Lyme Vaccine for Dogs Pros and Cons (A Complete Guide)

When weighing the Lyme vaccine for dogs and evaluating its pros and cons, it helps to understand the disease, how the vaccine works, and your dog’s personal risk. This guide walks you through the need-to-knows so you can make a confident, informed choice together with your veterinarian.

What Is Lyme Disease?

Lyme disease is caused by the bacterium Borrelia burgdorferi, and it is passed to dogs through black-legged tick bites (1). These ticks feed on many animals, including dogs and people.

Once the bacteria enter the bloodstream, they can move throughout the body, often settling in the joints or kidneys. According to the American Veterinary Medical Association, only 5–10% of infected dogs ever show symptoms. In humans, about 90% do (2). Signs in dogs usually take months to appear and can have a big impact when they do.

Dog Lyme Disease vs Human Lyme Disease

Lyme disease looks very different in dogs. People often develop a bull’s-eye rash within 3–30 days of a tick bite. Dogs don’t get this rash (3).

While most humans develop symptoms, only a small percentage of dogs become visibly sick (2, 4). This natural resistance is one of the main reasons veterinarians continue to debate the value of routine vaccination.

Lyme Disease Vaccines for Dogs

Lyme vaccines are considered “noncore.” This term means that they’re recommended based on exposure risk tied to lifestyle and geography (5). Current vaccines work in a few ways:

• Whole-cell bacterin vaccines use killed bacteria to stimulate a broad immune response.
• Recombinant vaccines use selected proteins, such as OspA or OspC.
• Multivalent vaccines combine Lyme protection with other antigens.

A meta-analysis found vaccine efficacy ranging from 50% to 100%, with most studies clustering around 60–86% (6, 7). Results vary by vaccine type, study design, and individual immune response.

Lyme Vaccine for Dogs Pros and Cons

Pros: Arguments for Vaccination

1. Helps block transmission: These vaccines create antibodies that target the bacteria in the tick’s gut before it can infect your dog. Field studies show strong protection when paired with reliable tick control (8). Vaccinated dogs face lower odds of developing signs of Lyme disease (6).
2. Extra protection in high-risk regions: Dogs living in or visiting the Northeast, upper Midwest, or Pacific Northwest have a much higher exposure risk. Studies show vaccinated dogs experience a lower infection rate than unvaccinated dogs in these areas (9).
3. Useful for outdoor-loving dogs: Dogs spending time in wooded areas, tall grasses, or fields get exposed more often. Vaccination can offer helpful backup protection, though it never replaces year-round tick prevention (8).
4. Strong results in controlled studies: Challenge studies show vaccinated dogs are well protected when exposed to infected ticks. One study reported that 15 of 16 vaccinated dogs stayed healthy with no clinical or tissue changes after exposure (10).
5. Longer protection with some vaccines: VANGUARD crLyme carries a USDA-approved 15-month duration of immunity, which may reduce booster frequency (10).

Cons: Arguments Against Vaccination

1. Most dogs never become sick: About 95% of infected dogs remain symptom-free their whole lives (2, 4). A 2021 paper suggested Lyme disease has “low clinical significance” in dogs and responds well to treatment when needed (11).
2. Mixed expert opinions: The 2018 ACVIM consensus group did not reach agreement on whether to recommend vaccination. Half supported it, half did not (11). Critics note that real-world field data is limited.
3. Side effects: Common short-term effects include fever, soreness at the injection site, fatigue, and reduced appetite. A 2005 report noted that Lyme vaccines had the highest rate of acute adverse reactions within three days of vaccination (12).
4. Allergic reactions: Vomiting, diarrhea, or facial swelling may suggest a reaction. Seek veterinary care immediately if these appear.
5. Cost: Vaccination typically costs $20–40 per dose. Dogs need an initial two-dose series and then regular boosters.
6. Caution with kidney issues: Dogs with past Lyme-related kidney problems might face higher risks. Your vet should check kidney function before vaccinating dogs with a relevant history.
7. Not full protection: The vaccine doesn’t protect against all tick-borne diseases like anaplasmosis or ehrlichiosis. Tick preventives remain necessary (13).
8. No herd immunity: Dogs can’t pass Lyme disease directly to other dogs or people. Ticks must be involved, so vaccination only protects the individual dog (11).

The Veterinary Debate

The debate reflects real scientific disagreement. According to AAHA guidelines, vaccines “not generally recommended” may involve diseases with low clinical impact, strong treatment success, or limited field evidence (11).

On one hand, supporters value the added layer of protection for at-risk dogs. Conversely, opponents point to low clinical disease rates and the strong antibiotic response. They also question safety or efficacy under real-world conditions.

Symptoms of Lyme Disease in Dogs

Knowing what to watch for in your pet is valuable. If a dog does develop illness, signs usually appear weeks to months after infection and could include (1, 2, 14):

• Fever
• Shifting-leg lameness
• Swollen, painful joints
• Swollen lymph nodes
• Loss of appetite
• Lethargy

The consequences of untreated disease potentially include:

• Kidney disease (Lyme nephritis), which can be fatal
• Vomiting, weight loss, increased thirst and urination
• Neurological signs
• Rare heart complications

Lyme nephritis has a poor prognosis (14).

Treatment of Lyme Disease in Dogs

Most dogs respond quickly to doxycycline, usually given for at least 30 days (2, 14). Many improve within a few days.

Dogs that test positive should also undergo screening to rule out kidney complications. Even after treatment, antibody levels can stay high for years (14).

Dogs with Lyme nephritis need intensive care. This includes immunosuppressants and supportive therapy. Unfortunately, outcomes are often poor (3).

Prevention: Beyond Vaccination

A full prevention plan offers the best protection:

• Use proven tick preventives year-round.
• Check your dog for ticks daily after outdoor activity.
• Remove ticks as soon as you find them.
• Keep grass short and limit tick habitat.
• Avoid tall grass and brush when possible.

Ticks usually need 24–48 hours of attachment to transmit B. burgdorferi (1).

Making the Right Decision for Your Dog

Consider these five key points with your veterinarian:

1. Where you live or travel: Dogs in endemic regions face far higher risk.
2. Lifestyle: Outdoor adventures raise exposure.
3. Tick-prevention habits: If compliance is a challenge, vaccination may help.
4. Health history: Kidney issues may change your vet’s recommendation.
5. Comfort level: Some owners prefer added protection. Others rely confidently on tick preventives alone.

Final Thoughts on Lyme Vaccine For Dogs: Pros and Cons

Understanding the Lyme vaccine for dogs and its pros and cons can help you make a thoughtful decision. Lyme disease can cause serious issues, but most infected dogs stay symptom-free and respond very well to early antibiotic treatment. Vaccination can add helpful protection for dogs at higher risk, but it never replaces consistent tick control.

Your veterinarian can guide you based on your dog’s lifestyle, overall health, and local disease trends.

FAQ

Should every dog get the Lyme vaccine?

No. It’s recommended based on exposure risk, not as a universal vaccine.

Does the vaccine stop ticks from biting?

No. Tick preventives are still required.

Can vaccinated dogs still get Lyme disease?

Yes, but the risk is lower when vaccination is paired with reliable tick control.

Is Lyme disease contagious between dogs?

No. A tick must transmit the bacteria.

Sources and Further Reading

1. Merck Veterinary Manual. Lyme Disease (Lyme Borreliosis) in Dogs
2. American Veterinary Medical Association. Lyme Disease
3. Virginia Tech Veterinary Teaching Hospital. Lyme Disease in Dogs: What Dog Owners Should Know
4. Cornell University College of Veterinary Medicine. Lyme Disease
5. VCA Animal Hospitals. Lyme Disease in Dogs
6. Vogt, N.A., et al. (2019). Efficacy of Borrelia burgdorferi vaccine in dogs in North America: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Journal of Veterinary Internal Medicine, 33(1), 23-36.
7. Today’s Veterinary Practice. Vaccinating Dogs Against Lyme Disease: Two Points of View
8. Levy, S.A. (2002). Use of a C6 ELISA test to evaluate the efficacy of a whole-cell bacterin for the prevention of naturally transmitted canine Borrelia burgdorferi infection. Veterinary Therapeutics, 3(4), 420-424.
9. Levy, S.A., et al. (2005). Lyme disease in dogs: A study of its efficacy. International Journal of Applied Research in Veterinary Medicine, 3(1).
10. Stone, N.E., et al. (2020). VANGUARD crLyme: A next generation Lyme disease vaccine that prevents B. burgdorferi infection in dogs. Vaccine, 38(51), 8085-8093.
11. Evason, M., & Stull, J. (2021). Why the Rationale for Canine Borrelia burgdorferi Vaccination Is Unpersuasive. Frontiers in Veterinary Science, 8, 688549.
12. Whole Dog Journal. The Lyme Vaccine for Dogs
13. American Kennel Club. Lyme Disease in Dogs: Symptoms, Tests, Treatment, and Prevention
14. PetMD. Lyme Disease in Dogs