Lethargy after Lyme Vaccine in dogs

The FDA has received 600 reports of lethargy in dogs after Lyme Vaccine. That is 8.6% of all reports for this medicine, compared with 11% across reports for all dog medicines.

600Reports

59%Marked serious

30%Recovered

14%Died or euthanised

1 daysTypical onset

How soon it started

Same day

224 44%

1–2 days

83 16%

3–7 days

59 12%

1–4 weeks

69 14%

Over a month

74 15%

How the animals did

Recovered

178 30%

Still unwell when reported

236 39%

Died

36 6.0%

Euthanised

51 8.5%

Not known

99 17%

Problems reported at the same time

258 43%

257 43%

136 23%

101 17%

99 17%

85 14%

84 14%

82 14%

Age of the animals

Under 1 year

110

1–3 years

194

4–7 years

150

8–11 years

109

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 lethargy in dogs?: 600 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 1 day 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).

Lethargy with similar medicines

Lethargy after Rabies Vaccine 2,418 reports · 24% of its reports
Lethargy after Bordetella Vaccine 2,356 reports · 25% of its reports
Lethargy after Leptospirosis Vaccine 1,929 reports · 24% of its reports
Lethargy after Distemper-parvo Vaccine 1,661 reports · 26% of its reports
Lethargy after Bordetella Vaccine + Distemper-parvo Vaccine 24 reports · 29% of its reports

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