Testament – Meet Sprite (left) & Joe (right)

One of our most successful Webinars and examples of testament of the database’s importance grew out of a tragedy. Sprite, an AKC GCH and mother of 8 (shown here on the left), showed signs of what appeared to be a UTI. With clear annual testing a few months before, and no markers for PLN, her owner and vet assumed it was just that. Instead, her labs showed her in acute kidney failure. Dr. Littman saw the results and immediately said “test for Leptospirosis and treat for it while you wait for the results.” Since Sprite was never exposed to standing water and “Lepto” was not a core vaccine at the time of her last vaccinations, she hadn’t been inoculated against it. We quickly went to the SCWT Health and Pedigree Database to find other dogs diagnosed with Lepto. While Dr. Littman’s recommendations were correct and followed, it was too late and she died a few days before her 5th birthday. Shortly thereafter, a 3-month old puppy, Joe (right), too young for the Lepto vaccination and also with no PLN markers, became ill. The SCWTCA Health Chair was contacted and again, Dr. Littman’s review was the same: test and treat for Lepto.

Fortunately, young Joe made it and is thriving a year later.

Dr. Littman’s urging the addition of Lepto vaccinations to “core” status and Sprite’s and Joe’s stories led us to hold one of our best attended Webinars on November 11, 2024, “Is it PLN or Lepto?” with Dr. Littman. Both Joe and Sprite’s database pages are complete and we thank their owners for helping others.

What can we learn: By entering both Sprite and Joe in the SCWT Health & Pedigree Database their records are available to other owners who’s dog is diagnosed with Lepto. The owner or vet can go to Reports and Health Search and find dogs with Lepto under General. Emails are on file and an owner can contact the owners of the dog to get help.

That is what we are here for; to help and support our owners, breeders and veterinarians.

In June of 2025:

AAHA guidelines designate Leptospirosis vaccine as core.

Talk to your veterinarian and discuss this vaccination for your dog. Educate yourself.