Bordetella Vaccines for Dogs

Bordetella, though treatable, can turn your dog’s life upside down. For this reason, many veterinarians encourage dog parents to give their dogs this vaccine to avoid any issues in the future.

You may have noticed that this vaccine is not on the list of core vaccines and is therefore optional. This article will help you decide if you should get it for your dog:

What is Bordetella?

In dogs, Bordetella is a bacterial respiratory infection that causes inflammation, leading to a host of uncomfortable symptoms. If left untreated, this can develop into pneumonia which can be a death sentence for your dog.

What is the Bordetella vaccine?

The bordetella vaccine comes in two types. One is like traditional vaccines that have to be injected, and the other is intranasal which means it is administered in the form of nose drops. The latter is considered more effective as it is administered at the point of entry of the bacteria. There are no common side effects.

Note that while bordetella can lead to kennel cough, the vaccine will not prevent your dog from ever contracting kennel cough as there are several triggers for this condition.

The bordetella vaccine is generally recommended for dogs that frequent daycares, training classes, or boarding houses frequently. In other words, if your dog is regularly in close spaces with other dogs, he/she has a higher risk of contracting the virus. You should also strongly consider it if your dog goes to dog parks.

The vaccine may be administered during the puppy stage or as an adult, wherever the need arises. There should be at least three weeks between the first vaccine and the booster. Remember that giving your dog the bordetella vaccine does not exempt him/her from core vaccines such as distemper or rabies.