Lyme Shot?

[Lisa Carroll]

 

First, thank you for all responding to my flea and tick post.  I'm still not sure which one; I currently bought both Frontline Plus and k-9 Advantage II because of the mosquito repellant.

 

Now, it's been a while since I've had a dog (four years) and I've never gotten my past dogs a lyme disease shot. However, my vet recommends it. Do they really need a lyme shot?  Do you get one?   When do you know when their really thinking of the dog or just trying to pluck more money out of you? Thank you.

Lisa

 

[Ricki and Tara (doodle)]

I like to weigh my dogs risk of contact with the disease versus the possible complications of vaccination or over vaccination. I have only gotten ONE dog ONE Lyme vaccine shot in my lifetime. That dog had a SEVERE reaction to the vaccine .  She was bearly able to walk,  became incontinent and lost control of her bowels. It was horrible. Needless to say I haven't given a dog that vaccine since...

[F, Calla & Luca]

My dogs get Lyme vaccine. Just last evening I pulled an engorged, apparently dead tick form Luca's head. The dogs get Frontline monthly, I look for ticks but nevertheless the ticks can attach. I hope the ticks are not infected, I hope they are not attached long enough to transmit the organisms if the are. Lastly, I hope the vaccine will protect them if all else fails.

[Jane, Guinness and Murphy]

We live in Lyme Disease territory, so I don't take any chances....my Doods get the vaccine.

[Jennifer and Jack]

I wanted Jack to get a lyme disease shot and our vet set he didn't need it. We live in SC.  I would get it if your vet recommends it.

[Leslie, Dexter & Kirby]

Our doodles get the lymes shot.  We live in a wooded area and hike a lot and I've heard horror stories of dogs getting lymes. 

We use K-9 advatix because it protects vs mosquitos.

[Ginny Nightingale]

I live in upstate NY in the Lyme capital of the world and several of my dogs have had Lyme, so i do use the shot. Not sure it works, but it couldn't hurt--USUALLY! My dogs have had no reaction to it. I use Advantix because I have found that the fleas might be developing some resistance to Frontline here--I used it last year and still found fleas. I did an informal survey on doodlekisses (you might be able to find it if you do a search of past discussions) and some people also felt that the Frontline wasn't working as well as it had. Advantix has been great.

[Kim]

Allie got a Lyme vaccine and then ended up getting Lyme disease!?!?!?  WTD???  But she still gets her the Lyme vaccination every year.

[Jennifer Tramell]

Great question!  More info please!    We had a severe tick problem last year but have changed to Advantix and it seems to be working.  Is there a part of the country which is more at risk for Lyme's Disease?  I've never heard of a lymes shot and I'm in TN - I would think we are at risk?

[Lisa Carroll]

Our vet recommends the lyme shot.  But, if we use the frontline or the advantix they shouldn't get ticks.  Hence, not get the shot.  I just hate putting chemicals on my pet.  I'm so afraid of a reaction.

 

Thank you again everyone - Lisa

In the long run I'll probably get the lyme shot to avoid lyme disease.

[F, Calla & Luca]

Believe me they still get ticks with Frontline. Whether the ticks die before infecting them is the question.

[Joan, Louie and Mila]

I get Louie vaccinated for Lymes Disease + I am diligent at giving him his Frontline Plus. And he wears a preventex tick collar... We live in Southeastern Pennsylvania which is hot spot for Lymes...Most people I know have at least one family member and dog that have had Lymes...even some dogs that have died. People that have months of  IV antibiotics, leave of absence from work etc.

Louie had Lymes when he was almost a year old. I adopted him at 9 months and the couple I got him from got him in July from Minnesota. He had always been on Frontline Plus as far  we knew. I was in NC visiting my daughter and we woke up in the hotel and Louie could not walk...at all! I carried him (60 lbs) to the ER vet (of course on a Saturday) in Ashville, NC and the vet ordered Xray's first then blood work. He did not think to look for Lymes until I mentioned it due to our area. NC was not a hot spot for Lymes.

Louie was given the following test...his results were the highest my vet had seen...

"The key point about this C6 quantitative test is that the level correlates with the level of circulating antigen-antibody complexes, which are the components thought to cause the dog significant pathology, such as life-threatening kidney disease. The C6 test is about $115."

He was treated for 60 days with doxycycline, plus Rimadly for the pain.

Another thing to think about is that they can be infected for months before they show symptoms or they may not show symptoms of Lameness like Louie did but have kidney damage without symptoms...until it's too late and they have renal failure.

My opinion is obvious... but do your research, discuss with your vet and make an informed decision.