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Most of you are probably already aware of Lyme disease and the fact that it is a tick-borne disease. What that means is that if your dog does not get ticks, he cannot get Lyme disease. This is why Lyme disease is a non-core vaccination.
For those of you not familiar with the disease, I wrote a guest post about Lyme disease for the DawgBlogger blog a short time ago. This article will give you a bit more information about the disease itself, how it is transmitted and how it is diagnosed and treated.
Not all dogs need to be vaccinated against Lyme disease. And even for those that do, there are both risks and benefits to giving the vaccine and these need to be thoroughly weighed before making the decision to vaccinate or not.
Vaccinations Against Canine Lyme Diseaase
There are several vaccines available against Lyme disease. Most of them are administered on a yearly basis when they are utilized.
The first consideration in deciding whether to vaccinate or not against Lyme disease is whether your dog is at risk of Lyme disease. If your dog is not exposed to ticks, there is no need for him to receive a Lyme disease vaccine.
However, remember that wildlife such as birds, rabbits, squirrels and other types can bring ticks into your yard. So, it is not impossible for your dog to pick up ticks even if your back yard. That’s a good reason to check your dog thoroughly on a regular basis for ticks.
Will the Lyme Disease Vaccine Provide a Benefit for Your Dog?
The next question to consider when you’re deciding whether to vaccinate your dog against Lyme disease or not is whether the vaccine is likely to be beneficial.
Some veterinarians do not feel that the Lyme disease vaccine is efficacious enough to warrant its administration. However, this is not something that all doctors agree on. Many feel that the degree of protection that the vaccine affords is worthwhile. Just remember that the vaccine is not 100% effective.
Another consideration to keep in mind is the fact that Lyme disease is only one of the tick-borne diseases that dogs are susceptible to. In most cases, Lyme disease is a fairly easily treated disease (there are exceptions to this). However, some of the other tick-borne diseases are more dangerous. As a result, tick prevention is still an absolute necessity, even if you do decide to vaccinate against Lyme disease. Unfortunately, at this time there are no vaccines available against the other tick-borne diseases.
Some dogs may benefit from the vaccine but certainly it should not be given to all dogs. Before you make your decision, talk with your veterinarian about the pros and cons of the vaccine and use this information to reach an educated decision.
Medical Disclaimer: All advice offered is general, and the Pet Health Care Gazette is not responsible for any problems arising from the use or misuse of the information. Since each animal and each situation is unique, we recommend that you contact your own veterinarian for help with any health or behavior problems in your pet.
Photo Credit: Sultry/Flickr.com
About Lorie Huston, DVM
Lorie Huston is a veterinarian, pet health and pet care expert, professional writer, blogger, social media and blogging consultant, and SEO strategist.
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So glad you wrote about this Lorie. Last year my vet said she didn’t believe the vaccine was effective enough to warrant my dogs getting it, but this year she was all for it. Very confusing.
I’ve also heard about a chain of vet clinics (attached to a pet store) is making it a regular recommendation without taking a dog’s lifestyle into consideration before recommending it. I am glad to hear you discuss lifestyle as well.
Nice to have a vet who discusses topics like this from all sides. Thanks!
Hi, Mel.
Yes, I’ve heard of chains pushing things like coronavirus vaccination, Lyme disease vaccines, feline leukemia vaccines and some other stuff as well to every dog or cat owner that walks through the door. But, in my opinion, that’s not practicing good medicine. Unfortunately, it’s the corporate mindset. This approach doesn’t consider the pet’s welfare as much as it does the company’s bottom line. Those types of practices are outdated and just plain wrong!
I do think it’s important for a pet owner to understand both sides of the equation. Lyme disease vaccination, like so many other things, is not simply a black and white/right or wrong decision. In my practice, I usually try to give the client as much information as I can and let them make the final decision. I’m a strong believer in the importance of distemper/adenovirus/parvovirus and rabies vaccines for dogs, but I don’t push the Lyme disease vaccine. I offer it for those that want their dog protected and some do, even after knowing the shortcomings. That’s a valid decision.
Equally valid are the dog owners that elect not to give the vaccine but to pursue tick prevention instead. In all honesty, I believe that tick prevention is much, much more important than vaccinating against Lyme disease.
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