Bordetella Vaccine - Page 4

Deby, your dobie needs skull xrays and if they don't show anything, then I'd take him to a soft tissue surgeon. If the discharge is only from one nostril, he may have a tumor, but that's not always the case. My GSD started to sneeze blood and thick, stringy mucous a short time after the intra-nasal vaccine. At first it was limited to just one nostril, but later both were effected equally. A skull xray showed nothing remarkable. The soft tissue surgeon anesthesized him and examined his sinuses, took tissue samples for biopsies and cultures.  All the tests were negative. He said he had never seen anything quite like it and felt the vaccine could well have been to blame. Long story short, nothing ever helped inspite of 2 solid years of almost every antibiotic on the market and one more sinus surgery. We carried towels everywhere we took him and I cleaned up after him inside the house. This continued for 3, 4  years until he died from leukemia.

IMO it is not worth the risk to vaccinate against kennel cough regardless of which vaccine is used. It is a nuisance disease, no healthy dog will ever die from kennel cough, it is self-limiting and self-curing. I've owned dogs since 1958, this was the first I ever vaccinated against kennel cough because the kennel owner required it.  Never had one single dog come down with kennel cough although most were shown and trained in group classes with multiple dogs. The vaccine only protects that dog, it does not prevent any other dog from getting it so when a kennel owner requires it that is to protect the dog in question, not the rest of the animals boarding there. You might ask a kennel owner requiring the kennel cough vac if you could sign a waiver promising to not hold her responsible if your dog should get kennel cough while boarding there. It is not protective against all strains of the disease either. I worked as a vet tech and we frequently saw kennel cough from the local humane society. The vets prescribed an OTC cough syrup and within 2 weeks the dogs were assymptomatic.

Only a vet drug company would spend money to develop a vaccine against a disease like kennel cough. They prey on pet owners and make them feel as if they are not doing right by their animals if they don't bombard their immune systems with a vaccination against every disease known to man. Kennel cough vaccine is a money maker for the manufacturers and the vets. We already give our dogs enough vaccinations for this diseases and that disease. BTW I don't vaccinate annually for anything anymore. Every 3 years  until the dog is 7 or 8, then that's the end of it other than the rabies as required by law. We take Blitz camping in other states, so I  make sure he's UTD on rabies. Frankly if he didn't leave his yard I would never give him another.

Wow Ive only ever vaccinated for Bordetella once when I was required to give it and the dogs got sick. Once the immune system has recognized the virus, then regiving it doesnt make the immune system work better. Just the opposite happens, continously giving it over and over weakens the immune system all together. If I bring a dog in that is coughing then I take proactive steps with herbs to keep any secondary infection from creating havoc. I think if people knew just how little testing was done before protocols were changed and for what reason other than profit, then we would all be asking more questions and not just taking a vets word for it. Show me published trials that changing the current protocol is better and more effective. Until then it isnt worth the risk.

 

I dont vaccinate, either. I do titers. My dogs received their puppy shots, one month apart, each, and then the one year boosters. They werent vaccinated again, after that. Missie T is 7 1.2 yrs old and Joss is 10 yrs old. Their titers are in the excellent range. My vet and I had a huge arguement before the titers. He insisted that they couldnt have titers since they werent vaccinated in so many years.  It was fun proving him wrong. However, he did learn, and now gives clients a choice as to vaccinate or titer.....LOL! My vet keeps an open mind, which is what I love about him :)

Marjorie
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