains of Lepto. Here are the names of the four new ones: EURICAN® L4 (Boehringer Ingelheim), NOBIVAC® Edge Lepto 4 (Merck Animal Health), Canixin L (Virbac), TruCan™ Ultra L4 Elanco
2. All four pharmaceutical companies are touting these new Leptospirosis Vaccines as SAFER. People's first-hand accounts suggest they are not.
3. Similar to the situation with heartworm and flea medication, Facebook groups are emerging for individuals who have experienced adverse reactions to the four new vaccines. Here is just one lady's horrific experience: I want to make everyone aware of my recent experience with the Nobivac Lepto 4 vaccine and the catastrophic effect it had on my healthy 8-year-old Tibetan Terrier. She was given this vaccine on June 26th and had to be put to sleep 10 days later. Previously, she had always had the Nobivac Lepto 2 vaccine, but they are phasing that one out. The vaccine triggered an autoimmune response in my dog that affected the majority of her organs. In the end, she had fluid around her heart, chest, and stomach, and every lymph node was raised 2.5-3cm. She also had an enlarged spleen. We had to put her to sleep to alleviate her suffering, which was utterly devastating. My vet has issued a report to the vaccine company, but they are saying it’s not a known side effect, but they can never say never. Please think carefully before you pump this poison into your dogs. If anyone has experienced an adverse effect from this vaccine, please check out the following group that is dedicated to this subject. I wish I had, as I would still have my beautiful Milly". I'll put this group below There are many groups on Facebook. Here is another one “Nobivac Lepto 4 - Our Experiences”. They also provide poignant accounts of adverse reactions experienced by dogs following vaccination. These range from mild symptoms, such as localized swelling, to severe reactions like anaphylactic shock and, tragically, even death.
2. Here is the statement by Dr. Jean Dodds, who is a board-certified Veterinarian and Immunologist. "Regarding North America specifically, the public reporting of canine leptospirosis outbreaks is not as detailed as we would like, and does not justify moving the vaccine’s status from non-core to core. On top of that, we are even more confused because the 2024 committee continues to categorize vaccines against leptospirosis as non-core for shelter dogs when there was an outbreak in Los Angeles County in 2021 attributed to the similar environments of doggy daycares and kennels."
3. Another alarming fact is that many dogs vaccinated for Leptospirosis will come down with Leptospirosis within 3 months of being vaccinated for it. For example, of the 241 leptospirosis cases in Switzerland, 95% were vaccinated.
4, Before deciding whether or not to vaccinate your dog, it’s important to consider whether they are at risk. Here are a few things to keep in mind:
1. Do you live in a high-risk area? Areas with warm, wet conditions and frequent outbreaks of leptospirosis pose a higher risk.
2. Does your dog swim in lakes, rivers, or ponds? If your dog drinks from standing water, the risk increases.
3. Does your dog spend time in areas with rodents? If you live on a farm or near a chicken coop with rats, the risk is higher.
On the other hand, if your dog has little to no exposure to these environments, they are likely at much lower risk of contracting leptospirosis.
5. As a retired pharmacist, I have learned that when new medications come out, it is important to have a "Wait and See" attitude. I am not an early adopter. When I was a pharmacist in the late 70's and early 80s it was very difficult to get the FDA to approve a new medication. The FDA at that time was watching out for us. That all changed, and Big Pharma now owns the FDA. Because bringing new drugs to market is relatively easy, we must approach all new pharmaceuticals and vaccines with extreme caution.
6. In the 20+ years I've been doing this, 5 of my owners have told me their dog came down with Leptospirosis. All were treated with antibiotics, and all lived. Leptospirosis is not a virus, it's a bacteria, and the vaccine must be given EVERY YEAR.
7. Once a puppy leaves me, the owner makes all their medical decisions. However, my contract will still state: "If you allow your vet to vaccinate your puppy with any of the Leptospirosis vaccines, it will void my health guarantee."
