Vaccination Reaction
Finnigan is due for his shots this month and I was curious, if a dog has not had a bad reaction to vaccinations in the past is it still possible for them to have a reaction from future shots? It seems unlikely to me that they would suddenly have an adverse reaction when they previously were unaffected by the vaccines but I could be wrong.
Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by Beth on
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Hi Alice. Most dogs are fine, but allergies can develop at any time and it is rare to have an allergic reaction to something on first exposure; it is an immune response of sorts, and you usually need an initial exposure before the allergy develops.
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Permalink Reply by Alice on
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Oh goody, so there is something to be worried about. If he were going to have a reaction, any idea how long after getting the shot it would take? I don't want to leave him home alone until I'm sure he's ok.
If I remember correctly, one of the vaccines can make them feel a little ill; is it Rabies? I remember Finn as well as all the dogs I had growing up being droopy and slow after a shot.
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Permalink Reply by Jane Christensen on
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According to my vet it will be the 2nd or 3rd vaccination that will produce the reaction so my answer would be "no" if he's had several or at least 3 with no problems. You could always have the Benadryl around just to feel more comfortable. I had one pup from my 1st litter have a reaction and I did notify all the other owners just because of this. Some dogs get a little groggy after certain shots but as for a reaction that would be swelling of the face which you would want to give the Benadryl immediately. You can also ask your vet what to watch for.
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He's just over a year old so he had his first round (all the puppy shots plus rabies) when he was little and this will be his one year booster.
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What are signs of a reaction and does this normally require a trip to the vet or is Benadryl at home enough? I don't know why I'm nervous about his shots. I really wasn't the first time around. We have an appointment this Saturday at 10:15am for his shots. The vet's office is only open until 12pm so if he's going to have a reaction I hope it happens before they close!
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I have never had any of my dogs react but my one pup had a severe reaction and so when she went for a another shot they kept her for an hour and I believe gave her the benadryl before the shot. I did have that thought as I had 2 pups left at the time and as I'm driving home with the Benadryl but no syringe to give it to the dog what I would do. My vet gave clear instructions and I forwarded this to all my puppy owners...just in case. I don't have time now but I will try to find these and add this...I did lose everything on my computer awhile ago so I hope I still have this!
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I did find this link http://www.peteducation.com/article.cfm?c=2+2115&aid=962 which talks about possible reactions and symptoms. If anyone has anything to add though, please do. I just thought I'd share what I found in case anyone else has the same concerns that I do.
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Hope you and the pups are doing well! We did have a pup that had a vaccine reaction when she went in for her 2nd shot. I talked to my vet and he said this:
Talk to your vet before your pup gets the vaccine and let your vet know the following so you and your vet can decide whether to be proactive...just in case!!!!!! Each pup has their "own" immune system but there is a chance since one did react! Take the puppy record sent home with you along also! And also find out the "signs" to look for such as swollen eyes and face...ask questions and /or you can show the vet this note!
1. since one in the litter had a reaction the others have the same potential for a reaction.
2.the pups will never react to the 1st dose but the potential for a reaction will be with the 2nd or 3rd dose.
3.My vet suggested that you purchase a bottle of CHILDRENS LIQIUD BENADRYL AND TAKE IT ALONG WHEN YOU TAKE THE PUP IN FOR A SHOT. You and your vet need to discuss what route to go ...whether you "pre-medicate" or just have it on hand and what dose per the pups weight you and your vet decide is correct!
4. If your pup has a "reaction" they will react for the rest of their life so each time they get this shot you will need to talk with your vet about it again!
5.Another suggestion from my vet is that your vet could try switching brands of vaccine but that doesn't mean for sure that it still would/would not cause an allergic reaction.
Any ?'s please call me!
Thanks!
Jane
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Thanks Jane. When I go in maybe I will start by asking the vet about the chances of him having a reaction (mainly concerned about rabies since he has only had that shot once before) and if he thinks Benadryl beforehand would be beneficial he can dispense it. I'll plan on being home with Finn for at least 2 hours following the shots to make sure he doesn't have a reaction.
So when the vet says a reaction will usually occur by the third dose, are they counting each of the puppy shots as a dose or do all of the puppy shots up until rabies count as one? If each puppy shot counts as one dose then he is definitely ok with the combination vaccines as he's obviously had them all since he's a year old.
I was reading that the "killed virus" vaccines such as rabies are more likely to cause adverse reactions. This is the one that is more worrisome. I also read that rabies should not be administered at the same time as other shots. Has anyone else heard this? Also read that none of the shots should be given during allergy season as it can worsen allergies. Is allergy season for dogs the same as people? Not knowing what they are allergic to it's hard to say. Finnigan gets read eyes all the time for which we were given allergy drops but I don't know what allergen causes the eye irritation. Maybe I should just stop reading and go with the flow. I'm probably getting worried for nothing.
The other post about not vaccinating or at least limiting vaccinations has me really questioning the whole thing. I never really questioned vaccinations until I read that and started doing my own research. Just one more thing to ask our vet about. He's going to think we (or at least me) are the most paranoid pet owners around!
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HI Alice,
It NEVER hurts to ask questions to your vet! They are providing a service and that's part of what they should do. I personally have never had any of my dogs react but there's always a first time. I do know that with children my daughter now gets her son's less at a time so maybe that is a better way...???? I guess asking your vet is the best but I think the pup that reacted to the distemper combo not the rabies as she would have still been too young!
Good luck and let us know how it all turns out. Another FYI they may be more sleepy after their shots and that is normal!
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Permalink Reply by Karen Dadisman on
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Rocky had a reaction to his last shots. He ran a fever, had bloody poops, dehydrated. It was not fun. He ended up at ISU vet school for a week. Now that is an extreme type of reaction and they recommended that he not be vaccinated but have blood titers done. If he needs to be vaccinated, he is to get 1/4 the regular dose and only one vaccination at a time. I will be taking the letter from ISU with me when I go to GA for a month and my vet here has a copy of it in his files. I am not going to worry about anything but rabies with Rocky since that is required by law and will do the titer for rabies. When the titer shows he needs a booster, we will do the 1/4 dose. He is two years old now, doesn't run loose in town, is leashed when he is not in our fenced yard. Rosie, his half sister, is fine with vaccinations so we will keep her updated on the rabies. The only reason she will be vaccinated for anything else is if we board them, most places require certain vaccinations. My daughter and I are going to Disneyworld in Jan and have to board the dogs for the day at the kennels there. I have called them and they will take Rocky with his ISU letter. I'm sure most places will and if they won't, well, I won't go there. Rocky got too sick to risk another episode like that.
Most dogs are fine with vaccinations. I do think we tend to over-vaccinate but it's your decision. I wouldn't waste a lot of time worrying about it. Finn will most likely be fine. Most dogs are it's just the odd ducks like Rocky that have problems. You might want to ask your vet to not give a combo vaccine but it give individual shots spaced a few weeks apart so as to not overload the immune system. It is more of a pain in the neck but might be better for your state of mind!! This way you can also pick and choose what you want done to him.
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