Hi there. I have been very interested in the Lyme vaccine debate as I have 2 goldens under the age 1 and 1/2 and live in a very wooded area. My vet had suggested that because of my surroundings, I should have the vaccine done on both Riley & Tucker. Well, I had Riley done when he was 4 months old and I followed suit the year later when I had Tucker in for his first "big boy" shots. At this appt, I had Riley in for a yearly exam and he was given blood work. He tested positive for the Lyme!!! He was immediately treated with a month long round of antibiotics and so far so good. We will have tucker tested next year as well but since they cannot do this test until one year of age, it may be too late at that point. I am telling you all this because my vet told me that Riley was infected at some point before he was vaccinated which means it would have been when he was under 4 months of age and in the winter. Ticks are around in the winter as well and most people are unaware of this fact. Like me, if you live in a city like Westbrook and think you have no concern...think again. Because my house is situated in the middle of 10 acres and they are mostly woods, it makes my poor boys the prime candidates. Just an FYI

Thanks for posting this! We've been discussing related issues on a message board I participate in, recently. Some of the members get regular Lyme, Parvo and Bordetella vaccines yearly because their vet tells them to. I find it a bit since my vet has never said anything to me about any of that (except for the initial Parvo series when I bring in a new puppy). I live in TX and my vet has never, in the history of all of the pets my family has had in the last 24 years, mentioned anything to us about Lyme vaccinations. I wasn't even aware there was one until I saw it mentioned in a magazine last month. None of our pets have ever had Lyme Disease.

I guess it might be useful in areas where the disease is rampant but, otherwise...if it ain't broke...

I was both surprised (and upset) recently to discover that my vet had administered a Lyme vaccine to my dog. I had opted to have her heartworm tested but he said NOTHING about it being a combo action. All four of my dogs are titered annually and I have not vaccinated them for anything other than the state mandated rabies shot. This particular dog is a senior (8 years old) Samoyed and is exercised regularly, remains in my back yard but rarely travels to any areas that might harbor ticks. I feel very strongly about not vaccinating my dogs and was really bothered by my vet's cavalier business practice of automatically innoculating dogs for Lyme Disease when taking a blood sample to test for heartworm. I live in Central Ohio and would be interested in finding out exactly where (percentile wise) we fall on the scale for detection of Lyme disease in this area.

The Heartworm-Lyme-Ehrlichia test is a test, not a vaccination. Therefore, unless Donna's dog was given a Lyme vaccine, then Donna's dog was not vaccinated for Lyme Disease.

Any dog living on or near the coast of Southern Maine who spends time anywhere in wooded areas on in fields is at risk of contracting Lyme Disease. While I agree with everything my former professor of Immunology has written for this blog, I would posit that Dr. Schultz is underestimating the prevalence of Lyme Disease in our state. Do not forget, Lyme Disease originated in Lyme, Connecticut, and has progressively moved northward along the coast and inland, following deer migratory patterns.

All of my clients, including Ms. Freedman-Smith, know that I do not recommend all dogs to receive the Lyme vaccine. However, I have yet to see any post-vaccinal health problems related to the Merial brand Lyme vaccine, and not every dog owner is perfect about administering Frontline properly: every 30 days for tick prevention, and no bathing or swimming for 48 hours prior to and 48 hours after application of Frontline. Moreover, many people have dark-colored dogs, which makes checking for ticks even more challenging, especially when the nymphal form of the Deer tick, which transmits Lyme Disease, is smaller than the head of a pin.

So, for those of you who insist upon perpetuating the hysteria about overvaccination on the web, where people seem to believe whatever they read no matter who has written it, please understand that vaccinations have their place in the arsenal of tools in a program of preventative medicine. Whole food nutrition, dietary supplements, fresh air, clean water, good exercise, and a healthy dose of humor also go a long way in preventing disease.

--Dr. Kate

Thanks Dr Kate for a well thought out and well written post.
Too bad there is no "easy button" like there is at Staples when it comes to health care.
And I am happy to say that me and my dog have a great sense of humor. :))

Nancy

In an article entitled "Vaccines of the Present and Future" http://www.vin.com/VINDBPub/SearchPB/Proceedings/PR05000/PR00141.htm presented at the World Small Animal Veterinary Association World Congress in 2001, Dr. Alice Wolf stated that the Lyme vaccines "are only partially effective and MAY CAUSE SERIOUS IMMUNE-MEDIATED CONSEQUENCES IN SOME DOGS THAT ARE AS SERIOUS OR MORE SERIOUS THAN THE DISEASE ITSELF."
Canine lyme vaccines contain adjuvants (ingredients, such as aluminum, causing tissue inflammation to enhance immune response), which are known to trigger significant adverse reactions. In a March phone conversation with Dr. Ronald Schultz, I asked him about vaccinating my dogs, who each get 50-100 tick bites a year. He told me that antibotic treatment was highly effective for treating canine Lyme disease and that it posed less risk than the vaccine. I was also advised that if my dogs tested positive for Lyme but showed no symptoms, they shouldn't be treated with antiobiotics; however, if they tested positive and developed symptoms, they should be treated. Dr. Schultz went on to explain that in immunology/vaccinology the aim is not to prevent infection (which should be kept limited or localized), but to prevent disease.
Adverse reactions to vaccination can be severe and the risk/benefit ratio should be carefully considered for your animal. Dr. W. Jean Dodds' paper, Changing Vaccine Protocols, http://www.itsfortheanimals.com/DODDS-CHG-VACC-PROTOCOLS.HTM outlines some of those potential reactions.
In an article entitled "Lyme Disease, Fact from Fiction" http://www.drschoen.com/articles_L1_11.html, Dr. Allen Schoen reports that research from Cornell University indicates potential long-term side effects from the Lyme vaccine and "[t]hese side effects may vary from rheumatoid arthritis and all the major symptoms of lyme disease to acute kidney failure." He also states that: " Many veterinary schools and major veterinary centers do not recommend the vaccine for the same concern regarding potential side effects."
. Be sure to educate yourself BEFORE you medicate or vaccinate your companion animals. The following links contain more information on the Lyme vaccine: Canine Lyme, What's New? http://vettechs.blogspot.com/2005/11/canine-lyme-whats-new.html; http://siriusdog.com/lyme.htm; http://www.angelfire.com/biz/froghollerfilas/VaccBlanco.html
These links will provide you with information on veterinary vaccines:
Schultz, Dog Vaccines May Not Be Necessary http://www.news.wisc.edu/8413.html;
American Animal Hospital Association's 2003 Canine Vaccine Guidelines: http://www.leerburg.com/special_report.htm;
Dr. Ronald Schultz's Duration of Immunity to Canine Vaccines: What We Know and Don't Know http://www.cedarbayvet.com/duration_of_immunity.htm
http://www.critteradvocacy.org/Duration%20of%20Immunity.htm
Dr. Robert Rogers' presentation on veterinary vaccines at http://www.newvaccinationprotocols.com/
Dogs Adverse Reactions: http://www.dogsadversereactions.com/vaccines.html

Kris L. Christine
Co-Founder, Co-Trustee
The Rabies Challenge Fund
http://www.zbirdbrain.com/PetAdvocatesTownHallCisSupportStudy.htm

My dog little boy mixed breed Chewy was vaccinated on May 30 with the Lyme. Three days later he experienced severe diarrhea. We went to emergency and $409.00 later with a few antibiotic pills he stabilized his bowel movement, which was 5 days later. My greyhound is now experiencing the diarrhea. Do not give them the Lyme shot.

I'm thrilled that Dr. Schultz is encouraging people to highly reconsider vaccinating for lyme disease. I've been to his seminars and he is even stronger about not vaccinating for lyme in person! However - I'm disgusted that both he and Dr. Kate are so cavalier about encouraging the use of chemicals on the dogs to prevent ticks. These chemicals - while said to be safe by vets and the company are NOT SAFE in reality.

The Whole Dog Journal published a fabulous article discussing the actual data regarding the safety of frontline and other spot-on poisions people put on their dogs. IF you want to use these poisons - you should at least be aware of the facts besides paying attention to why you'd put something on your dog that you aren't supposed to TOUCH with bare hands! If you are interested in the article - I have permission to share this article - you can email me at Rigleyman@aol.com - Judy

Hi. I live in NJ and we live in the woods, but I will never get a Lyme vaccine again. When it first came out in the 90's I got it for my Bassett. Within 2 months she couldn't walk and was dx with Lyme. Went though the tx and she died at age 4, (2 years later with lymphoma. Not sure if there is any connection). Since then I have not allowed any of my dogs to get it. Last month when my dog was in for annual check-up and vaccines (which she will not be getting again either) she was given a Lyme vaccine that I was not aware of. Her tick screen was negative at that time. for about the past 4 weeks she has been lethargic, not eating well. 2 weeks ago I woke up to find she had urinated on the sofa in her sleep. She felt warm so I took her to the emergency vet. Temp was 103. DX uti. Started amoxicillin. 2 days later vet calls to say urine OK. Stopped med. She was still not right. Lethargic and eating just 1 meal. I had to go out of town and she was staying with my daughter. She called me to say she stopped eating and would not drink. She could barely walk. This happened overnight. Taken to emergency vet. Temp was 105.4. All treatment necessary was done to save her life. It appears she is testing positive for all Tick-bourne diseases. Her spleen and liver were enlarged and her platelets were almost none existent. To make a long story shorter, the Drs are all saying she was bit by a tick. When reading info about ehrlichia (sp), I find the time from bite to this level of the disease to be impossible. I therefore feel the vaccine was to blame on the life of yet another dog. Ruby was an active, fun-loving 3 yr old Great Dane who weighed 155#. She is now a quiet, lethargic, weak 140# dog, who I'm not sure is ever going to recover. They are saying she may have had an immune disease and that is why all the tests are positive, but whatever happened I do believe it was from the VACCINE and I do not believe I will ever have my wonderful loving dog back. I really just want her quality of life back for her. She can't take a 1 min walk without being short of breath.

PLEASE DO NOT VACCINATE YOUR DOGS. THEY STILL CAN GET LYME AND OTHER TICK-BOURNE DISEASES BUT WORSE THAN THAT IS THE REACTIONS TO THE VACCINE.

Please pray for Ruby. We need medical and spiritual help.

Feel free to e-mail me @ rbygrl76@yahoo.com. Thanks for having this blog.

RE: Post from Dotti about vaccines. PS-I use Frontline all year and have all my property treated with an animal friendly tick repellant.

My vet in Connecticut does not believe in administering the Lyme vaccine. He does it only if a client insists but he does not reccomend it. He said he used to but he's seen too many adverse reactions, instead he chooses to treat symptoms if they do arise.
He's has had exellent results in using antibiotic treatment if an infection leads to symptoms and disease. He has said that many dogs become infected and develop antibodies as they should and their immune systems fight the bacteria,and they remain healthy.
At the time I talked to him about this, my dog had been bitten by a Lyme infected tick. His reccomendation was not to test, but only to treat if the immune system did not fight the bacteria.
He does not believe in using antibiotics in a prophylactic sense, only if there is infection with symptoms. This made sense to me and he's had experience after living and working in Connecticut for quite while. It's a common topic for him to talk about with owners.

My 15 yr old border collie and I live in Louisville, KY, however traveled to southern IL on weekends for 2 years. My border collie acquired Lyme disease however was treated evidently so late, the painful arthritic symptoms are irreversible. I recently adopted a 1 yr old border collie mix, and although we no longer travel to a high risk area, had him vaccinated. The initial vaccination resulted in no side effects, however yesterdays second has caused sudden severe pain and some swelling in an unbelievably high-energy young dog. He is not even able to jump on the bed, has no appetite today, and (as one would expect), no desire to play. Ordinarily, with this puppy, I would open my door and duck. His overwhelming enthusiasm and playfulness is suddenly nonexistent. Obviously, I will contact the vet tomorrow morning, but would appreciate any input. Seems I may have caused the terrible illness which I wanted so badly to prevent.

Our healthy 1 year old border collie was vaccinated against lyme. Shortly after the vaccine was administered, our dog experienced severe loss of neuromuscular control such that she was unable to stand (resembled images of mad cow disease). Our dog is permanently paralyzed in her rear legs and we must express her bladder 3 times per day. We spent thousands of dollars on speciality vets and neurologists and subjected our dog to so many tests, but no one was ever able to diagnose the problem. I cannot say for sure that the vaccine caused her paralysis, but the episode of loss of neuromuscular function and associated caudal inflammation were temporally associated with this vaccine. I would never adminster this to any dog ever again!