The Leptospirosis Vaccine is a lifestyle vaccination and should be considered for pets who live in areas with high wildlife/rodent populations or if your pet is in contact with standing water. Wildlife can carry this bacterial pathogen and shed the bacteria in their urination. Dogs can encounter this bacterium by simply sniffing a blade of grass on which the bacteria have been deposited. The bacteria can also accumulate in puddles and lakes, making drinking from or swimming in these water sources risky for an unvaccinated dog.The vaccination is initially administered as a two-part series to puppies as young as eight weeks old and in adult dogs. After the initial series, the vaccine is given annually to at-risk dogs. The vaccine helps to minimize the risk of clinical disease that can occur when the bacteria is introduced to the mucus membranes or through a break in the skin.