This is a great article on Lyme Disease Vaccines for dogs.  It is dated March 8, 2025 by Dodds.  Here is the link in case I do not catch updates to the article.

https://hemopet.org/lyme-disease-vaccines-for-dogs/?utm_source=Klaviyo&utm_medium=campaign&_kx=PCfTp3dSTiQq6iyL-5261ifG3NSFlRVVB2KDMYCCUeU.Ypvfhc

Lyme Disease Vaccines for Dogs

March 8, 2025 / Infectious Diseases & Vaccines / By Dodds

Lyme disease does exist and so do vaccines that may prevent the illness in companion dogs. However, does existence necessitate vaccination? Not necessarily because several factors are at play regarding Lyme such as prevalence of the disease, disease transmission, disease severity, other deterrence methods, lifestyle and vaccine effectiveness.

Lyme Disease

Lyme disease is caused by the Borrelia burgdorferi bacteria. It cannot be spread by direct contact between humans and animals. It needs a vector such as a tick.

Lyme Disease Ticks

• Not every single species of ticks carries Lyme disease. The species that do are the blacklegged tick or the western blacklegged tick.
• Not every single tick within a species carries Lyme disease which varies widely depending on location. In the Northeast and Upper Midwest, 50% or more ticks are infected. In other parts of the country, it is usually less than 10%.
• Ticks must be attached and feeding for a minimum of 24-48 hours to transmit the bacterium that causes Lyme disease.

Lyme Disease Prevalence

A 2021 study compared 2001-2007 and 2013-2019 Lyme infection in dogs. For the most recent time period, the rates were:

• Northeast – 12.1%
• Midwest – 3.6%
• Southeast – 2.4%
• West – 5.9%

Overall, testing for Lyme increased in dogs and infection rates fluctuated dramatically in a few states. Nonetheless, these statistics are practically identical to the previous timespan by region.

Of course, Lyme disease needs to be assessed at a micro level and this in-depth and thorough study also mapped out the highest diagnostic rates per county, but there are limitations:

1. While the study includes reference laboratory results, the majority appear to originate from only one diagnostic company’s in-house antibody test that was updated between the two timespans. Additionally, this test supposedly detects only infections and not vaccinated immunity.
2. Reporting the veterinary practice’s county instead of the county of residence.

 

This second limitation diverges from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), which tracks human cases by county of residence. Of course, the CDC recognizes the limitations of its methods.

For instance, the organization only reports diagnostically proven cases and not suspected cases, as well has additional checks and balances. In 2022, around 63,000 human cases of Lyme disease were reported to the CDC. Recent estimates suggest that a little less than one-half million people may be diagnosed and treated for Lyme disease each year in the United States. This figure likely includes people who are treated based on clinical suspicion, but do not actually have Lyme disease.

Both resources give a general idea of Lyme disease prevalence in a particular area. Ultimately, people should know if ticks are present in their surroundings. For example, you could live in a heavily infested county, but never encounter ticks because your area is not heavily wooded or does not have migratory deer.

Lyme Disease Severity in Dogs

The American Animal Hospital Association (AAHA) succinctly describes disease severity:

Most dogs infected with B burgdorferi (the bacteria causing Lyme disease) remain healthy. Only 10% develop a polyarthritis that is responsive to antimicrobial therapy. The most important potential consequence of infection is protein-losing nephropathy. For the estimated 1 to 5% of infected dogs that develop Lyme nephritis, the outcome is often fatal despite antimicrobial therapy. Predisposition to Lyme nephritis has been suggested for retriever breeds, perhaps warranting additional consideration for vaccination in these breeds.

Lyme Disease Vaccine

The Lyme disease vaccine for dogs is considered non-core, which means it is based on lifestyle and environment. We will give you the top experts’ educated opinions on the vaccine.

AAHA 2022 Canine Vaccination Guidelines

Vaccination for Lyme borreliosis should be considered for dogs that live within or travel to regions with emerging or endemic Lyme disease. Dogs that spend time outdoors in endemic regions are most likely to benefit from vaccination. Vaccination should be complemented with an ectoparasite control program as prevention of tick feeding prevents disease transmission.

World Small Animal Veterinary Association (WSAVA) 2024 Canine Vaccination Guidelines

The use of Borrelia burgdorferi vaccines is controversial. Tick control is considered much more important. In Lyme disease endemic regions, the prevention of other tick-borne diseases is essential and relies on the use of rapid-acting ectoparasiticides and routine inspection of dogs for ticks. This also helps to prevent Lyme disease. No vaccine against Lyme disease provides complete protection. The efficacy of these vaccines is uncertain, and it is unclear whether these vaccines protect against Lyme nephritis, the most severe form of the disease. A systematic review on the efficacy of B. burgdorferi vaccines in dogs in North America suggests that vaccinated dogs have a lower chance of developing clinical signs than do unvaccinated dogs.  Authors of the ACVIM consensus update on Lyme borreliosis in dogs and cats did not reach consensus on whether or not to recommend vaccine use in dogs in B. burgdorferi endemic areas. They did agree that sick or proteinuric dogs should not be vaccinated.

Dr. Ronald Schultz

The late Dr. Schultz wrote the following regarding the Lyme disease vaccine over a decade ago. While practices may have changed at the University of Wisconsin and the same for infection rates, we do believe his general statements salient today.

It is not a scientifically based recommendation to suggest that all dogs in low-risk exposure states be vaccinated with Lyme Vaccine. There may be select areas in the state, “hot spots” where infection is very high and vaccination would be indicated, but dogs in most parts of the state would probably not receive benefit and may actually be at risk of adverse reactions if a large-scale vaccination program was initiated.

Wisconsin has a much higher risk of Lyme, however at our Veterinary Medical Teaching Hospital (VMTH) we have used almost no Lyme vaccine since it was first USDA approved in the early 1990’s. What we have found is infection (not disease), in much of Wisconsin, is low (<10% infection).

As you know, infection does not mean disease. About 3 to 4% of infected dogs develop disease. In contrast, in Western and Northwestern parts of Wisconsin infection occurs in 60 to 90% of all dogs. In those areas, vaccination is of benefit in reducing clinical disease. However, whether vaccination is or is not indicated, all dogs should be treated with the highly effective tick and flea medications.

Also, vaccinated dogs can develop disease as efficacy of the product is about 60 to 70% in preventing disease, thus antibiotics must be used in vaccinated dogs developing disease, just like it must be used in non-vaccinated diseased dogs.

Therefore, in general areas with a low infection rate <10% infection the vaccine should not be used as the vaccine will be of no value and may enhance disease (e.g. arthritis) directly or in some dogs that become infected. In areas where infection rates are high (>50%) then the vaccine will be very useful. Thus, I believe it is irresponsible to suggest that all dogs in low-risk exposure states should be vaccinated. Veterinarians should know, based on diagnoses in their clinic and other clinics in the area (town), how common the disease would be and they should base their judgment to vaccinate on risk, not on a statement that all dogs in a particular low-risk area need Lyme vaccine!

Hemopet

We do not suggest the Lyme disease vaccine. The incidence of serious Lyme disease development and severity is low. Even in high-exposure risk areas, we would lean to not automatically vaccinating for Lyme disease, because preventative and treatment measures are easily available and reliable. If relevant clinical symptoms do occur, accurate diagnosis is important.

Deterrence

As you can see, the two major veterinary organizations and Dr. Ronald Schultz tow a line between recommending the vaccine and not recommending it. We perceive that they are on the side of not recommending it.

However, they all emphatically recommend an ectoparasite control program – whether or not the vaccine is given. We agree with them.

Many of the aforementioned associations may suggest isoxazoline-based products such as Bravetco, Nexgard, Credelio, Simparica, etc. This is where we diverge from them.

All of these isoxazoline class of products come with a warning from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) because they have been associated with neurologic adverse reactions, including muscle tremors, ataxia, and seizures in some dogs and cats. Indeed, we are finding out more and more about the devastating effects of this type of flea and tick preventatives.

Or, they might suggest Seresto collars. After thousands of reports of adverse reactions, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has very recently advised against using the Seresto flea and tick collars.

Hemopet’s Opinion

All companion pet caregivers living in tick-infested areas should check pets after they have been outside, before bedtime and first thing in the morning. Remember, it takes 24-48 hours for Lyme disease to be transmitted from an actively feeding infected tick to the pet (and you).

Of course, let’s not forget that several tick-borne diseases exist such as Rocky Mountain spotted fever. For this particular disease, an infected tick must be attached for at least 4 to 6 hours to spread the disease – a much shorter transmission time than Lyme.

This circles us back to the isoxazoline class of flea and tick products, many of which claim not to kill ticks until eight hours after attaching.

Thus, another reason why we suggest increased vigilance.

For our suggestions on all-natural repellents and lawn deterrence methods, please see our article, “Choosing More All-Natural Tick Repellents”.

 

Additional References

O’Connor, Thomas P et al. “Dogs vaccinated with common Lyme disease vaccines do not respond to IR6, the conserved immunodominant region of the VlsE surface protein of Borrelia burgdorferi.” Clinical and diagnostic laboratory immunology vol. 11,3 (2004): 458-62. doi:10.1128/CDLI.11.3.458-462.2004, https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC404571/.

 

Little, Susan et al. “Canine infection with Dirofilaria immitis, Borrelia burgdorferi, Anaplasma spp., and Ehrlichia spp. in the United States, 2013-2019.” Parasites & vectors vol. 14,1 10. 6 Jan. 2021, doi:10.1186/s13071-020-04514-3, https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC7789229/.

 

Littman, Meryl P et al. “ACVIM consensus update on Lyme borreliosis in dogs and cats.” Journal of veterinary internal medicine vol. 32,3 (2018): 887-903. doi:10.1111/jvim.15085, https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC5980284/.