Does your dog regularly attend day care, play with their friends in dog parks, or compete in popular sports or conformation competitions? If so, your veterinarian may recommend the Bordetella vaccine—often referred to as a “kennel cough shot”. Not all dogs need this non-core vaccine, but for some, it can be the difference between a mild cough and a more serious sickness.
Learn more about the Bordetella vaccine for dogs, how effective it is, and when veterinarians may recommend it. This could help you decide what’s best for your pet based on their lifestyle and overall health.
Key Points
What is Bordetella? How Is It Different from “Kennel Cough”?
“Kennel cough” is the term pet owners and veterinarians commonly use to describe a contagious upper respiratory tract infection that spreads rapidly amongst dogs in close quarters.
Symptoms of kennel cough can range from mild to severe, typically including a dry, honking cough, nasal or eye discharge, lethargy, and sometimes a mild fever. In most cases, dogs make a speedy recovery, but for some, it can be debilitating and even progress to pneumonia. Puppies and dogs with weakened immune systems are at greater risk.
“[However], kennel cough is not caused by a single bacterium or virus and is probably better called canine infectious respiratory disease complex (CIRDC),” Dr. Ann Hohenhaus, Senior Veterinarian and Director of Pet Health Information at the Schwarzman Animal Medical Center, explains. Experts have identified at least 12 respiratory pathogens that can cause these symptoms. This is why kennel cough is classified as a syndrome rather than a disease.
Amongst the list of viral and bacterial pathogens, Bordetella bronchiseptica is one of the most common and contagious. This bacterium spreads through droplets when an infected dog coughs or sneezes, or from contact with recently contaminated items.
Dogs that lead a social lifestyle are more predisposed to developing kennel cough as a result of the community-acquired Bordetella bronchiseptica infection. That’s why prevention through vaccination can be beneficial for dogs that frequently interact with other dogs.
How Does the Bordetella Vaccine Work?
There isn’t a “cure-all” vaccine that offers protection against all the pathogens that can cause kennel cough. However, if your dog is exposed to Bordetella bronchiseptica, the Bordetella vaccine will specifically target this bacterium. Sometimes the vaccine is also combined with other agents for broader protection.
Cynda Crawford, DVM, PhD, is the Fredrica Saltzman Endowed Professorship Chair in Shelter Medicine in the UF Shelter Medicine Program at the College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Florida. She explains that the vaccine doesn’t provide sterile immunity, which means it doesn’t guarantee your dog won’t catch a Bordetella bronchiseptica infection.
“However, it can reduce the severity of the symptoms, reduce progressions to pneumonia, shorten the duration of infection, and therefore the dog is contagious to other dogs for a shorter period of time,” Dr. Crawford says.
Routine vaccination in at-risk dogs is widely considered effective and safe.
Types of Bordetella Vaccine
Veterinarians can administer the Bordetella vaccine in three different ways: intranasally (nasal spray), orally, or subcutaneously.
“Comparisons show that the intranasal and oral formulations are more effective than the injectable vaccine in inducing a quicker immunity that lasts for much longer,” Dr. Crawford says.
Intranasal and oral vaccines typically provide protection within three to five days and offer at least 12 months of immunity. Injectable forms typically require two doses several weeks apart, take longer to build immunity, and don’t last as long. Dr. Crawford explains that this is because the injectable vaccine doesn’t stimulate targeted mucosal immunity or local immunity in the upper respiratory tract the way the other vaccines do.
How Often Should Dogs Be Vaccinated?
Puppies can receive an intranasal dose of the Bordetella vaccine as early as three to four weeks of age, but it typically occurs when they’re over six weeks old.
Unlike core vaccinations for dogs, which often require boosters every 1-3 three years, Bordetella boosters are typically given annually thereafter. Some veterinarians even recommend a six-month booster for dogs at high risk.
However, Dr. Hohenhaus points out that vaccination frequency varies and is determined in studies conducted prior to USDA approval. “Each vaccine will have its own duration of immunity, age at which the vaccine is safe for administration, and revaccination schedule,” she explains.
It’s also important to be aware of when protection will begin. Administering the vaccine the morning your dog is going to a boarding kennel or attending a busy dog show won’t help much. It takes time for the immune response to develop.
While studies indicate that single-dose intranasal vaccines can offer protection within 48 to 72 hours, injectable vaccines won’t provide protective immunity until at least 5 days after the second injection.
Combination Vaccines for Bordetella
Because several different pathogens can cause kennel cough, Bordetella vaccines are sometimes combined with other protective agents. “They can be monovalent (only against Bordetella bronchiseptica), bivalent (against Bordetella bronchiseptica and canine parainfluenza virus), or trivalent (against Canine Adenovirus 2, Canine Parainfluenza Virus, and Bordetella bronchiseptica),” Dr. Hohenhaus says.
Veterinarians often recommend an intranasal bivalent or trivalent vaccine when your dog will be in an environment where respiratory infections can spread rapidly. They provide long-lasting protection within days and only require a single dose.
Side Effects of the Bordetella Vaccine
Bordetella vaccines are generally well-tolerated. “With the preferred formulations administered intranasally or orally, there’s very little risk for adverse events,” Dr. Crawford says. “The more common risk would be a little bit of coughing or sneezing, especially after using the nose drops.”
In rare cases, injectable vaccines can cause a small lump or mild soreness at the injection site. However, an extensive study evaluating 9 million doses of Bordetella vaccine found that fewer than 1% of dogs experienced any reaction.
“Some vaccine labels say this or something similar: This product has not been tested in pregnant dogs, and thus safety in pregnant dogs is unknown,” Dr. Hohenhaus says. “Others state the vaccine is safe in pregnant animals, but it’s always best to discuss this with your veterinarian as to what is right for your dog.”
Is the Bordetella Vaccine Worth It for Your Dog?
The Bordetella vaccine is classified as “non-core”, meaning it isn’t a requirement for every dog. Instead, veterinarians recommend it on an individual basis, depending on your dog’s lifestyle and risk exposure.
Some boarding, day care, or grooming facilities may require dogs to be vaccinated before visiting. Dr. Crawford also points out that it can be particularly beneficial for puppies or adult dogs with chronic bronchitis, who are at a higher risk of getting serious pneumonia.
For dogs that rarely come into close contact with other dogs, it may not be necessary. For social dogs or those who may need boarding unexpectedly, it’s a sensible preventative measure, helping keep your dog—and the dogs they meet—healthy.
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