Shot Anxiety...

[cr4z135]

Alrighty, my Gambit-Bear is scheduled to go to the vet next Saturday for his second set of shots but I don't know if I want to take him. He had a serious reaction to the first set, his face swelled up and they had to give him a steriod shot and keep him overnight, then the next day and a half he had diarrhea and was really lethargic. I went to a new vet and they told me that his next set of shots would include a steriod shot but he needed to have the other shots. I always hear people talk about not taking your puppy out until after they've had their second set of shots... I'm not sure what to do. Is there really that big a risk if I refuse to get him any more shots, besides his rabies that is. Will I have to keep him locked up away from other dogs? I've never had a dog that reacted to shots that way so they've always gotten all their shots when the vet said they needed them. I've read a lot about separating their shots and I wish I had thought about doing that with his first set. He's already gotten distemper, hepatitis, parvovirus, parainfluenza, and adenovirus. I read over the shot info post and it seems like he has all the core vaccines besides rabies, should I just get him that and have done with it? I feel bad enough after the first set but now I feel even worse because I'm so confused... Do I separate the shots? Would that help? Or do I just get him his rabies shot and nothing else?

Sincerly,
Confused and Concerned Mommy in Okinawa

[Deuce]

Is it possible to give him just one at a time rather all in a group and just keep him away from other dogs until you have all his shots up to date?

[kjc]

Hi. How old is your puppy? How much does he weigh?
How old was he when he got his first set of shots?
You are positive he did not get Lepto or Corona in his first set?

[kjc]

3.5 months old, and he doesn't look tiny from your photos (but very cute!)

The breeder you got him from should have given him his first set of vaccines.

You got him his 2nd set when he had the reaction, and upcoming his 3rd?

What age did the breeder give him his first vaccines? If he was 8-9 weeks old, he may be protected. If he was younger, the odds go up that he may not be protected.

Puppy shots are only effective when given after the mother's maternal antibodies run out. Puppies are given three sets of shots, to be sure they develope immunity, and bc it is unknown as to when each puppy's maternal immunity runs out. It's different for each puppy in the litter. Two sets of vaccines is really all that is necessary to establish immunity, as long as the maternal antibodies are gone.

There are a few things you can do. You can ask your vet to run titers to check his blood for antibodies, which would prove (or not) that he has immunity. If the titer comes back 'low' it does not mean that he is not protected, but boosters may then be recommended. Titers are more expensive to run.

You could ask the vet to give him only half the amount of the vaccine. Knowing that the full amount is enough to protect a 100 pound dog, half the amount should be plenty for him.

Pre-medication is an option, but will limit the body's immune response to the vaccine.

You can make sure that the same brand of vaccine is not used. You'll have to get this info from the vet that gave the vaccines he reacted to.

You can request each vaccine to be given individually. They may have to order these from their supplier. Again, I would make sure they come from a different manufacturer.

As for the Rabies vaccine: Ask the vet at what age Japan requires puppies to be vaccinated against Rabies by law. Wait as long as legally possible, and never get the Rabies along with any other vaccine. It should always be given 3-4 weeks before or after a DHPP. In your pup's case, I'd opt for 4 weeks after, or the age Japan requires it, if it's later.

Puppies can have reactions for a number of reasons.

If vaccines are given too close together or in combination, it can overload their system, and cause a reaction. Your pup should have received his first set (from the breeder) @ Sept 7 (8 weeks), 2nd set @ Oct 5, (12 weeks) and 3rd set Nov 6 (16 weeks). If these dates are off, reevaluate his schedule. Also, sick pups should never be vaccinated while they're sick or running a fever.

They can react to the inactive ingredients found in the vaccine. Changing brands can help with this.

Many small breed dogs react to Lepto,and Corona vaccines, which are commonly combined with DHPP. I always read the labels on the vaccine container in the exam room to double check that these are not included, before the vet injects it. May look like DHLPPCv or DA2HLPPCv when included.

Hope this helps.

[Wylie's Mom]

^^^What she said .

[EarthAngel]

If I may add...when Bentley goes for his vaccine, he gets a shot of benadryl first and then the vaccine. And I agree with the others that the rabies shot be given 3 or 4 weeks from the other shots. I, too don't give the lepto or corona vaccine as per my breeder's recommendation. Hope our info helps you in making sure your pup gets what he needs and is protected.

[cr4z135]

Originally Posted by kjc

3.5 months old, and he doesn't look tiny from your photos (but very cute!)

The breeder you got him from should have given him his first set of vaccines.

You got him his 2nd set when he had the reaction, and upcoming his 3rd?

What age did the breeder give him his first vaccines? If he was 8-9 weeks old, he may be protected. If he was younger, the odds go up that he may not be protected.

No, he's not tiny at all, he's 6lbs! I actually made the mistake of going to look at a "litter" of puppies at a womans house and what I saw horrified me. Gambit was the only puppy there and he was locked in a little cage and covered in ticks. He looked like he'd been fed well enough but given little attention after that besides maybe a bath because someone was coming to look at him. She gave him to me that day, he was about 6 weeks old. (My poor hubby had to cough up $1400 but neither of us could leave the little guy there!) She said she'd given him his first set of shots and she would send his papers to us in the mail, in my rush to leave I didn't think to ask for a shot record or anything. When I went back a few weeks later she said that she didn't have a shot record and couldn't remember when he'd had his first set; within a few minutes she was telling me that she didn't even say that he'd had the shots so I ended up storming out.

Originally Posted by kjc

If vaccines are given too close together or in combination, it can overload their system, and cause a reaction. Your pup should have received his first set (from the breeder) @ Sept 7 (8 weeks), 2nd set @ Oct 5, (12 weeks) and 3rd set Nov 6 (16 weeks). If these dates are off, reevaluate his schedule. Also, sick pups should never be vaccinated while they're sick or running a fever.

Hope this helps.

Well, I got him on September 4th... When I talked to my vet, he said that he probably hadn't been given that first set at all, due to what the "breeder" said, the way she reacted and his age when I got him. So he was given his first set of shots on October 1st, his second set is scheduled for Nov 6th. I'm going to tell the vet no lepto or corona and ask if he can separate the shots. If not, I'm going to take him to yet another vet and see what they say. I just want him to get what he needs and not have any trouble with it... Thank you all for your words of wisdom!