Question:
In a recent column, you wrote about a vaccination that could cause an autoimmune disease. Was it the whooping cough vaccination?
My 5-month-old Maltese puppy received his vaccination shots, and a week or two later he developed a nasty cough and sneezing. My vet put him on an antibiotic shot and pills for the cough. He is still coughing.
A.S., Palm Beach Gardens, FL Oct 11, 2011
Answer:
Only humans are given the whooping cough vaccination since the disease does not affect dogs.
Dogs have more adverse reactions to routine vaccinations than cats, and they are usually mild and of short duration, such as a bit of stiffness, slight fever and lethargy. More serious reactions include autoimmune and chronic inflammatory diseases.
Your dog's health issue may be purely coincidental or it could have come from the vaccinations, especially when a "cocktail" of several vaccines is given at the same time. This combination can act like a "cluster bomb" and overwhelm the animal's immune system, making the recipient more prone to secondary bacterial infection. In your dog's instance, this was in his upper respiratory system.
Make sure the mandatory rabies vaccination is given several weeks before or after routine boosters are needed. A blood test can be done to see which, if any, booster vaccinations are needed.
For details and vaccination protocols and risks, visit my article, Dog Vaccination Protocols and Services.
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