Ask Dr. Amanda - Vaccinations
"My GSP's travel all over the US and parts of Canada, and regularly encounter dogs from all over. Is a standard '5 way' vaccine enough? What about kennel cough, Lepto, Lyme, and giardia? Are there any risks or benefits?"
(Amanda, leave your reply as a comment below, TC)
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For dogs which travel and encounter other dogs, the Bordetella, or "Kennel Cough" vaccine in very important.
Including Leptospirosis vaccine into the protocol is most often done for dogs who are encountering water of unknown purity, i.e. most hunting dogs who may be entering swampy areas.
This year I've seen a significant spike in the number of dogs coming back as positive for exposure to Lyme, even ones who are on good tick prevention. If you're taking your dog out into the woods at all, Lyme vaccination is warranted. Even for dogs who have had a clinical case of Lyme disease, immunity post illness seems to be of relatively short duration.
Effectiveness of the giardia vaccine is still somewhat questionable. It's not even among what we stock in the clinic. It's important to be aware of the clinical signs if you're taking your dog into areas that put him/her at risk. And if your dog ever does become ill, make certain your veterinarian is aware of the activities your dog participates in.
If your dog has shown any sensitivity to immunizations in the past, spreading out the vaccines so that they're not all given on the same day may be warranted.