Quote:
Originally Posted by Kris Christine
Dr. Alice Wolf, Professor of Small Animal Internal Medicine at Texas A&M College of Veterinary Medicine, stated in an address Vaccines of the Present and Future WSAVA 2001 - Vaccines of the Present and Future at the 2001 World Small Animal Veterinary Association World Congress that 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.....The most reactive vaccines for dogs include leptospirosis bacterin and Borrelia [Lyme]vaccine .". |
Kris,
Thank you for not only posting all this information but also referencing Dr. Alice Wolf. I would encourage everyone to read her lecture which Kris posted a link to. It is important. As far as veterinarians whom I admire, Dr. Alice Wolf is one who definitely makes my top five!
In that lecture Dr Wolf also mentions,
Ninety percent (90%) of human cases of Lyme disease occur in only 100 counties in only eight states. The distribution of canine Borrelia infection mirrors that seen in human beings. Lyme vaccine has absolutely no medically acceptable rationale for use in dogs in non-endemic locales.
In a couple of VIN posts, Dr Wolf mentions that for those pets that are to receive lyme vaccinations should be tested prior to vaccination. Sero Positive dogs will likely receive no benefit from the vaccine. She also recommends the Merial lyme vaccine above others. Here is a quote by Dr Alice Wolf,
"From the data I've seen the Merial vaccine makes the most sense since it's supposed to block infection before it starts, not after the organisms are already in the dog." However there is a lot of risk/benefit considerations needed prior to vaccinating any dog with a lyme vaccine. I do carry the Merial lyme vaccine but I cannot think of the last time I vaccinated a dog with one. I talk most of the owners out of it. Unfortunately this controversy gets vets into a lot of trouble as some people will use their lawyers to argue each side of it all. There have been several law suits against progressive vets who avoid some of the controversial vaccines. While the litigation usually goes no where, the cost of litigation in both money and stress is considerable. I know many vets that would just rather vaccine the dog and if there is a problem - encourage the clients to sue the vaccine company instead of them. It is easier the being sued for not vaccinating. Crazy world huh?!
Again, great post Kris.
