Anaphylactic reaction - Vaccination

It doesn't happen often... In fact, I've read that 1 in 15,000 dogs have a bad reaction to routine vaccine booster shots. I don't tell you the story I'm about to tell you because I think vaccines are bad. They are GOOD! Don't stop giving your pets their vaccines, but let this serve as a reminder & a caution on "what to watch for after shots".

It just so hapens, I have one of those dogs. Tuesday evening's vet visit was to be a routine visit for 2YO Allie & 15 week-old Marble. Allie got her shots (3yr distemper/parvo, 3yr rabies, 6mo bordatella), went in the back lab for bloodwork & a fecal exam. The nurse brought her back in, and they left, preparing to start working on Marble.

Allie started vomiting fiercely, and they took her in the back for benadryl & steroids. They watched her while Marble got his 3rd dose of puppy shots. A nurse stayed with the crew while I went to the truck to get my charge card (as I hadn't anticipated some flea medication changes). When I returned, the nurse said Allie had vomited again. The doctor returned a few minutes later, gave Allie a shot for her stomach, and after some more monitoring, sent me home. On the way home, she vomited again (starting to look less like stomach contents & more like blood at this point). I did a huge UTurn, and went back to the vet.

The first night, Allie had a drop in body temperature (97-98), severe vomiting & bloody, nasty diahhrea. She was on an IV with fluids, and numerous medications for her stomach & reaction. Wednesday morning, after three overnight visits, the morning nurse found her covered in bloody "mess", body temp around 101. All day yesterday, she was medicated & monitored, with body temperature stable, and IV fluids & meds. I saw her last night for the first time since Tuesday evening, and she was still muddy, mirky, and tired, but at least happy to see me.

This morning, Allie had her first semi-solid bowel movement since before the shots. It's black & still nasty, but it was much better than the bloody runny mess from yesterday & overnight. She was still a little cloudy today, but I visited with a much perkier happy dog, more like the one I took with me Tuesday. It was anticipated by the nurse that when the vet arrived, Allie's catheder would come out, the IV fluids would cease, and the meds would decrease. The nurse also anticipates after a good bath & cleaning, Allie ought to come home with me tonight.

What a scare! I never thought that the little girl would get sick, and I certainly never considered she'd almost die from something as simple as booster shots.

Take home message: If you take a pet in for shots, don't "shoot & run". Sit in the waiting room for a little while... wander around outside the vet's office, something ... but don't just stick a shot in the dog, pay the bill, and hurry home. Allie got sick within 5 minutes of her shots. If you don't have 10 extra minutes after a vet visit to stay around the office, schedule the appointment another time, or leave the dog with the vets for a while. I absolutely NEVER thought this could happen. Most of all, if you're trying to "save a buck" by buying vaccines from mail-order and self-vaccinating, re-consider based on what happened to Allie.

So, here's hoping my baby comes home tonight, and the bill is minimal. I told the doctor I am afraid of "needing a second mortgage on the house for the bills", and she laughed. She assured me "I wasn't paying full price or even close for anything they're doing." This is the worst reaction she has ever seen, and we have decided those are the last booster shots Allie will ever receive. We will find a way around "the system", with paperwork & records stating that it's just not safe to revaccinate her ever again. The next shots could very well be her last.