Death after Lyme Vaccine in dogs

The FDA has received 209 reports of death in dogs after Lyme Vaccine. That is 3.0% of all reports for this medicine, compared with 5.2% across reports for all dog medicines, so it is reported less often than average with this medicine.

209Reports

100%Marked serious

0.0%Recovered

100%Died or euthanised

7 daysTypical onset

How soon it started

Same day

30 18%

1–2 days

26 16%

3–7 days

26 16%

1–4 weeks

33 20%

Over a month

48 29%

How the animals did

Died

86 41%

Euthanised

123 59%

Problems reported at the same time

90 43%

85 41%

58 28%

58 28%

52 25%

50 24%

Didn't work as expected

43 21%

Kidney problems

42 20%

Age of the animals

Under 1 year

1–3 years

4–7 years

8–11 years

12+ years

About this medicine

Type: vaccine.

Mild, short-lived lethargy, soreness or a small lump at the injection site are the most commonly reported vaccine reactions.

Questions owners ask

Can Lyme Vaccine cause death in dogs?: 209 reports link the two, but a report alone does not prove the medicine was the cause: other illnesses, other medicines or coincidence can be involved. Your vet can judge it for your animal.
How soon after a dose was it reported?: In half of the reports with dates, it started within 7 days of the first dose.
What should I do?: Don't give another dose until you've spoken to your vet, and keep the packaging so you can tell them the product and dose. Your vet can also report it to the FDA (or you can, through the manufacturer or FDA form 1932a).

Death with similar medicines

Death after Rabies Vaccine 952 reports · 9.6% of its reports
Death after Bordetella Vaccine 834 reports · 8.9% of its reports
Death after Leptospirosis Vaccine 757 reports · 9.4% of its reports
Death after Distemper-parvo Vaccine 691 reports · 11% of its reports

All reported side effects of Lyme Vaccine in dogs · Medicines most reported with death