Anyone have advice on vaccine allergies?
 

Just wanted to post about a little incident that happened last week. Bri is just reaching 28 weeks and our vet felt she was finally big enough to get the rabies shot. (Just a little background, she had a really bad reaction to her 2nd puppy shot, so we waited until she was almost 15-16 weeks and 2lbs for the 3rd, which is why our vet found it best to wait for rabies) Not sure why we waited, but I trusted the vet.

Anyways, she got her shot and got a general checkup. Things were great and I was thrilled to be leaving. (I had been there 2 hrs waiting). As soon as we got home her face was completely swollen, she was throwing up, and was having a tough time breathing. She only wanted to be held and was whimpering. I called the vet and rushed back. They took her back and gave her some medicine to control the swelling. We ended up having to wait around 30-45 min after to make sure she got better.

They told us that she obviously is allergic to something in vaccines since this is her 3rd reaction. This was by far the worst of any of the others. The puppy shots didn't cause anything like this. The vet said she'll just need a shot of benadryl before any other shots in the future.

Does anyone have any advice?? Bri is good for another year, so we have a year to prepare for the next shots. But, now i'm worried about her having another reaction.

Thanks in advance and sorry for the long post!

Usually dogs don't get a reaction to the rabies vaccine, however, vaccine reactions usually occur within 30 min of getting the shot...if your vet knows that your pet is allergic, they will usually pre prep your pet for the vaccines with prednisone and benedryl, that usually helps a lot...i would just tell your vet that you would like the premeds prior to the vaccines....good luck! :)

Just in my opinion....Bentley gets a benadryl shot before his rabies vaccine. My breeder told me that is what she wanted and he has not had any problems. He just got his rabies on the 2nd of Aug. and is good for 3 years.

Next year when it is time for his normal vaccines I am getting titer tests done first to see if his prior vaccines are still potent...then he won't need a booster.

Thanks for the prompt responses! I will make note with the vet and on all her paperwork that she needs to be treated before vaccinations. Thanks again!

Wow, scary :(. With 2 previous reactions, I'm super surprised the vet didn't pre-medicate - that kinda shocks me. Pre-medicating w/ benadryl is so easy/simple and it may have prevented this reaction. Rabies vaccinations can cause big reactions, so of all vaccines, I'd have thought the vet would pre-med here.

Btw, w/ her puppy shots - was that just DHP/DHPP? Or did those include Lepto? If Lepto caused the previous reactions, I'd avoid that at all costs. Lepto isn't a core vaccine, can cause severe reactions, and is often avoided unless Lepto is endemic to your area.

It was just DHP/DHPP. No Lepto, but thanks for reminding me to watch that in the future. Her reactions the the puppy shots caused more skin irritation than anything. This time she was swelling all over. Completely terrifying!
Thanks for the advice though :)

I would NEVER give her another vaccination! She's had her puppies series and most likely has life time immunity.

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.

I don't know that I would ever vaccinate my pup again after three reactions. IF I did, it would be in a hospital with specialists on duty and also I would have not just benadryl but also an anti inflammatory on board.
I just don't think I could ever allow my pup to receive another vaccine. Your story is scary.

Um.. I'm not sure how to respond to this. First off, I posted here for a little advice and you completely bashed me and my decisions. I made the decision to vaccinate her for rabies based on a lot of information. We live out in the country with a lot of woods. We constantly find animals in the woods and they could carry rabies. Our city also requires that any dog within city limits must be vaccinated. The past reaction was due to size, but since Bri has grown since then, we felt it would be safer. We were wrong, I understand that. But, that does not mean you have the right to come and tell me I didn't research or use common sense.

I just hope you will choose to not be so hateful before knowing the situation. I had 3 different vets look at her after the first reaction, I have done what I know to do.

It sucks to come here for help and get bashed. Just think about it.

Don't take this stuff personal. First of all, I would have had the vet give my pup a rabies shot as well. That is not one that I would expect a reaction to. I am sure the vet did not expect it either.
I would not want a dog to NOT be protected against rabies. No way, no how.
As for that comment the other poster made about your dog not being in the wild ... I recall a young lady who contracted rabies while in church! So..that is hogwash.

Thank you for this sweet comment. I was literally shocked reading that comment and felt very low after reading it. My yorkie is my 3rd child, I take care of her like I take care of my biological kids! It just hurts when someone judges your decision making.

So really, THANK YOU!

Rabies is LEGALLY required in most states, so you would have had to get it anyways. Don't worry about that comment. Rabies is one thing you don't wanna mess with.

Since the likelihood of reaction increasing after 2-3 vaccines, I'd be extremely nervous to give her anymore at all. Next time, full blown anaphylaxia and even death are possible. She should absolutely be premedicated before vaccines now (should have been after the first reaction), but that may not be enough. It is a very tough call and I'm sorry you have to make it. :( I would lean towards stopping altogether, but since there wouldn't be a one year booster for DHP and no more rabies, she may end up needing to be an indoor girl (could do titers to see if the pup vaccines "took", but that is really no guarantee that the one year booster can safely be skipped).

And while it may be a preservative bothering her, I'd be concerned that she reacted to DHP and rabies. While I don't want to scare you, personally I'd bile acids test her. That is in no way saying that she has a problem, but Yorkies with liver problems tend to not do well with drugs... Since it's so common in the breed and she reacted to more than one vaccine, it may be worth checking.

Yes, it is required by law. I do think there are exceptions after pups have had severe reactions.

I would discuss it at length with the vets before making any decisions.

As for that other comment that was made by the other person: I am sorry, but I don't believe any vet would knowingly give a vaccine to a pup that might kill it just so he could make a couple of bucks.