BORDATELLA
Bordetella, a bacterium, is one of the two major causes of infectious tracheobronchitis (ITB, kennel
cough), an extremely contagious respiratory disease of dogs. If treated, ITB rarely causes death, but
even with treatment, the disease often last for weeks, during which time the affected dog is extremely
contagious to other dogs. The disease is spread by direct contact and via airborne transmission.
Bordetella is characterized by a dry, hacking cough that sounds like a human "smokers cough".
Bordetella is often a complicating secondary part of other diseases such as canine distemper. It
does not affect people or cats.
Bordetella vaccine is given once yearly, except for the first time when it is given injections, two to four
weeks apart until 16 weeks-of-age, then once a year for life. The minimum age is 8 weeks. Intranasal
(drops in the nose) vaccines give faster and better protection than do injectable vaccines.
NOTE: Kennel cough is an extremely contagious respiratory disease caused by a variety of bacteria
and viruses, the most important of which are bordetella (a bacterium) and canine parainfluenza virus.
The disease is most common in dogs who have close contact with other dogs (e.g. in kennels,
shelters, and working dog environments). However, occasionally, cases occur in dogs who never left
their backyards. The disease is treatable but may last for up to eight weeks, during which time the
affected dog is highly contagious to other dogs. If untreated, the disease can progress to pneumonia
and death.
There are two types of kennel cough vaccines: injectable and intranasal (in the nose). The injectable
type comes in two forms:
(A) against the parainfluenza virus as part of the 6-in-1 or 7-in-1 vaccine and
(B) as a separate anti-bordetella vaccine. These two forms are variably effective but worth getting.
The intranasal type of kennel cough vaccine is best of all. This latter vaccine consists of drops of
vaccine in the nose. This vaccine (containing bordetella and parainfluenza) consists of drops of
vaccine dripped into a dog's nose. We recommend this vaccine especially for dogs who are to be
boarded within a week or so of vaccination and thus do not have enough time to get the two
bordetella injections two to four weeks apart. There still remains some controversy as to the overall
effectiveness of kennel cough vaccines in preventing disease. But why take a chance? For a few
bucks a year, a dog can get the protection that these vaccines do provide. The injectable vaccine
provides fairly good protection, and the intranasal vaccine provides fast acting and good protection.
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