New vaccine jab will solve Rottweiler stand-off issue

HE wasn’t bad, just big.

And, while he was generally gentle, he wasn’t completely compliant either. That could be absolutely annoying and made things extremely exasperating – especially when you were trying to administer him a Kennel Cough vaccine by dribbling it carefully up his nose.

He didn’t try and bite you, like some dogs do. Nor did he wrestle about, like some deranged muscled thing straight out of a WWE ring.

He didn’t scrabble at you with his front legs, doing a good impersonation of a kangaroo in a boxing match.

And he didn’t shake his head from side to side either.

He just put his nose to the floor and resolutely, defiantly, kept it there.

Have you ever tried to get a stubborn Rottweiler’s head up off the floor and point his nose up in the air, so you could squirt something down it?

Each dose of our vaccine comprises a vial of lyophilisate, which is reconstituted with a solvent to produce 0.4mls, containing millions of live Bordetella bronchiseptica bacteria and slightly fewer live canine parainfluenza viruses.

It will reduce the clinical signs associated with kennel cough within 72 hours of administration and it can be given to puppies as young as four weeks old – but not to combative Rottweilers who don’t wish to receive it.

There can be very mild, transient side effects in dogs shortly after vaccination. These include discharge from the eyes and nose, wheezing, sneezing and coughing.

I have found that there can be adverse reactions in veterinary surgeons, too. These include, but are not limited to, aching arms from trying to lift his head, feelings of inferiority and embarrassment and general disgruntlement that you didn’t see his name on the waiting list and so got caught out yet again.

Regrettably, these reactions have lasted longer the older I get – and have become more severe.

But things are suddenly looking up. After decades of battling belligerent Bulldogs and cheeky Chihuahuas, MSD Animal Health have announced the arrival of the world’s first injectable Bordetella vaccine.

Soon there will be no more up-the-nose nonsense.

This beautiful white liquid – which can be given under the skin alongside other vaccinations (except rabies) – will provide immunity two weeks after vaccination.

It lasts seven months, although immunity rises to one year after the first booster.

It can be given from six weeks of age and (YES!) to Rottweilers who are sensitive about their nostrils. That is definitely not to be sneezed at.