RICHMOND, Va. — A Virginia Commonwealth University researcher who helped develop a nationwide Lyme disease vaccine for dogs is now offering the preventative measure for free to the university’s therapy dogs.
Dr. Richard Marconi, a researcher in the VCU Department of Microbiology, partnered with vaccine manufacturer Zoetis this week to provide free CR-Lyme vaccines for the more than 60 volunteers and their dogs in the Dogs on Call program.
“I read about the Dogs on Call program and I just found it to be a fascinating program,” Marconi said. “I started thinking of ways to help those animals and sort of connect the research being done at VCU with the Dogs on Call program so that’s where we sort of developed the idea that we would offer these dogs vaccination for Lyme.”
Dogs on Call Director Dr. Nancy Gee said the move is critical for the health and well-being of the canines. In dogs, Lyme disease can cause joint and muscle pain, arthritis, and even kidney failure. Gee said the vaccines will give volunteers peace of mind…