I've already talked to the vet about this. I'm just wondering if any of you have dealt with this. I've had 4 other dogs and they have never had problems with the rabies shot. Details- Took our 4 mo old puppy on the 11th to get her last set of shots which included the rabies shot. She was fine. Wednesday, the 19th me and my husband found a lump on her. It doesn't hurt her, we just wanted to get it checked out.So yesterday, I took her to the vet. They said it was a bad reaction from the rabies shot. To put heat compress on her and such. They said not every dog has problems and some lumps pop up at different times and stay for different times. Of course, they said if it changed at all, to come back. Like I said, this is the first dog I've had that had a reaction to the shot. What are your experiences with this?
2007-09-21 06:25:45 · 10 answers · asked by gizmos_dreamer 4 in Pets ➔ Dogs
Montreaux1991- They told me I could give her some Pediatric Benadryl. My husband didn't want to do that right now since it's not bothering her and it does seems to be slightly smaller. I just put the heat compress on her last night.
2007-09-21 06:39:33 · update #1
I had the same experience with my dog - left a small lump that went away.
The same dog did have a bad reaction (swollen face, trouble breathing, major full-body skin rash) to his first round of adult shots - a combo with parvo, distemper and coronavirus. He also got the rabies the same day, so we weren't sure whether it was the rabies shot or the other one. Three years later we determined it was the combo shot (because he had another rabies shot and had no adverse reaction).
Just so you know, vaccine reactions are rather common in dogs. In the future, please consider not doing more than one shot per vet visit (wait a few weeks in between them). If there's ever a problem you'll know right away which one caused the problem. My dog will never have another distemper vaccine again, since he could die from the reaction.
2007-09-21 08:16:09 · answer #1 · answered by Sherry C 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It is fairly common for some dogs, in the future massage the area to disperse the vaccine under the skin. It will usually eventually absorb. In some dogs it can create problems so keep an eye on it and calling the vet to alert him is a good idea so he can put it on the dogs records. Make sure you mention to the vet every time your dog gets the vaccine that he has had a previous reaction, not all vets review a dogs full chart each visit. I live in Texas, state law requires a rabies at 4mths and then another 1yr later then every 3 yrs but my county still requires it yearly (I have major issues with this since this pup has had a reaction to the shot at 4mths old). This is using an approved 3 yr vaccine. Check on your local codes and don't vaccinate more than required by law. Since this is a pup he will require more shots but please make sure the vet only does the shots the dog actually needs. One vet here routinely gives shots for lepto (only 12 cases a yr are reported in texas) and lyme (non existant in texas), any shots are a risk so these probably are not needed unless you travel to places where these things are a problem. Break shots up, if a pup needs a shot or booster of the core vaccines and a rabies, do them 2 weeks apart so you can be sure what the reaction is to. You can even get the core vaccine broken up into individual shots (distemper, parvo etc.) Also check the new guidlines, they show that after the puppy series and one booster 1 yr later most dogs should never need shots, immunity should last a minimum of 7 yrs and usually a lifetime.
2016-05-20 01:45:19 · answer #2 · answered by ? 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
My weim didn't have a reaction to a rabies shot until her 3 year booster, she was fine with her first rabies at 15 weeks but the 3 year caused a 1/2 golf ball sized lump to appear. It didn't bother her or cause her any problems, I took her in and they said it was just a reaction to the shot and to keep an eye on it. I knew someone who's dog nearly died from a rabies shot, however, his dog got very lethargic and couldn't lift his head up, they ended up suing the manufacturer to recover the costs of the vet fees due to the fact that they had sent a bad batch.
As long as it's not bothering him and he's eating and is normal then it'll be gone in a day or two.
2007-09-21 06:42:31 · answer #3 · answered by Weimaraner Mom 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Having a lump come up at the site of injection is very common and it does NOT mean the dog is having a bad reaction to the vaccine. It is also totally unnecassary to put compresses on the area or to even give any kind of medication. It can happen with any vaccination. The lump can last anywhere from a day or 2 to a month..
2007-09-21 08:26:14 · answer #4 · answered by Great Dane Lover 7 · 0⤊ 1⤋
My four month old pug puppy had the SAME exact thing happen with his rabies shot.
None of the other booster shots he got did this - just the 12 week shots.
My vet told me the same thing - they said only to worry if it got bigger, which it hasn't in the past month.
Just let it be - it might go away, it might stay for awhile, but unless it gets bigger or starts to noticeably bother your dog, then rest easy.
Glad to know this happened to someone else :)
2007-09-21 06:31:30 · answer #5 · answered by Ladypug 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I had a lab mix that also had a reaction to her rabies shot. The vet drained the 'lump' and she was fine after that.
They gave the pup the shot under the skin, correct?
From now on make sure they give the rabies shot in the muscle (IM) and she should be fine
2007-09-21 06:36:51 · answer #6 · answered by berner mom 6 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Oh yeah it can be very common.
We get it a lot when we get nasty pups from the shelters and give them shots a little ick may have gone in the area with the needle. It will clear up but with warm compress it may pull everything to the surface and the abcess could rupture. I often suggest cold compress with a little rubbing. Worse case scenerio is a drain tube. DO what you vet says to prevent having to have a drain tube. He has seen it no one here can see or feel it to tell you what is appropriate.
2007-09-21 06:34:26 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
It's a pretty common reaction.
Since she's now had all her puppy shots, I'd consider limiting her future vaccinations to every three years at maximum.
Discuss this with your vet. And do some research on the subject.
2007-09-21 06:31:36 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
OH YEAH. Used to happen to my dog too, but her face would swell up.
Make sure she gets a shot of benadryl along with her vaccinations from now on, and keep some on hand in the house.
2007-09-21 06:33:13 · answer #9 · answered by tiny Valkyrie 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Yep-been through that also. It may take a couple of weeks for the lump to completely go away.
2007-09-21 06:30:54 · answer #10 · answered by W. 7 · 0⤊ 1⤋