The Scare of my Life! Pheona had a Allergic Reaction to a Vaccine :-(
 

Well girls, I can honestly say I nearly lost it today. I took Pheona to the vet to get her last puppy shot today, it was Distemper. Last week, they wanted to give her 2, Rabies and Distemper but I insisted she only recieve one or the other, and I would bring her back today for the last one. They went ahead and gave her rabies last week, and she did fine with it. So today I brought her in for the Distemper. Well, after the vet, we normally go to PetSmart for a treat....

We went in, did our shoppping, and were getting ready to check out, when one of the people who works there came over and started visiting with us. He pointed out to me here right eye, he said "It's soo red and swollen?" Well I looked at it, (she was in her carrier, so I didn't have a clear shot of her face..) and I freaked. It was nearly completley swollen shut! OMG. So of course, I threw my merchandise onto the nearest shelf, and ran out. I called my vet , told them what was going on, and they told me to take her to the Emergency vet clinic not 10 minutes away. I flew there, as fast as I could, and ran in the vet hysterical.

They grabbed her up, and by this point in time, her other eye, was completley swollen shut,and her face, lips, everything, were HUGE All swollen. I was crying, and thought i was going to literally pass out. She was whining, and pawing at her face, and looking at me sooo helpless.

It was the worst feeling, I have ever had. The vet came in , and said she did have a reaction to the Distemper shot. She gave her an injection of Benadryl, as well as Prednason for the swelling. I have to continue the Benadryl for the next 3 days, every eight hours...and watch for any more swelling of course.

I'm just literally so freaked out. This is exactly why I'm hesitant to spay her...I just can't predict how she will react to anything. Even bug bites, are horrible on her, all swollen, itchy, and they even left a scar on her ear. I just don't think I can risk putting her under after this...I would just die if something happend. She is just too sensitve.

Sigh...ookay, well that is my novel, sorry it was so long. She is resting now, and still whiny and upset Trying to get her to settle for a nap..we will keep you updated.
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I am so sorry to hear Pheona had that reaction. Both my dachshund and Jack Russell had reactions to vaccines. The dachshund got hives, which on a dog are huge lumps that just start springing up all over their poor little body. The Jack Russell just had her face swell much like what you described. After each of those episodes the vets would give a pre-injection on subsequent vaccines to make sure it did not happen again. The vet I use now at The Ark has us split vaccines and also gives a pre-injection. Luckily Ben (Pheona's brother) did not have a reaction to his.

It is frightening when they start to swell like that. It is good that you reacted so fast too because that same swelling can occur in their airways! Feel Better Pheona!

Hi Debra :-)

Thank God the swelling is pretty much going down now. I was just sooo scared. My sister, as well as my aunt have life threatening allergies, and I know how fast, and how deadly reactions can be. My aunt was stung by a wasp once, before there were Epi-Pens, etc. and the doctor told her that if she hadn't have made it to the hosptial when she did (my grandmother was at her house when it happend thank GOD) she would have been dead within 3 minutes. 3 minutes!!!!! It was soooooo scarey. My sisters are the same, but she has epi-pen and all that now of course. I'm glad that your babies were okay after their reactions too! It is so upsetting seeing them suffer :-( I'm glad Ben hasn't had a reaction, thank goodness!

Thank God someone spoke up and you got her to the vet in time ! That had to be SUPER scary and I'd freak too - Sending her lots of hugs and one to you too - you sure could use one...

Thank you for kind words. :-) I sure do need a hug right now! lol. I seriously felt ill when it happend :-( You are right, THANK GOD that the guy at Petsmart spoke up, because I wouldn't have seen it in the store, and would have continuted browsing for another 30 minutes!!! I don't even want to think what could have happend had I gotten to the vet even later....She is feeling a lot better though I think, she heard the word "treat" and ran like normal to the pantry not 10 minutes ago! It was so upsetting, but she will be just fine! I would just like to tell everybody, after this experience, PLEASE stay in your vets office with your baby for a good 30 minutes or so to make sure there is no reaction after vaccinations. It was so scarey being out on the road, trying to drive, with her screaming and freaking out, not knowing what was happening.

Oh my, that must have been horrible for you. I'm so glad she is alright. Pheona had quite the scare. I see why you are hesitant on getting her spayed. While at the vets office a small dog had an allergic reaction to anesthesia & died. I would be extremly careful on anything she had done.

OMG!!! That poor baby......and you! I know you had to have been super freaked out! Thankfully, someone noticed and you were able to her to the vet! That poor little baby! I hope everything is okay!

Oh, poor little girl. I have a sheltie that had a reaction similar to hives and she was runningn wild through the house and we noticed her face was swelling. Gave her some benadryll and kept wiping her face with a wet rag. Took about 20 minutes and she was okay........but sure does scare ya!!!! Glad she is okay!:)

Now that the swelling is going down, time for you to relax -- pour a shot of your member-namesake beverage, put your feet up and feel all that relief flow over you! ;)

Wow, what a scare! I didn't know they could have reactions like that! I'll be a more careful from now on!

Poor little Pheona!!! I'm so glad you were able to react right away and get her taken care of. We really have to watch with these little ones.

Sissy sends out big hugs to Pheona and tells her to feel better really soon!!

Poor baby and you too!!! So glad you got he their in time. I do not give my dogs the Lepto in the distemper series shot since their is a high incidence of allergic reactions to it. My vet was fine with it. Relax and give Pheona a big hug from Cali.

Thank you so much girls for listening and being so supportive. Jodie and Pattie, I appreciate all your kind words and thoughts!!! Pheona sends Cali and Miss Sissy puppy hugs, and tells them thanks for thinking of her! Pheona is feeling much better, and is actually playing now :) She has been asleep since we got home around 2, but now she is chewing on a bone on the floor, and ate some food also! The swelling is gone for the most part also. Patti, my vet told me that the distemper vac. she got was free from Lepto. That is why I'm so suprised she had a reaction? They told me to tell the ER vet that it was indeed free of Lepto though. So I guess something else in there just didn't sit right with her little self. I just thank God my baby is okay! :aimeeyork :thumbup:

Do you know if your vet will recommend not giving Pheona this vaccine in the future because of her reaction to it?? Sissy is due for her annual vaccines and I think I'm going to opt to have a titer test done first to check for immunity.......

You poor thing, that is horrible. I would have been freaking out also. I am so glad she is now doing fine. I don't think I would get her spayed either. She obviously is very sensitive to medications. I would be afraid to try anethesia. I can't decide whether to spay my Yorkie or not because of the anethesia. And mine is a sturdy little teapot(5 lbs @ 5 months) who is strong as an ox, but she still seems sooooo little.