Posted on 07/16/2013 7:10:29 PM PDT by cva66snipe
We have a Toy Rat Terrier {from a Chihuahua mix} we think is having a delayed reaction to her annual vaccines. Last Tuesday she had her Rabies, Bordetella/Kennel Cough, DA2PP, vaccines. Yesterday evening she started breaking out in bumps on her skin as well as vomiting and bloody stool with diarrhea.
Normally I would assume it is a virus except for this part of her history last year. Last year she had the same shots and about a week later these same symptoms happened and had to be treated. The Vet at that time which was one open on a Saturday gave her antihistamine and Steroids. Today different Vet her regular Vet this time gave her Benedryl, Famotidine injection, and Metronidazole orally to take 14 days.
I believe this is being caused by one of the vaccines. The Vets both of them say a week is too long for that too happen. She's still not wanting to hold down food well but bladder and bowel function is there.
Has anyone experienced this before in this timeframe of delay? This is my wife's companion dog and acts also as my service dog for my hearing with hearing aids out. Thanks.
It definitely isn’t the vaccines. Have you introduced anything new to the home environment (foods, cleansers, etc)? Was she outdoors where she could chew on things like mushrooms, plants, etc? Make a list of everything you did in the previous 24 hours and it will be one of those.
We, and eventually our vet, thinks rattlesnake vaccine killed out little 10 yr. old rat terrier. Yes she was white but I think age has a lot to do with it.
The vet now gives fair warning to folks with small dogs.
The Rabies I think is state law here {Tennessee}. I don't board them and usually in the winter is the only time they leave the house with us. We take them with us only when outside Temps allow it.
Rabies is kind of an issue in these parts. I have Coons, Yotes, Bats, stray dogs, etc to contend with. I'm in a rural area. Coons and Skunks are usually biggest Rabies risk. Possums are safe though LOL.
Was the reaction last year the same seasonal time as this year? My guy had horrible hives, manic itching three years in a row, in the summer about the same time, never able to isolate it. I concluded it was a seasonal plant or lawn fertilizer, Dr. Young disagreed, LOL, he thought it was ants.
2. Give your dog some homepathy therapy and use Thuja (30ccs) twice a day for the next week to help his body recover from the vaccine reaction.
3. Due to the adverse reaction, your dog's immune system has been weakened. I highly recommend switching to a raw dietand when I say raw, I don't mean the crap you can by at a pet store or all natural dry food. I mean RAW meat such a beef, venison, turkey, quail, rabbit. Blue Ridge Beef products makes and distributes raw dog food throughout the country.
4. Start adding a supplement to your dog's food that will help boost the immune system. Nature's Farmacy has some wonderful products.
Why do I recommend this? Because I speak from experience. My 5 year old Belgian Sheepdog had his annual vaccines in February. He had a severe reaction and lost the majority of hair on his face. The breed is known for mediated immune issues, and after losing my previous BSD to IMHA, I was not going to live through anything like that again. So I switched him and my other BSD to an all raw diet. Stopped all vaccines (except rabies and bordatella, which I would stop also if I didn't train in a boarding facility). My new Border Collie puppy is also on a completely raw diet. The results?
- The dogs have GORGEOUS, soft, shiny coats
- My boy has not had any immune related issues with demodex, hair loss, etc.
- Their teeth are as white as can be and no longer have bad breath or tartar build up
- My girl no longer has a sensitive tummy or disgusting smelling burps
- Stools are small and turn to white powder in 10 days
- They drink less water, thus, pee less too
The results have been so amazing that even my vet is considering switching to a raw diet. This evening, my dogs dined on raw venison with ground bone, pumpkin, coconut oil (which has SO many benefits for dogs), some green beans, which they love, their probiotic/immune powder, and a vitamin. They eat better than I do!
But they are COMPLETELY worth it. And cost comparison, it was around .25 more per serving. After seeing the results, it was the best decision I've ever made for my dogs.
I put the eating something wrong question the the Vet last year and it was ruled out. I'm usually right there with them when I let them out due to the blasted Yotes around. I don't toss out scraps so that's ruled out and my neighbor is a ways off the dogs don't wonder that far. i can safely rule out anyone tampering with them like poison also. Not many people even know my house exist. It's up off a dead end road and almost a quarter mile off that road.
IIRC pancreatitis is a common issue in Ratty's though.
Yea that's a very severe reaction. I take allergy shots myself and they make you stay 20 mimutes just to make sure you don't shock on them.
Our Chihuahua who is 10 lbs has had a bad reaction to steroid shots for allergies in the past due to being a small dog. WE told the vet no more steroid shots and he agreed. Now we give her a half of a children's antihistamine for the allergies and it works fine. Maybe the dog is having partially a reaction to the drugs the vet gave.
I’m in northwestern North Carolina, so the threat of contact with rabid animals is little different. Immunity is immunity, hitting them with more vaccine than necessary is not necessarily helpful, especially with older, weakened or sickly dogs. As I mentioned, I’ve paid for blood titer to establish that there is no need to vaccinate in the past. It can take a toll, on elderly dogs in particular.
Maybe there are differing types of rabies vaccine? It’s every three years here, after first vaccination at eight weeks and a booster about three months later.
Oh wow! Never NEVER have more than one vaccination at one time!! Especially on a small dog. They should be given at least 2 weeks apart. Your vet is totally incompetent to not know this and do something like this. Certainly note should be taken that this has happened before!
Best of luck! I hope your sweet dog comes around well soon!
Benadryl children’s strength.
He might get sleepy but that’s all.
And call your vet ASAP, just to be sure.
She just turned 5 years old. I think the Combination shots all at one time is messing with pet and man alike. I'm gonna watch her tonight and see how she does. I might have to go back to Vet that helped her last year. She straightened out pretty fast then. But the thing about reactions is each new one can be more severe than previous one.
One months difference in time {Later this year} because due to funding I was a month late on her shots. As a matter of fact it is the same number of days after shots the issues started.
And STOP giving vaccines.
They’re not necessary, especially with the frequency vets give them, i.e., every year.
Only give rabies because you *have* to by law.
Our new pup’s lifetime health guarantee is actually -voided- if I ever give her another shot outside of her obligatory rabies vax and that, only *after* she is 6 months old.
This kennel has been going strong since I was born and they know their stuff.
Their dogs are famous for health and longevity.
Hope your dog feels better soon. When my jack rat gets stomach trouble, I feed her cooked rice.
Hope your dog feels better soon. When my jack rat gets stomach trouble, I feed her cooked rice.
P.S...was Lepto included in the shot?
Avoid that at all costs.
It’s the wrong serovar of Lepto anyway and the side-effects are infamous.
It has killed dogs, outright.
No her breathing is fine. Her tail is usually up and she's drinking water OK just not hungry. So far about six hours without throwing up any fluids. Dry heaves once about two hours ago.
http://www.dogs4dogs.com/blog/2012/08/08/help-end-over-vaccination-of-our-dogs-and-cats/
http://www.whole-dog-journal.com/issues/13_8/features/Annual-Pet-Vaccinations_20036-1.html
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