Lyme Vaccinations

[jjgotts]

We decided to get our 3-1/2 month old Ruti vaccinated against Lyme Disease because we do a lot of hiking and running in the woods. We also live in Northern MI. (My husband and I were also thinking about getting it.) He has had his first shot but not the booster yet. I just saw a show on Dateline about some people that have had serious side effects of the Lyme Vaccination that began after their second shot. Some of the side effects are severe arthritis, joint pains, crippling of the hands, etc. They said it has destroyed their life and they live in constant pain. The Vaccination is now being examined closer. My husband and I have decided not to get the vaccination for ourselves and instead use tick spray/repellent and are wondering if we should do the same for our little Ruti. Can we put tick repellent all over him when we go hiking? Does anyone have any thoughts or information on the Lyme Vaccination? We only have until May 5 (his next scheduled booster). Thanks a million!

 

[Tulsa-Dan]

I use Frontline Plus on my dogs. This product is one of those spot-on flea/tick products. It works great! Easy to use and protects them for a month against fleas and ticks, including the deer tick which carries lyme disease. It also kills any existing ticks and fleas your dog may have.

My doctor also stopped giving the vaccination to people because of the controversy and possible side effects.

 

[Jan]

I gave Markus the Lyme Vacination for a couple of years, but then my vet recommended that I didn't. He said that the complications from the vacine were worse that the disease itself and was more difficult to treat.

 

[Bumblebee]

I use Frontline Plus on both my boys, but also have them vaccinated for Lyme. Thanks for bringing this to my attention. I will talk to my vet before I give them thier booster shots this year.

 

[isabelaa]

My vet also suggested using frontline rather than the vaccination.

 

[mailrobc]

No to Lyme vaccine

I had a long talk with my vet some time ago about the lyme vaccine because our dogs are out in open fields and wooded areas almost daily and they pick up ticks periodically. As I recall, the vet said that the chances of a dog suffering noticeable, adverse effects from Lyme is extremely low. First, Lyme isn't as widespread in ticks in our area as in some other places. Secondly, dogs are effected much less by the disease than humans - most dogs who contract it experience no symptoms at all. And in the few that do show symptoms, these are very mild. It's not the debiliating disease it is in humans. For this reason, our vet did not think it was necessary to recommend Lyme vaccination to his patients. I was glad to hear it, since I'm not crazy about dogs getting vaccinated every year - I don't believe it's necessary once they've developed immunity after their first year's worth of shots. (Incidentally, I completely sympathize with what can be an emoitonal dilemma in trying to decide what shots are best for your dog!) My philosophy about Lyme is to watch like a hawk that my husband and I don't pick up ticks, and to not to worry about those that show up on the dogs.

 

[Lava Linda]

The ticks have to be attached and feeding for at least 8 hours (up to 12 hours) before the infectious spirochetes will be activated so they can infect the bloodstream. If you promptly remove a lyme carrying tick, there is no danger of infection to you or your dog.
Something else to keep in mind....

 

[Lava Linda]

The ticks have to be attached and feeding for at least 8 hours (up to 12 hours) before the infectious spirochetes will be activated so they can infect the bloodstream. If you promptly remove a lyme carrying tick, there is no danger of infection to you or your dog.
Something else to keep in mind....

 

[Marnee]

We have 3 boxers, and our oldest, Reeba, was diagnosed with Lyme's Disease. We lived at the time in a wooded area populated with deer. The symptoms were very painful - her joints were inflamed, she couldn't move without crying out. We had to carry to outside to do her business. We thought we were going to have to put her down - which was terrifying, as she was only 7 years old. After many unsuccessful attempts at treatment, the Vet finally prescribed tetracylene - the people antibiotic - and it worked. She has been free of symptoms for over a year, and is now frisky and fine. I definitely would recommend vaccination given the alternative - IF you live in a high risk area. We have vaccinated our other two ( 1 and 3 years) with no ill effects.

 

[mailrobc]

Marnee - What a scary experience you had with Reeba - it's great to hear you found a way to help her beat the disease.