Quote: Kathy West

I'm alittle confused. I thought the core vaccines were just parvo, distemper and rabies? But I just read on another post that Hepatitis is a core vaccine also? I only purchased the parvo and distemper but now I'm wondering if he needs hepatitis too? His vet appt is at 1:30 today so now I'm worried. The vet does a 7 way vaccine but that just seemed overload to me so I purchased my own.
Any thoughts on hepatitis vaccine?

http://drjeandoddspethealthresource.tumblr.com/post/66693331640/dodds-dog-vaccination-protocol-2013-2014#.UryHaRxa4bw

“Dr. Dodds considers infectious canine hepatitis (adenovirus-1), canine adenovirus-2, bordetella, canine influenza, canine coronavirus, leptospirosis, and Lyme regional and situational. Please research the prevalence in your area, and discuss it with your veterinarian.”



But also see this:

http://healthypets.mercola.com/sites/healthypets/archive/2011/10/27/new-canine-vaccination-guidelines.aspx



And:
http://www.peteducation.com/article.cfm?c=2+2115&aid=960

About getting single vax:

http://www.whole-dog-journal.com/issues/14_5/letters/Single-Antigen-Vaccines_20253-1.html



This makes me think that you might want to hold off on distemper a day or two to see if the only way to get the adenovirus is via distemper/adenovirus (if I read that correctly, while hurrying to post it).

That isn't meant to be vax advice from me .... just options if you do decide on the adenovirus.

Well it didnt go well at all yesterday. Got to the vets, talked to the vet tech, there are no cases around here of adenovirus so I decided to go just with the parvo and distemper vaccines I had. Vet came in, he was obviously irritated that I had my own vaccines, told me they would not give the shots because they didnt want to be liable if anything was to happen since they werent their shots they carried. They showed me how to give the shots,which I was not prepared for at all but he needed to get his shots so i did it, not very well but got it done. Took my pup home and he seemed fine. Husband called around 4:30 and said puppies eyes were completely swollen shut. I called the vet they said to give him benedryl, so we ran to the store and got baby liquid benedryl and gave him some around 5:15pm and then another dose around 10:00pm - they look alot better this morning, almost normal.

So I am completely freaked out, what am I going to do when he needs another set in 3 weeks? the vet said we will have to dose him with some histamines before hand but I am scared to death, plus would me maybe doing the shots not just right or something have made him react like that? Or was it my vaccines i bought, could they be bad or something? Or was I probably lucky I didnt give him the 7 way shot the vets had since he may have reacted worse?

Do I need to report the reaction to anyone? Any advice or words of encouragement would be great - I'm pretty upset about the whole thing and not sure what to do.

 Quote: Kathy West

Well it didnt go well at all yesterday. Got to the vets, talked to the vet tech, there are no cases around here of adenovirus so I decided to go just with the parvo and distemper vaccines I had. Vet came in, he was obviously irritated that I had my own vaccines, told me they would not give the shots because they didnt want to be liable if anything was to happen since they werent their shots they carried. They showed me how to give the shots,which I was not prepared for at all but he needed to get his shots so i did it, not very well but got it done. Took my pup home and he seemed fine. Husband called around 4:30 and said puppies eyes were completely swollen shut. I called the vet they said to give him benedryl, so we ran to the store and got baby liquid benedryl and gave him some around 5:15pm and then another dose around 10:00pm - they look alot better this morning, almost normal.

So I am completely freaked out, what am I going to do when he needs another set in 3 weeks? the vet said we will have to dose him with some histamines before hand but I am scared to death, plus would me maybe doing the shots not just right or something have made him react like that? Or was it my vaccines i bought, could they be bad or something? Or was I probably lucky I didnt give him the 7 way shot the vets had since he may have reacted worse?

Do I need to report the reaction to anyone? Any advice or words of encouragement would be great - I'm pretty upset about the whole thing and not sure what to do.

About core vaccines:

"In dogs the most common vaccine reaction we see is a dramatically swollen face with puffed up eyelids, a fat muzzle, and sometimes the appearance of itchy hives all over the body. "
From http://www.highplainsvet.com/ask-the-vet/vaccine-reactions
(and other vet sites)

Goes on to explain "These things usually happen within a few minutes to hours after receiving a vaccine because some quick reacting immune system cells have been inadvertently triggered to cause inflammation in the area where they reside. These cells are found primarily in the skin, the gastrointestinal tract, and in the lungs. When people have this type of reaction it tends to generate frantic behavior from health care providers because it can be a warning sign that they are in danger of going into anaphylactic shock, having their lungs swell shut, and possibly dying. People have the highest proportion of inflammatory cells in their lungs, followed by skin and then digestive tract. Dogs, on the other hand, have most of their inflammatory cells in the skin, followed by digestive tract, and the least in the lungs. What this means for dogs is that even though a big puffy face catches our attention quickly, and is probably fairly uncomfortable, it rarely results in more than inconvenience. I see this sort of reaction about two to three times a year, out of thousands of patients vaccinated. Benadryl usually stops the reaction quickly and most dogs are none the worse for wear."

(I did the bold emphasis, not the author.)

Jumping out much more at me than the swollen eye reaction is this vet's reaction to your wishes. Did you ask these questions about whether your actions could have triggered this reaction (not) and he didn't reassure you? That would make me go elsewhere. The whole visit sounds kind of uncomfortable.

May I add (and I am NOT a health professional) that this is what I would be thanking my pre-shot research for:

".... lucky I didnt give him the 7 way shot the vets had ...."

I would pat myself on the back. JMO!

Oh my gosh you are having a time of it, aren't you?

First things first. Stop beating yourself up! You have done the research, advocated for your dog and sometimes crap just happens.........I think the universe does it so that we never get a feeling of being in control. LOL

If I had a pup have a reaction I think I would talk to the vet about the risks of postponing the rest of the vaccines or part of them.

Not sure if that's what I would do but it is a possibility I would explore.

What this means for dogs is that even though a big puffy face catches our attention quickly, and is probably fairly uncomfortable, it rarely results in more than inconvenience. I see this sort of reaction about two to three times a year, out of thousands of patients vaccinated. Benadryl usually stops the reaction quickly and most dogs are none the worse for wear."

Kathy, I have a small dog that had a severe reaction when she was a pup. Dosing her with Benadryl prior to her Vax eliminated future reactions,she's almost 14.

How much prior, Tammy? Like a half hour?

Connie, yes, at least a half hour prior.

I will definitely give him some benedryl prior to his next set of shots (which I'm still pretty nervous about even doing since his reaction). I never had a dog swell up like that so it scared me pretty bad. I was wondering too if I should maybe give the parvo then wait a week and give the distemper? Kinda spread them out.
I'm going to check with the other vet in town to see if someone there would be willing to give the shots-I just didnt and dont feel comfortable doing it myself but I guess if it comes down to it I will if I have no other choice.

Also, I bought the childrens liquid benedryl cherry flavor- would it be better to give a tablet? or does it matter?

thank you