Q – Two weeks after purchasing our new Bully, Max from you we took him to the Vet for another DHPP Puppy Booster. Our Vet recommended that in addition to the booster that we give him a Bordetella vaccine. One day after receiving the vaccine, Max began to cough, stopped eating and become lethargic. He developed pneumonia to the tune of $2500 in Vet bills. After reviewing our vaccine schedule that you provided we realized that you say NOT to administer a Bordetella vaccination of any kind (Nasal or Injection) for a Bulldog. Unfortunately I chose to take the Vets advice instead of yours. Our Vet said it was just a common Bulldog respiratory issue and had nothing to do with the shot??? I’m not so sure.
The BIGBULLDOG: There is a reason that every one of our Vaccination Schedules warn against this vaccine. I can tell you from experience the following;
– WARNING AGAINST THE BORDETELLA VACCINE
(Bordetella is a Kennel Cough Vaccine) Bulldogs are short nosed dogs and often develop respiratory problems up to and including full blown pneumonia following this vaccine. (Nasal or Injection) Buyer accepts ALL responsibilities for any respiratory illness/ pneumonia that may occur following this vaccine. We highly recommend that you do not get this shot. Years ago each of my Bulldog puppies received a Bordetella (Kennel Cough) vaccine at 6 weeks of age according to the manufacturer’s recommendations. 50 percent of the time my Bullies would develop some sort of cough within 2-5 days. Of that 50 percent, 10-20 percent would end up with full blown pneumonia that required hospitalization. I used to think that it was just common Bulldog respiratory issues that happen and I could expect a percentage of each litter to end up with a cold/ cough etc….. I never connected it with the Bordetella vaccine until one of my partner breeders who had bred Bulldogs for over 40 years told me that was the problem.
I went back and forth with Schering Ploughs Vets (The Bordetella Vaccine’s Manufacturer) and they never conceded that their product caused this. Therefore I decided to do another test study of my own. I administered the vaccine to 16 totally healthy Bulldog Puppies as well as 1 of my lucky adult Frenchies according to manufacturer’s instructions. What do you think happened? I ended up with 16 coughing, hacking baby Bulldogs and one adult Frenchie that I had to medically treat for the next 2 weeks. One of them cost me several thousand dollars because it had to be hospitalized for several weeks. Under no circumstances do any of my puppies receive a Bordetella shot while under my care. It is up to the puppy’s new owner and their Vet to decide if they wish to give it to Bully. One last thing. Our upper respiratory issues have decreased approx. 90% since we stopped giving the Bordetella Vaccine. On more occasions than I would like to remember, customers have reluctantly gone against my advice and the poor Bully Baby paid the price. I do not pretend to know everything about Bulldogs, but I do NOT administer Bordetella to any my Bulldogs and recommend that you follow suit.
Sadly, In order to publicly board your Bully, it is required that they must be up to date on all required vaccinations including Bordetella. I recommend that you find a friend or a family member to care for your baby while you are away.