What dogs are most vulnerable to Lyme disease?

Q: What dogs are most susceptible to getting the deadliest form of Lyme disease?

A: Most dogs with Lyme disease are successfully treated. Those who suffer fatal infections typically die from kidney failure. In my experience, Labrador Retrievers and Lab mixes are particularly prone to this form of disease. Proper and consistent use of veterinary-quality tick control and inoculation with newer Lyme vaccines are particularly important for any retriever. The other risk factor is waiting too long to seek veterinary care. Lyme disease is usually quite subtle in early stages. Most pets that die from Lyme disease were mildly ill for several days or weeks before developing serious illness. Some of these patients would survive if treatment is initiated when the disease is still subtle. Seek veterinary attention anytime your dog is acting achy, sluggish, or decides not to eat normally for two days in a row.

Q: How important is it to give the adenovirus-2 vaccine?  One veterinarian’s web site does not mention it in her recommendations. I was reading that it can be transmitted through urine, is this correct? If my dogs are kenneled with other dogs while away at training, I’d guess that their chances of becoming infected is somewhat higher?

A: Adenovirus-2 is one cause of infectious tracheobronchitis, often called “kennel cough.” Adenovirus-1 is the cause of infectious canine hepatitis, a frequently fatal disease that is characterized by extreme illness and liver failure. The adenovirus-2 vaccine also cross protects against adenovirus-1.

Adenoviruses can be spread by nasal secretions, saliva, blood, urine, or feces of infected dogs, wolves, foxes, coyotes, bears, and possibly racoons. Exposure to any of these animals, feces, or bodily fluids would constitute a risk.

The adenovirus-2 vaccine is considered a core vaccine by the American Animal Hospital Association’s (AAHA) vaccine taskforce. Core vaccines are ones that are recommended for all dogs by the immunologists, epidemiologists, and other experts who make up the panel. I trust this panel of experts over any single veterinarian’s opinion.

Generally adenovirus-2 vaccine will be combined in a single injection with canine distemper virus and parvovirus. The adenovirus-2 vaccine is significantly safer than the older adenovirus-1 vaccine that can sometimes be found in catalogs and farm supply stores.

Q: I am bringing a litter of puppies to be vaccinated before placing them in their new homes. Could you give me the brand name of the vaccine you recommend so that I can inform the puppy buyers to ask their vets to have it on hand for when they visit for the 12 week and 16 week boosters? 

A: I am extremely uncomfortable suggesting that my vaccine opinions are somehow more valid than another veterinarian’s. I suggest that puppy owners find a veterinarian who is familiar with and follows the AAHA vaccine taskforce guidelines.  They are available at aahanet.org. In addition, I would advise looking for a veterinarian who assesses each individual dog’s lifestyle and balancing risk with benefit when designing vaccine schedules. A close relationship with a good veterinarian will be more important to the long term health of the dog than a specific brand of vaccine.

Q: Is it normal for some coughing to occur after the Bordetella vaccine? My dog starting coughing a lot about six hours after his vet visit. It lasted for about a day. If it is from the vaccine, can he be contagious to our other dogs?

A: Sneezing for a few minutes to several hours after any intranasal vaccine is common. As for a cough after an intranasal Bordetella vaccine, a small percentage of vaccinates will experience a transient mild cough for 3 to 10 days. However, coughing a few hours after a vaccine is unlikely to be related. Since it resolved quickly, I would suspect pulling on the leash or some other cause of cough. Although the vaccine is a live attenuated product, there should not be enough shedding of the organisms to cause significant immune stimulus in housemates.

Dr. Watts is a companion animal general practitioner and owner of Clevengers Corner Veterinary Care. He can be reached through ClevengersCorner.com or by calling 428-1000.