Lymes Vaccine

[Kristin & Hudson]

I'm wondering how many people give their dogs the lymes vaccine here in NJ?  We moved to Morris County last year and now have a new vet here who highly recommends the lymes vaccine.  I have an appointment for Saturday to give Hudson the vaccine but after reading online about it I am having second thoughts.  Most of the sites I've been on don't recommend getting the shot even in high risk areas because it is still a fairly new shot and dogs can still contract lymes disease even after vaccination.  They just recommend getting the dog on an antibiotic at the first signs of infection and they should be fine.  We do live in an area where there are a lot of deer and we do take Hudson for hikes, so I am torn.  I do use K9 Advantix monthly on him.  So I am wondering what everyone else does in the area.  If you do give the lymes vaccine what are your reasons for doing so?  Thanks!!

[F, Calla & Luca]

All medical treatments involve risk/benefit decisions. When you read of side effect from vaccinations you have to realize that the incidence of some of them is very small. As a physician I vaccinate my dogs.

[F, Calla & Luca]

I give my dogs the vaccine since despite Frontline they still get some embedded ticks. And this is despite the fact that deer can't get int my yard but mice, the other vector can. My son's dog tested positive for Lyme. Antibiotics don't always work and Lyme can be a serious disease. My view is everything adds some protection. We've had the shots for 2-3 years with no problem.

[Kristin & Hudson]

Thanks F glad to hear Calla and Luca had no problems with the shot.  I guess that is my biggest concern but he seems to be good with all of the other shots he got.  Plus he's 60 lbs and I think it's mostly the smaller dogs who tend to have reactions to the shots.

[Susan and Sasha]

Sasha gets the vaccine along with Frontline. 

She's had the vaccine for 2-3 years without any problems also.

[Jersey, Jasmine, Jypsy and Diane]

Jasmine and Jersey get the Lymes shot and take the preventitive too. Jersey is allergic to tick bites, so I use the Frontline Plus all year on both of them, as well as Heartgard Plus.

[Adrianne Matzkin]

Lyme's vaccine is given in 2 visits - 3 weeks apart. My girls get them. We have a huge deer population here in Short Hills and we go to the dog beaches, I won't take chances.

With or without the vaccine, a dog can get Lyme's. You have to watch for changes in your dog especially if you have found a tick on them. 

This is from Peteducation.com   http://www.peteducation.com/article.cfm?c=2+1556&aid=458

The symptoms of Lyme disease in dogs differ from those in people, and usually occur much later after the tick bite. Clinical illness in dogs usually occurs 2 to 5 months after a bite from an infected tick.  Dogs show several different forms of the disease, but by far, the most common symptoms are a fever of between 103 and 105°, lameness, swelling in the joints, swollen lymph nodes, lethargy, and loss of appetite. (another article I read states that the lameness may only last a few days and then reoccur in a different leg)

Although not common, some dogs have developed severe progressive kidney disease as sequelae to Lyme disease. This severe kidney failure is difficult to treat and may result in death of the dog. It is recommended that a dog with a positive Lyme antibody test have additional blood tests and a urinalysis to assess kidney function. Some dogs may also develop heart problems or nervous system disease after being infected with B. burgdorferi.

Dogs do not develop the typical rash or the circular area of redness around the bite (erythema migrans) which is seen in people.

Some veterinarians have criticized the ineffectiveness of the Lyme vaccines and do not recommend their use. Although many dogs have been vaccinated and treated for Lyme disease, some vaccinated animals contract the disease, but it appears that vaccinated animals are less likely to contract the disease than unvaccinated animals. Vaccinations can be started after 12 weeks of age and it is recommended that two doses be given three weeks apart, then boostered yearly after that. Because of the inherent problems of over-vaccination, it is recommended that only dogs that are exposed to t

More reading

http://www.2ndchance.info/lyme.htm

[Moe]

We got our puppy Nov 1 and she was getting tons of ticks. The vet gave her the lyme vaccine but the last week in Feb she came down with lyme. The test they give is on a scale of 100. 30+ means there is active lyme in the dog. Our poor little girl got an 80. She was really sluggish for about two weeks then stopped eating. She is still on antibiotics. Ticks suck.

[F, Calla & Luca]

Literally and figuratively. I hope your doodle recovers completely.