These days talking about Vaccines for Pomeranian health issues as a layman or in my case laywoman can get you in a heated debate, that eventually ends with someone all mad at you saying, “Well you’re not a Veterinarian”. And they would be correct, I am not a Vet and will never claim to be. What I do consider myself as, is someone who actually cares what I subject my Pomeranian to. I know that medicines, drugs and symptoms are thrown down Vet’s throats and infused into their brains… that’s what they know but most of them don’t actually do the research on the drugs they prescribe. I know it sounds absurd but many Vet’s that I have come n contact with are educated about a drug by a “drug” company sales representative and is left up to do their own due diligence on the drug… which only happens with the very responsible Veterinarians. So we put our faith in a prescription that a Vet may or may not know much about. So goes the way of the Bordetella vaccine for your Pomeranian.
Vaccines in general have come under fire lately from advocate groups and Pomeranian parents and there are two sides that are relentless in their opinions… but here are some facts that both sides do agree on:
Bordetella is the name of a whole family of nasty bacteria. Bordetella pertussis, parapertussis and bronchiseptica are a trilogy that leave phlegm and coughing in their wake. Although we are talking about Pomeranians here, pertussis and parapertussis can also be found in humans as “Whooping Cough”. Bronchiseptica is better known as “Kennel Cough” but is much harder to say.
Bordetella (kennel cough) is insanely contagious and can have complications… which can lead to in some cases to pneumonia. So it can be pretty serious. Many Veterinarians compare it to the common cold (human) in it’s spreadability. Most of the time Pom Parents get in an uproar over it but in a healthy Pomeranian, it really is more of an annoyance than an actual problem. I know as a Pommy Mommy it can sound horrible, all the choking, coughing and hacking seems like they can drop at anytime. As a so-called self-limiting ailment, which means it won’t get worse, it doesn’t usually require extensive treatment. Little puppies and older Pomeranians can develop conditions that may require additional attention, but very rarely.
If you have been to a dog park, a Vet’s office, a professional groomer or have boarded your Pomeranian in a Kennel… you’ve visited the best places to catch “Kennel Cough”… and why? -because all those places have one thing in common… exposure to many dogs in a confined environment. So what do the powers that be, create… a vaccine. Believing that if you are going to expose your Pom to that many dogs you should help them defend against the enemy… Bordetella. What always makes me laugh is that the Bordetella vaccine is required when you board your furry baby or take them to Doggy Day Care but somehow that sneaky little germ seems to still get your pup… doesn’t make sense does it? … and many Vets recommend a 6 month booster to keep your Pom healthy, hmmm?
Do Pomeranians need Bordetella Vaccines?
So – now for the shared facts about the kennel cough vaccine itself:
- it comes as a shot, oral or nasal treatment
- it purportedly lasts six months
- it is only effective for up to 70% of dogs
- it can actually cause the symptoms of kennel cough (though this is not considered a normal reaction to the vaccine, it is not infrequent)
I want to make something perfectly clear as an advocate for our furry babies, I am not against the Bordetella Vaccine for Pomeranians that are highly susceptible to contracting Kennel Cough or Bordetella. I want Pommy Mommies to think about why they are getting the vaccine. In a mostly healthy Pom that doesn’t get boarded or go to daycare it should be a choice to not have to get it. Something I would like you to consider… why in God’s green earth would you or I want to subject my Pomeranian to a vaccine that may cause the very sickness we are trying to defend against… I just wouldn’t take the risk if I wasn’t subjecting my Pomeranian to exposure. I want my furry baby to be healthy not encourage illness. Plus, there is no guarantee that the vaccine will work. Just like the human flu the vaccines can only protect very specific strains. There are 40 plus strains of Kennel Cough and the Bordetella vaccine only covers 10 – 14 strains. It doesn’t sound like an effective way to combat Kennel Cough now does it?
If you are feeding your Pomeranian a complete balanced diet, supplementing with coconut oil, using natural remedies, your Pomeranian is otherwise healthy and there are not exposed to other dog’s on a regular basis, there’s really no reason to try to get a preventative measure from your Vet and an extra expense.
For help in boosting your dog’s immune system to combat kennel cough or any of the Bordetella strains click here.
16 comments
I am extremely disappointing that you have chosen to post this article. This person is not a veterinary medical professional. The reality of the truth here is that their “opinion” is useless. There are a million holes in this argument. If you want to help pets, especially Poms you should be soliciting the opinions of actually educated, and trained medical professionals. This person clearly has no idea how infectious disease works, how many other upper resp. viruses and bacteria are often mistaken for Bord that are not. And how expensive and dangerous the disease can be to treat especially if it turns into pneumonia. More and more I am finding your group more irresponsible and you are posting the “opinions” of untrained, and uneducated people and touting it as gospel truth. This is extremely dangerous. Preventive care is designed to prevent disease and it is much much safer and cheaper to prevent a disease with a simple vaccine that it is to try to treat the illness once it occurs if the illness is even treatable at all. Shame on you. You claim to love Poms, but you are steering too many unsuspecting Pom owners astray. I am leaving your group and I pray that more of your member at least have the sense to speak to their vets before asking questions of your group.
Jenna Walsh Norton–There are varying opinions in the veterinary community on the effectiveness of the Bordetella vaccine. My own vets actually recommend against it. Look up Dr. Karen Becker and Dr. Peter Dobias–both well-respected veterinarians and you’ll find that they recommend against it as well–along with their reasons why. From my own experience, I can tell you that I stopped giving the booster years ago because the boosters were making my poms sick when they weren’t sick before they received the booster.
Jenna Walsh Norton shame on you!!you know this group in opinions only not the veterinary medicine handbook!!! Opinions- as you voiced yours but you know it’s for informational unbiased take it or leave it reads only! Buh bye!
^is
Have an open mind to things. One can chose on what to do.
The 3 vets my baby has seen over his 7.5 years have all recommended against it. Namely because of the side effects, but also because he has other issues that they all felt could be made worse by any reactions he would have gotten from the vaccine.
I appreciate you posting this and like the way you explain the subject where it’s easy to understand but intelligently explained. Our grandog had the shot once and had a bad reaction
Thanks for sharing Tara!!
Many years ago I had a pom and a Schipperke the vet ,at that time was giving my Schipp bordatella but not my pom. Both my pups were inside dogs never went to dog parks my pom was the only one getting groomed but for some reason my Schipp was getting the bordatella treatment. I was ignorant at the time and never asked why. But it goes to show you they will give it for no reason.
Wow is all I can say to the bashes that are not “reading” the article. I worked in a doggy daycare/boarding place. On the two times we unfortunately had kennel cough run rampant, there was a lot of owners that were not aware just how the bordella shot worked. They thought there dog would not get it since they had the shot. I don’t know how many times I had to repeat, the bordetella shot is similar to our flu shot, only works on so many strains and it’s not a hundred percent guranteed your dog will not get kennel cough.
Obviously you didn’t do all your research. For instance it also comes as an oral vaccine. I actually have not seen the intranasal version in years. Also kennel cough is a combination of virus and bacteria. Also I don’t know where you found your information (Dr. Google perhaps) but there are no documented cases of zoonosis of kennel cough. The Whooping cough bacteria maybe same family but are not the same found in humans. Show me a scientific journal with proof of zoonotic cases of kennel cough. This is like people saying they caught pinworms or lice from there dogs or cats….news flash these are species specific and will not live in/on humans. Most vets I know actually do the research on the medications they choose to use so we can answer questions. Can we remember everything…NO….that is why responsible vets refer to reference manuals on a constant basis. They next thing I would reference is natural and herbal remedies. Although some of these help they so not always work as well as people are lead to believe. Garlic not only is ineffective as flea control but it can also cause certain types of anemia in pets. There are NO homeopathic treatments or preventions for heartworm that work. Trust me I have treated many pets that were on these so called prevention/treatments. I see people everyday that are against vaccines. That is why canine distemper is on the rise, it is why in people Polio, Whooping cough, measles, smallpox and other diseases once almost eradicated are coming back. We will never change people like your minds until you are the client in front of us because your fur baby is in severe respiratory distress, needing oxygen or nearly dead from internal parasites or flea anemia or parvo and those drugs we know nothing about are the only thing that, if you don’t wait too long, May be the only thing to save their life. If I can educate one owner and save one innocent pet from these horrible illnesses or death it will be worth it. Do you have any idea how many sad little fur babies I have to euthanize because someone like you waits to bring them in because oh one more day to see if they get better. Then when I see them they are so sick that they can’t afford to even try to treat them? Let me just say way too many….One is too much especially when it is an easily preventable cause.
A vaccine is formulated with the causative agent in a muted form that is why there are side effects mimicking a toned down version.
Unfotunately around my area I can’t take my Poms to the Vet,Groomer,Bordering Facility,etc…without them getting the shot.I’m not even allowed to make the decision!
Interesting read. Our veterinarian recommended against the bordatella vaccine as well. He said it often times does more harm than good and unless we were planning on boarding anytime soon to hold off on it.
Thank you Tara! Everyone needs to be infomed on this matter and make their own decision regarding vaccination. I myself do not like for my Cody to have the multi-vaccination the vets want our babies to have every year. In the case of my Duchess, I truly believe the stress of that vaccine contributed greatly to her heart condition and death. Just like the human doctors and the pharmaceutical companies an ulterior motive is present. (aka $$). And as you stated, we have to do our due diligence for our our own health and that of our beloved furbabies.
And Vets insist on it before any elective surgery such as dental care, spaying or neutering.
It does upset me that I not only have to stress over these procedures and anesthesia, but then I also am forced to give a vaccine I otherwise would not give.