In this brief critical discussion, the authors argue that B. burgdorferi vaccines in dogs meet the criteria outlined by AAHA for a vaccine that is not generally recommended, and that these vaccines do not confer any clear benefit to public health, as Lyme borreliosis is a vector-borne disease. For these reasons, they conclude that the rationale for canine B. burgdorferi vaccination is unpersuasive.
If a tick prevention regimen is properly adhered to, there should be no need for vaccination.”
Source: Frontiers in Veterinary Science, August 11, 2021. Link. In terms of a risk-benefit analysis for the individual animal, the authors argue that the risks associated with B. burgdorferi vaccines are not outweighed by their benefit, as the vast majority of dogs demonstrate a natural immunity to B. burgdorferi, in contrast to other pathogenic agents.
Also see: Lyme disease Multiplex testing for dogs, Cornell University CVM. Link. Similar to humans, dogs are incidental, dead-end hosts for B. burgdorferi1. Typical clinical signs in dogs are sporadic fever, acute arthritis, arthralgia, lameness, and glomerulopathy. Clinical signs of lameness often develop two to five months after infection. B. burgdorferi can persist for at least one year in clinically recovered, untreated dogs.
INSIGHTS: The Frontiers article also discusses vaccine efficacy concerns but does not address the diagnosis timing and inherent challenges evidenced in the Cornell article.
Is this the old ounce of prevention versus a pound of cure quandary? You decide.