Reaction To Rabies Shot

2122 Views 17 Replies 11 Participants Last post by Luvbirds, Nov 4, 2011

Kalecho

Discussion Starter · Nov 4, 2011

My puppy, Racyn, suffered an allergic reaction to a rabies shot. Her muzzle swelled up, looked like she had a softball in her mouth, and it was very hard. I called the vet, he said to give 50 mg Benadryl, I did immediately. In about an hour it started to soften up and go down some. As I write this it's still not totally normal but a lot better. She did also get hives with this too. They are still there. So scarey! Has anyone else had a problem like this with a rabies shot? And if so, what did you do for it? And what did you do when it came time for the next shot?

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Q734

· #2 · Nov 4, 2011

Omg that's awful!

Would you happen to know the maker of the particular vaccine?

Thought I read on here somewhere ages ago(before I got a clue to subscribe to threads) about a manufacturer that had issues.

Our girl's 3 yr is about to expire & am in a quandry since she's starting to rash from dawg knows what already & don't want to give a any shots right now.

Hope your girl feels better soon.

No way she could have gotten bitten by a house centipede/yellow sac spider or something?

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mmctaq

· #3 · Nov 4, 2011

Pennsylvania has passed legislation to allow for a medical exemption from the requirement for rabies vaccination. Paperwork needs to be filled out by your veterinarian which will then be used in lieu of the rabies certificate for licensing.

I am a little concerned by your vet's attitude. Unless you are far away, he should have had your pup back in immediately and given Benedryl by injection. He probably should have kept the pup for observation. He should be preparing an adverse response report to submit to the vaccine manufacturer, as well. I would call tomorrow and ask if he will be willing to give you the paperwork for an exemption. If he is unwilling, I would immediately have your pup seen by another vet to document the allergic reaction, and ask that vet for paperwork.

Benedryl is hard to overdose, and it wouldn't surprise me if the pup's face doesn't blow up again when the first dose you gave her wears off. I don't know how much she weighs, but it is safe to give her 2 mg./lb. if this happens. I would probably either stay up with her tonight or re-dose her before you go to bed and set the alarm for four hours and then hourly after that to check on her.

If you do choose to have her re-vaccinated for rabies, she should be pre-dosed with Benedryl and you should be prepared to spend a few (I don't know exactly how many) hours wasting time at the vet's office afterwards in case there is an emergency. Frequently, a subsequent reaction will be more severe.

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Ripley!

· #4 · Nov 4, 2011

That happened the first time my Chihuahua got her vaccines. It was on a Saturday, I had to wait for the Dr to get a page and call me back. Meanwhile Bianca's eyes and throat are swollen shut, and she's running around frantic. Now she gets the three year rabies and I give her Bendryl before and after her shots.

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Luvbirds

· #5 · Nov 4, 2011

I was easily able to get Petey Rabies exempt, a simple letter from his vet or Cardiologist was all that I needed.

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LuvMyDobes

· #6 · Nov 4, 2011

Was the shot given alone and if so, was it given at least 3 weeks apart from other boosters? I went through this with Sweep. She got the shot at six months and then did not get another until she was 3 years. My vet did titers to make sure she was protected. When she got her rabies vaccine last year, she was given the lowest dose acceptable and it was given alone because I titer her for everything else. I believe Dr Dodds recommends separating vaccinations if you give them. Hope she does well.

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Kalecho

Discussion Starter · #7 · Nov 4, 2011

Thanks for the responses! She's better today, still has some swelling in the muzzle, probably about 20 per cent of what it was, and it's softened up, I can't believe how hard it was last night. The hives are totally gone. Called the vet this monring, he said to give her another dose of Benedryl, so I did that. The vaccine was Ft Dodge, and he said he would fill out the report today. I honestly don't think I'll give her another rabies shot ever, I'm going to apply for the exempt certificate.
The shot was given alone and it's been a month since she had any other vaccinations. I did give her an interceptor last night though, and I'm wondering if that might have made it worse. Thanks again for the replies.

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vivienne00

· #8 · Nov 4, 2011

I try to push out the 1st rabies shot until the dog is close to full grown. I don't believe in giving it to a puppy with their immature immune system.

I have also heard that you can have the vaccine delivered over a period of a couple of weeks, provided the last part is before the previous full vaccination expires.

Yes, make sure no other vaccinations are anywhere close before or after. My dog got his immune disease following his rabies shot at 1yr of age. He has the exemption too.

HOWEVER, just because you have the exemption doesn't mean squat if your dog bites someone. You will have an unvaccinated dog and that's how the dog will be treated by the authorities. If that means he is PTS and his head examined for rabies post mortem, then that is exactly what they will do. You need to be hyper-vigilant in public so that your dog can never be accused of being the dog that bit someone - no more dog parks or groups of non-dobe people and your dog. I took my dog to a huge public park in Portland - it runs for 20-odd miles across the mountains. Went with another couple of people with dobes. One of the other dogs nipped a cyclist. The husband of the cyclist wanted everyone's rabies information etc. I said, it wasn't my dog and luckily the owner of the one that did it provided the requested info. But I could have lost him, exemption certificate or not, because I was in the company of another dog who nipped (he slipped his leash and then we asked the cyclist to stop but she wouldn't or couldn't hear us or something - she was dog stupid).

So yes, easy to get the exemption if a there is a medical reason, hard to deal with bureaucrats if something happens. Find out in your state what the laws are. Not every state or county allows exemptions.

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HarvestMoon

· #9 · Nov 4, 2011

How scary! Glad to hear she is doing better this morning and hope everything will return to normal soon! Poor Racyn.

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Toby'shuman

· #10 · Nov 4, 2011

vivienne00 said:
I try to push out the 1st rabies shot until the dog is close to full grown. I don't believe in giving it to a puppy with their immature immune system.

I have also heard that you can have the vaccine delivered over a period of a couple of weeks, provided the last part is before the previous full vaccination expires.

Yes, make sure no other vaccinations are anywhere close before or after. My dog got his immune disease following his rabies shot at 1yr of age. He has the exemption too.

HOWEVER, just because you have the exemption doesn't mean squat if your dog bites someone. You will have an unvaccinated dog and that's how the dog will be treated by the authorities. If that means he is PTS and his head examined for rabies post mortem, then that is exactly what they will do. You need to be hyper-vigilant in public so that your dog can never be accused of being the dog that bit someone - no more dog parks or groups of non-dobe people and your dog. I took my dog to a huge public park in Portland - it runs for 20-odd miles across the mountains. Went with another couple of people with dobes. One of the other dogs nipped a cyclist. The husband of the cyclist wanted everyone's rabies information etc. I said, it wasn't my dog and luckily the owner of the one that did it provided the requested info. But I could have lost him, exemption certificate or not, because I was in the company of another dog who nipped (he slipped his leash and then we asked the cyclist to stop but she wouldn't or couldn't hear us or something - she was dog stupid).

So yes, easy to get the exemption if a there is a medical reason, hard to deal with bureaucrats if something happens. Find out in your state what the laws are. Not every state or county allows exemptions.

In such a case, if your dog was muzzled the authorities surely wouldnt have a leg to stand on when it came to demanding your dog be PTS for testing.

Just a thought for the future, dont get me wrong I hate muzzling my boy, but they are a good way of protecting your dog more than anything from wrongful accusations.

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Toby'shuman

· #11 · Nov 4, 2011

How awful, we give our dogs these vaccinations because we think we are protecting them in the best possible way. For this to happen must be very worrying for you.
Good luck in the future.

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vivienne00

· #12 · Nov 4, 2011

Toby'shuman said:
In such a case, if your dog was muzzled the authorities surely wouldnt have a leg to stand on when it came to demanding your dog be PTS for testing.

Just a thought for the future, dont get me wrong I hate muzzling my boy, but they are a good way of protecting your dog more than anything from wrongful accusations.

Maybe, but the thing is that becomes a "he said - she said" situation. You know what they do in those cases? The dog suffers every time. The human will get the priority treatment, understandably. Remember, bureaucracy does not have any intelligence. You can argue until you are blue in the face and are told to take the legal route which is always too late. Prevention is the key - yes! But I wouldn't rely on what can be construed as an after the fact action.

What you said is logical but logic is not what drives panic and it doesn't solve it either.

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Toby'shuman

· #13 · Nov 4, 2011

vivienne00 said:
Maybe, but the thing is that becomes a "he said - she said" situation. You know what they do in those cases? The dog suffers every time. The human will get the priority treatment, understandably. Remember, bureaucracy does not have any intelligence. You can argue until you are blue in the face and are told to take the legal route which is always too late. Prevention is the key - yes! But I wouldn't rely on what can be construed as an after the fact action.

What you said is logical but logic is not what drives panic and it doesn't solve it either.

How true, it is just so sad that the majority of people really don't have a clue how to be around dogs and as for the people who are supposed to be in authority, please don't get me started on them.

I have to admit, your system in the US does seem to be a whole lot better than we have here. There is no possibility of an exemption with regards having vacinations here. Don't get me wrong there are many dogs here that are not vaccinated, but if the authorities find out they can and do order the dog put down.
Perhaps it is because Rabies has been such a problem here that they are so keen.

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LuvMyDobes

· #14 · Nov 4, 2011

vivienne00 said:
I try to push out the 1st rabies shot until the dog is close to full grown. I don't believe in giving it to a puppy with their immature immune system.

I have also heard that you can have the vaccine delivered over a period of a couple of weeks, provided the last part is before the previous full vaccination expires.
>>>>>>>snip<<<<<<<
Yes, make sure no other vaccinations are anywhere close before or after. My dog got his immune disease following his rabies shot at 1yr of age. He has the exemption too.

Good advice! I definitely will follow the "wait til older" plan if/when I get another puppy. The rabies titer worked when we were home close to the vet and not traveling, but I was afraid to risk it going out of state so had her vaccinated.

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Amelia_

· #15 · Nov 4, 2011

Aww poor puppy, hope shes back to full health soon! We're very lucky not to have rabies.

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Kalecho

Discussion Starter · #16 · Nov 4, 2011

Wow, there's a lot of good info and knowledge here. Racyn is doing well thank goodness, the swelling on her muzzle is almost all gone, I'm going to be giving Benedryl one more time tonight and I'm hoping that will be all she needs. She got a dose this morning and this afternoon.
I don't like to give these shots early either, but the law says rabies at 3 months in this state. So, I try to push it till later, but if you're caught there's a hefty fine. I've given this shot even at 4 months, and never had a reaction. Racyn is a bit over 5 months. Don't know if this happened because I bred out? Maybe not, who knows. I am so happy she's ok, don't know what I would have done if I'd lost her. I am going to go for the exemption, I don't go to dog parks, so no problem there, she will be going to conformation shows and agility and obedience classes and trials later on in life. So I will be extra careful and vigilant since I don't want her to have a rabies shot ever again! Thanks again for all your advice and sharing your knowledge!

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Hank

· #17 · Nov 4, 2011

yay that she is doing better!
I agree with mmctaq and am appalled that your vet didnt call you back right away. Considering your dog can die from a shot reaction.

Should do research into vaccinosis and also titer testing for all her other shots too.

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Luvbirds

· #18 · Nov 4, 2011

I also waited to give Monty his Rabies until he turned a year old. After his next booster at 2, I will find a way to get him exempt too.

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