Vanguard Vaccine in Dogs With Thrombocytopenia

When you or your dog bleed, blood cells called platelets or thrombocytes mesh and clot, plugging up any places where your blood vessels may be broken, according to the Mayo Clinic. In conditions like thrombocytopenia, that process doesn't happen correctly. Vaccines like Vanguard, which are used to prevent blood-related disorders (among other diseases) are linked to thrombocytopenia and related illnesses, according to veterinary information and supply company Doctors Foster and Smith.

  1. Thrombocytopenia

    • If your dog has this condition, the platelets can't "plug up" the spaces in between blood vessels and stop blood loss. That's because your dog doesn't have enough of these blood cells to work properly. The causes of low blood platelets, according to Doctors Foster and Smith, are many but include medications like those used to boost hormones like estrogen, as well as vaccines.

    Causes

    • If your dog's lack of platelets is caused by his body manufacturing too few of these blood cells, then hormone medications, chemotherapy or radiation may be to blame. If your dog's immune system is turning on itself and destroying these blood cells, then a vaccine may be to blame, according to Doctors Foster and Smith.

    Basics

    • Vanguard is administered to dogs to ward off a number of common diseases, including canine flu, distemper and parvo, according to the vaccine's maker, Pfizer, on its owner information website Pfizer Frank. Though very rare, immune-related blood disorders, including those related to platelets, are side effects of the vaccine. Interestingly, the vaccine is also used to prevent some blood-related problems, such as hepatitis.

    Symptoms

    • If your dog is sluggish or doesn't have an appetite after the vaccine is administered, this is normal, according to Pfizer. There is cause for concern if your dog remains weak, lethargic and suddenly has an extreme desire to drink and urinate frequently, according to Pfizer. The American Veterinary Medical Association recommends seeing your vet if these symptoms continue more than two days after the vacinne is administered; it could be either an immune-related vaccine side effect or an allergic reaction.

    Warning

    • Pfizer stresses your dog is very unlikely to suffer from an immune-related side effect as the result of the vaccine. The American Veterinary Medical Association says that, though thrombocytopenia may be deadly, many of the other diseases that the vaccine prevents are also deadly. It suggests that the benefits of the vaccine in preventing many diseases be weighed against the potential side effects.