Anyone have advice on vaccine allergies?

[ladyjane]

Originally Posted by xmasbaby75

Thank you ... unfortunately my vet did not give me options, and that is why I want people to be aware of all the possibilities. I just don't want to hear about this happening again - you can't always count on your vet, people need to be educated themselves.

Oh, I totally agree! Some people do not understand, though, that this is not common and they interpret it to mean that vaccines are always dangerous and should not be given. That is clearly obvious in this thread. I have never suggested in this thread that the OPs dog should have another vaccine...matter of fact, I said I probably would not if it were mine.

[Raymond's Mom]

Originally Posted by xmasbaby75

Thank you ... unfortunately my vet did not give me options, and that is why I want people to be aware of all the possibilities. I just don't want to hear about this happening again - you can't always count on your vet, people need to be educated themselves.

What a tragedy. I feel very badly for you. People do need to educate themselves and choose a vet carefully. There are plenty out there to pick from and if one vet is "shot happy" find another who has a more sensible and safe approach. Giving vaccinations are a "feel good" thing for the owners. "I'm a responsible yorkie owner if I give all the vaccinations yearly that my vet recommends". Unfortunately, we are over vaccinating our dogs and with small dogs, and especially the smaller of the yorkies, there can be disasterous results. No always death but harm and suffering for the dog. I haven't seen anyone advocate never vaccinating a puppy unless the pup or dog has a severe reaction. But I suggest to all my puppy buyers that after the 14 month booster they only revaccinate every 3-5 years. And I use the vaccine Proguard 5 by Intervet and suggest that puppy buyers try to find a vet who uses the same. I've never had a puppy react adversly to a vaccination. Giving parvo and distemper in separate shots some feel is the best but that just doesn't work out for me or most pet owners. I never give lepto. As far as I know the strain of lepto that's included in the vaccine isn't the one that dogs can contract. Isn't that a corker?

[Ellie May]

OP: I've been thinking about this and this is probably what I'd do (which shouldn't be taken as medical advice). I would never give rabies again unless my vet could show me some good research about Benadryl and/or steroid premed always working. I probably would not do DHP either. But I'd be more concerned about a dog getting this diseases than rabies, so I'd think long and hard about it. Because she had two reactions and they weren't that bad (as long as the second wasn't worse than the first), then I'd maybe consider it just once more. If no rabies is given, then I'd say leash walk only and not in wooded areas. If no DHP is given, then it's probably not safe for her to touch the ground at all (it would reduce some risk by carrying) if her titer does not stay high. But again, that's jmo.

This probably won't be popular, but whatever. If I get bit by a dog, I want to know that yes, they have been vaccinated for rabies or no, they have not been. Okay, easy enough if they haven't been. I can follow the path that the health department has laid out. And if they have been vaccinated, I also have a path to follow. There is no path to follow if the owner and their vet say the dog has been vaccinated, but yet it was only a small portion of it! So now I'd be told the dog has been vaccinated, but it's such a serious problem. What if the titer drastically fell between the last reading and my exposure to this dog? As much as some may count on rabies titers, this would now be my life we're talking about and I'd want to know if the whole thing wasn't given (or at least most of it). I'm all for medical exemptions and all of that (and even in states where they aren't offered...vets can help you around that). In fact, I may end up getting one for Ellie someday. But giving a small amount wouldn't exactly be considered legal and I just wonder why people don't just skip it altogether? If it's b/c the dog is healthy but the dose is perceived to be too large, I totally understand; but unless somebody can show me peer reviewed info that that is the case and an appropriate amount was given (and not an amount decided on by just an individual vet), then I would not be comfortable. And honestly by that I don't mean a quote from Dr. D (although I really respect her). I mean actual studies. jmo.

[107barney]

[QUOTE=xmasbaby75;3244499]



Well said. I think that is the fact that some people are overlooking here. The OP started this thread because her dog has had prior reactions to vaccines and she is looking for advice. We do not need to go into the huge debate over vaccinations because this is a special case. If a dog is prone to reactions, they will continue to get worse and worse and I'd really hate to see someone else lose their baby like I did. Fatal reactions are rare, yes -- but that must be a chance you are willing to take, and knowing already that your dog has had reactions, I would not take that chance. Just know that a fatal reaction increases quite a bit with each prior reaction. I just wish someone would have given me the titer choice ahead of time, and that is why I want people to be educated about the subject ... My Brandi would still be here today.[/QUOTE]

I could not agree more. Due to Brandi's death, I've made it a priority to educate myself on the issue of vaccines and titers and have had many conversations with my vet on this - we've decided that Barney and Daisy will have no further vaccines in their life including Rabies because they are old enough to be immune from puppyhood illnesses such as Parvo and Distemper and they have a very low risk of being infected with rabies, leptospirosis or other things. As for Teddy, since he is a younger dog, at the expiration of his 3-year vaccine for DHPP and rabies, he will have titers for both and only be given boosters for those things he shows a need for.

My vet advises against premedications for vaccines IF THE DOG HAS HAD NO PRIOR REACTION. They advise on titers if there have been reactions and take a conservative approach to vaccines in small dogs. I'm fortunate to never have had a reaction in any of my dogs in 10 years.

I refuse to see a vet that is not with an AAHA hospital and follows their guidelines on vaccines. By the way, these guidelines are available on the web for anyone that wants to read the findings and suggested protocols.

I will sadly remember Brandi when I think about this topic. RIP baby girl, your death will teach others.

[107barney]

Originally Posted by Ellie May

OP: I've been thinking about this and this is probably what I'd do (which shouldn't be taken as medical advice). I would never give rabies again unless my vet could show me some good research about Benadryl and/or steroid premed always working. I probably would not do DHP either. But I'd be more concerned about a dog getting this diseases than rabies, so I'd think long and hard about it. Because she had two reactions and they weren't that bad (as long as the second wasn't worse than the first), then I'd maybe consider it just once more. If no rabies is given, then I'd say leash walk only and not in wooded areas. If no DHP is given, then it's probably not safe for her to touch the ground at all (it would reduce some risk by carrying) if her titer does not stay high. But again, that's jmo.

This probably won't be popular, but whatever. If I get bit by a dog, I want to know that yes, they have been vaccinated for rabies or no, they have not been. Okay, easy enough if they haven't been. I can follow the path that the health department has laid out. And if they have been vaccinated, I also have a path to follow. There is no path to follow if the owner and their vet say the dog has been vaccinated, but yet it was only a small portion of it! So now I'd be told the dog has been vaccinated, but it's such a serious problem. What if the titer drastically fell between the last reading and my exposure to this dog? As much as some may count on rabies titers, this would now be my life we're talking about and I'd want to know if the whole thing wasn't given (or at least most of it). I'm all for medical exemptions and all of that (and even in states where they aren't offered...vets can help you around that). In fact, I may end up getting one for Ellie someday. But giving a small amount wouldn't exactly be considered legal and I just wonder why people don't just skip it altogether? If it's b/c the dog is healthy but the dose is perceived to be too large, I totally understand; but unless somebody can show me peer reviewed info that that is the case and an appropriate amount was given (and not an amount decided on by just an individual vet), then I would not be comfortable. And honestly by that I don't mean a quote from Dr. D (although I really respect her). I mean actual studies. jmo.

I could not agree more on the rabies vaccine issue. I'm planning to NOT do rabies in Barney and Daisy again, but we will have titers to show immunity has been conferred. I have a real problem with half rabies vaccines and making it up. A certain amount is required to generate an immune response physiologically -- I would like to see some research or clinical trials that show a dog has an approrpriate immune response to half or 1/4 doses. I have a problem with vets who make it up. It's called quackery.

[Ellie May]

I can just about imagine what Ellie's vet would say if I asked her to give a partial dose and sign off on it...

Unfortunately, titers didn't work for us, so we just stopped altogether.

Still thinking over here. If the vet suspects that the same thing that caused a reaction to the rabies was the thing that caused the slight reaction to the DHP, then I wouldn't redo the DHP either...

[Lisa and Pic]

Originally Posted by xmasbaby75

Well said. I think that is the fact that some people are overlooking here. The OP started this thread because her dog has had prior reactions to vaccines and she is looking for advice. We do not need to go into the huge debate over vaccinations because this is a special case. If a dog is prone to reactions, they will continue to get worse and worse and I'd really hate to see someone else lose their baby like I did. Fatal reactions are rare, yes -- but that must be a chance you are willing to take, and knowing already that your dog has had reactions, I would not take that chance. Just know that a fatal reaction increases quite a bit with each prior reaction. I just wish someone would have given me the titer choice ahead of time, and that is why I want people to be educated about the subject ... My Brandi would still be here today.

Your story is so tragic and I am very sorry about your loss of sweet Brandi. And, so kind of you to share and educate. My heart goes out to you.

[megansmomma]

Originally Posted by YorkieSue

I don't know where you live but if your dog is not going to be in the wild, STOP VACCINATING FOR RABIES. Vaccinations are probably the most intrusive and harmful poison you can put into your dog--esp one so tiny. I am amazed that you allowed it to be done at all after her reaction to her second shot. This really told you a story and I'm sorry ou went ahead with the vaccine. Vets are there to MAKE $$$$--THEY will do and say anything to get you to vaccinate. From now on TITER you dog. I don't have time to explain titering but if you want your pup to live a long and healthy life, STOP VACCINATING. It breaks my heart that she now has that rabies vaccine in her after that reaction she had to that other shot. From now on, do your own research on what vaccines do to our dogs and use common sense. Will your teeny Yorkie be running free? In the wild? Near dangerous rabid wildlife? If the answer is no, then why are you vaccinating. Does this vet of yours recommend yearly vaccines too? The law states every three years in NY. Please research this topic and never allow such an already compromised Yorkie to be vaccinated again.

You are so off base with these statements I think you need to research what you are stating as a fact! Unless, as the OPer said there is a medical reason not to vaccinate then any animal that can be vaccinated needs to be protected.

This article was posted in the CHICAGO TRIBUNE~TODAY. I live in Will County, Tinley Park, IL which is within just a few miles of where the latest rabid bat was found. This is not the "wild".

Every year around this time there are reports of rabid bats and there have been other animals that have been reported as being rabid. My sister lives in Frankfort, IL which is mentioned in this article and a rabid fox was found not far from her house. She even had several bats INSIDE her house a few years back. At the time she had a GSP and when the bat flew around inside the house the dog jumped into the air and caught it! Imagine if her dog had not been vaccinated and the bat was rabid! The population of Tinley Park, IL is around 60,000 people which is where I live. This is NOT a rural area by any stretch of the imagination! There have been reports of rabid bats in my area too.

So if you are considering not vaccinating your dog against rabies because they are not "in the wild" please rethink your advice.

8/19/10 | 480 views
Another rabid bat found in Will County
By Michelle Manchir/TribLocal reporter

Officials confirmed Thursday that a dead bat with rabies was found on a sidewalk outside a Bolingbrook home, but said no one in the area has been exposed to the disease.

The animal was found near a home on Whitby Court, on the northeast part of the village near East Boughton Road. Four people and two animals live near the property, but were not exposed to rabies, said Vic Reato, spokesman for the Will County Health Department.

Will County has now reported six rabid bats so far this year, with four since July 13, including findings in Naperville and in Frankfort.

“Bats can be found anywhere,” Reato said. “As urban areas expand, we are coming into
more frequent contact with these animals and all other forms of wildlife.”

Human exposure to rabies, which usually occurs when the animal bites a person, is fatal when untreated. Reato said there is no way for a person to know whether an animal is rabid, but bats are rarely active during the day time. If they are spotted during daylight in populated areas, it could mean that they are rabid.

Officials aren’t ruling out the possibility that more rabid bats might be found.

"The summer months are typically the most active time for bats, and August is usually an extremely common month for potential bat exposures," said Lee Schild, Will County Animal Control Administrator.

Animal bites and any contact with bats should be reported to the Will County Animal Control at (815) 462-5633.

[Princes mom]

Prince had a severe reaction to his vacs about two years ago, and is exempt from all of them. He almost died!!! Georgia has a law that you have to administer at least the rabies vac, but we do not. His vet gave us a letter stating that due to his severe reaction to vacinations that he will not administer them. His decision was also based on Prince's lifestyle...he is an inside dog (potty pads), has never been and will never be boarded, gets groomed at home or at the vet, isn't around other dogs, nor children. The only meds Prince takes, except for his collasping trachea meds, are for heartworm preventative.
I will never put Prince through that again.

[vwill]

Originally Posted by megansmomma

You are so off base with these statements I think you need to research what you are stating as a fact! Unless, as the OPer said there is a medical reason not to vaccinate then any animal that can be vaccinated needs to be protected.

I agree with you...we live in San Diego. We see coyotes on the golf course behind us. In our neighborhood, we have seen raccoons, skunks and "roof rats" are at an all time high in San Diego -- and they definitely transmit rabies

Our dogs don't run"free," but we do let them in the backyard. We have seen roof rats pop out from under a bush and race across the yard when we go out.