Lameness after Lyme Vaccine in dogs

The FDA has received 123 reports of lameness in dogs after Lyme Vaccine. That is 1.8% of all reports for this medicine, compared with 0.6% across reports for all dog medicines, so it is reported unusually often with this medicine.

123Reports

37%Marked serious

12%Recovered

6.5%Died or euthanised

22 daysTypical onset

How soon it started

Same day

15 18%

1–2 days

7 8.3%

3–7 days

13 15%

1–4 weeks

9 11%

Over a month

40 48%

How the animals did

Recovered

14 11%

Recovered with lasting effects

1 0.8%

Still unwell when reported

58 47%

Died

3 2.4%

Euthanised

5 4.1%

Not known

42 34%

Problems reported at the same time

Lethargy

46 37%

Didn't work as expected

45 37%

36 29%

30 24%

28 23%

22 18%

19 15%

16 13%

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 lameness in dogs?: 123 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 22 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).

Lameness with similar medicines

Lameness after Rabies Vaccine 191 reports · 1.9% of its reports
Lameness after Bordetella Vaccine 206 reports · 2.2% of its reports
Lameness after Leptospirosis Vaccine 249 reports · 3.1% of its reports
Lameness after Distemper-parvo Vaccine 152 reports · 2.3% of its reports

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