Clean Run - October 2017 - 45

need "non-core vaccines," also known as
"lifestyle vaccines."
While a number of non-core vaccines exist, from a viral perspective, some of the
most critical to agility dogs consist of the
canine influenza vaccines, Bordetella,
and parainfluenza.
And while viruses pose a serious risk to
performance dogs, bacterial infections
present a significant-and growing-
concern.
Dr. Cynda Crawford, a clinical assistant professor of veterinary medicine at
the University of Florida, says "Rates of
leptospirosis and Lyme disease are increasing. We previously considered leptospirosis a risk for dogs residing in rural
areas, and we now realize leptospirosis
bacteria are being found in urban areas
as well."
Leptospirosis and Lyme disease both affect humans and other animals. Leptospirosis is spread by the urine of infected
animals and can linger for months in
soil, lakes, rivers, and streams. According
to the CDC (Center for Disease Control
and Protection), the risk is higher after
heavy rains or flooding, and between 5 to
10 percent of infected people will develop life-threatening illness. It is estimated
that, even with optimal treatment, a fifth
of dogs will not survive.
And the risk of infection is likely to get
worse. "Climate change is going to contribute to outbreaks of leptospirosis and
Lyme disease. Trends for heavy rainfall
and flooding will create opportunities
for standing water and infection by leptospirosis, and warmer temperatures will
affect the breeding cycle and range of the
deer tick," says Dr. Crawford.
Dr. Ford agrees. He cites examples of human marathon runners infected by leptospirosis after being splashed in the face by
standing water and puddles in urban areas.
And according to the Environmental
Protection Agency, "Climate is just one
of many important factors that influence
the transmission, distribution, and incidence of Lyme disease; however, studies

provide evidence that climate change
has contributed to the expanded range
of ticks1, increasing the potential risk of
Lyme disease, such as in areas of Canada
where the ticks were previously unable
to survive. The life cycle and prevalence
of deer ticks are strongly influenced by
temperature. For example, deer ticks are
mostly active when temperatures are
above 45-degrees Fahrenheit, and they
thrive in areas with at least 85-percent
humidity. Thus, warming temperatures
associated with climate change are projected to increase the range of suitable
tick habitat and are therefore one of multiple factors driving the observed spread
of Lyme disease.1"
Both Drs. Ford and Crawford recommend vaccinating your dogs against leptospirosis and against Lyme disease if you
reside in or are traveling to an area where
Lyme disease is prevalent. It is also important to protect yourself, including checking yourself and your dog carefully for
ticks after you have been outside, and using flea and tick protection for your pets.
It is also an excellent idea to reduce the
risk of Lyme disease by making your yard
and outdoor training spaces inhospitable
to ticks. Ticks thrive in moist, shady areas. Keep grass short, and keep your dogs
away from wooded areas and shrubs,
where ticks tend to reside. Gravel sections between wooded sections and your
yard also make it difficult for ticks to migrate to areas you and your pets frequent.
All performance dog owners should
speak with their veterinarian about vaccinating their pets (and not just dogs
currently training or trialing-all pets
residing in your home) against canine
influenza, Bordetella, and parainfluenza,
in addition to core vaccines. The range
of Lyme disease is spreading, and particularly for dogs living in or traveling
to areas where Lyme disease is prevalent,
vaccination against Lyme disease should
be considered. The leptospirosis vaccine
is also worth considering for every dog;
however, compared to other vaccines,
there may be a slightly higher, but still
small, risk of vaccine reactions to the lep-

tospirosis vaccine.2,3 Consider your own
dog's risk profile in consultation with
your veterinarian.
It is also worth noting that some herding
breeds have genetic predispositions to
drug reactions more generally, some of
which are due to the MDR1 gene. Your
veterinarian can test your dog via blood
or cheek swab to determine whether
your dog has the gene, which can aid in
making medical decisions; affected dogs
should not, for example, receive certain
heartworm preventatives.
Vaccination is a crucial element of protecting our dogs and ourselves from disease. During flu season, we are reminded
to enhance our immune systems by exercising, eating well, getting plenty of sleep,
reducing stress, washing our hands, and
staying home if we are sick-all, with the
exception of paw-washing, relevant to
our furry friends.
But what can clubs, training centers, and
trials do to reduce risk to their participants?
As with residential areas, landscape
training sites to deter ticks. Ensure your
club constructs a sensible vaccine policy,
particularly to protect puppies, elderly,
and immunocompromised dogs that
are particularly vulnerable to disease.
And while issues with Zika, West Nile,
Lyme, and leptospirosis all prove being
outdoors is not a panacea, the increasing
trend toward indoor trials, where crating
areas are cramped, and large numbers
of dogs and people spend long hours in
a congested space, constitutes a reason
good as any to reconsider shifting or
keeping trials in the great outdoors.
Protect your dogs. Protect yourself. D
References:
1. www.epa.gov/climate-indicators/
climate-change-indicators-lyme-disease
2. www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/
pubmed/26517617
3. www.dogster.com/lifestyle/ask-a-vetdo-lepto-vaccines-cause-bad-reactionsin-dogs

Catherine Sullivan is a freelance writer and animal behaviorist. Visit her online at www.catesullivan.com, and follow her on Twitter at @csullivanauthor.

October 17 | Clean Run

http://www.epa.gov/climate-indicators/climate-change-indicators-lyme-disease http://www.epa.gov/climate-indicators/climate-change-indicators-lyme-disease http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/26517617 http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/26517617 http://www.dogster.com/lifestyle/ask-a-vetdo-lepto-vaccines-cause-bad-reactions-in-dogs http://www.dogster.com/lifestyle/ask-a-vetdo-lepto-vaccines-cause-bad-reactions-in-dogs http://www.dogster.com/lifestyle/ask-a-vetdo-lepto-vaccines-cause-bad-reactions-in-dogs http://www.catesullivan.com

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