Dog vaccines

We have been hearing a lot about vaccines lately, whether it is on the television or in the papers. The main question asked is if you vaccinate your pet. The media has brought to our attention that over-vaccination is a new and unneeded epidemic. Personally, I only do the 3-year Rabies vaccine for my dog Marina. Marina is an 11-year-old Belgian Malinois who does not visit dog parks or play with many other dogs. We also do not have any ponds or standing water on our property. These are my reasons for not doing the other vaccines available such as Canine Distemper, Lyme, Lepto, or Bordetella. For pet owners that take their animals to dog parks, have property with standing water and thick brush around, or for the pets that can’t go on vacation with the owners and usually are boarded in a kennel, you definitely need the list of vaccines below to protect your pet.

Canine distemper is a paramyxovirus, which look very similar to the paramyxovirus causing human measles. The virus in the dog can affect a wide range of organs including the skin, brain, eyes, and intestinal and respiratory tracts. The virus is transmitted through the air in addition to body secretions such as urine. Dogs of any age can be affected, however, most are puppies less than 6 months of age. The common signs for canine Distemper are nasal and eye discharge, diarrhea, coughing, vomiting, and seizures. This is sometimes misdiagnosed as Kennel Cough and some dogs may also develop pneumonia.

Lyme disease, or borreliosis, is caused by at least three species of bacteria belonging to the genus Borrelia. Borrelia burgdorferi is the predominant cause of Lyme disease in the United States. Lyme disease is the most common tick-borne disease in the Northern Hemisphere. This bacterium is transmitted to humans by the bite of infected hard ticks. Early manifestations of the infection may include fever, headache, fatigue, and a characteristic skin rash called erythema migrans, which is also referred to as the “Bullseye" rash. In a majority of cases, symptoms can be eliminated with antibiotics, especially if diagnosis and treatment begin early in the course of illness. Late, delayed, or inadequate treatment can lead to "late stage" or "chronic" Lyme disease that can be disabling and difficult to treat.

Leptospirosis is a bacterial zoonotic disease caused by spirochaetes of the genus Leptospira that does affect humans and a wide range of animals, including mammals, birds, amphibians, and reptiles. The urine of an infected animal transmits leptospirosis. Dogs may lick the urine of an infected animal off the grass or soil, or drink from an infected puddle. In animals, the incubation period (time of exposure to first symptoms) is anywhere from 2 to 20 days. In dogs, the liver and kidney are most commonly damaged by leptospirosis. The symptoms are as follows: vomiting, fever, failure to eat, reduced urine output, unusually dark or brown urine, and lethargy. Stopping the causing agent and the use of supplements and antibiotics can treat leptospirosis.

Bordetella is bacteria that causes kennel cough in dogs and has been know in rare cases to cause whooping cough in humans. Transmission occurs by formites, direct contact, or via respiratory aerosol droplets. The symptoms are similar to those of the common cold with a hacking cough and most cases will go away over time. Treatment can consist of antibiotics and cough suppressants. Sometimes your vet will just give cough suppressants and allow the infection to work its way out naturally.

As always, please consult your vet prior to making decisions on what vaccines to give or not give to your dog.

We would like to hear your opinions, thoughts or even experiences that you have had with vaccines.