BORDETELLA 6 MONTH BOOSTER
Our records show it's time to administer a Bordetella vaccine to your dog or puppy. Bordetella is an upper respiratory infection complex of dogs and puppies. It is also known as "kennel cough," although many dogs with Bordetella infection have never been to a kennel! When your dog has kennel cough, you might think he has something stuck in his throat. The cough associated with acute infectious tracheobronchitis, (ITB) or kennel cough, is a high-pitched, honk-like cough, sometimes followed by retching. Infected dogs can also sneeze frequently.
Kennel cough is a highly contagious inflammation of the trachea (windpipe) and bronchial tree caused by a contagious virus (adenovirus, parainfluenza virus) or bacterium (Bordetella bronchiseptica). The infectious agents can be transmitted through the air, by direct contact with an infected dog (such as touching noses or barking through a fence) or by contact with contaminated surfaces. Your dog is at risk of exposure to kennel cough any time he/she is boarded, groomed, at the park, at obedience class, or anywhere dogs congregate. In addition, your dog is at risk of exposure if any of your neighbors' dogs are boarded, groomed, at the park, etc, because your neighbors' dogs can expose YOUR dog just by touching noses through the fence!
The Bordetella vaccine is highly effective at preventing most cases of Kennel Cough. However, duration of immunity studies have shown that the antibodies given by the vaccine only last 6-10 months. Therefore, your dog should be vaccinated at least annually for Bordetella. High-risk dogs, such as show dogs or performance-competition dogs, should be vaccinated every 6 months. It's the cheapest form of "insurance" available! Since the vaccine is administered in a nose-drop form, your dog isn't subjected to any discomfort.
In puppies, Bordetella vaccine is typically administered twice, at 10 weeks and 14 weeks. After that, the vaccine is administered every 6 to 12 months, depending on the puppy's lifestyle and risk factors.