Dog owners understand that vaccines are necessary to prevent disease, and can even save their dog's life. When a dog has a negative reaction to a vaccination, his owner may question the value of the practice. After all, vaccines are to keep him from getting sick, not make him sick. Vaccine reactions can range from very mild to very severe, and can even be fatal. That said, vaccinations are still an important part of a dog's wellness plan, and should be tailored to each individual dog's health and history.
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Vaccines
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Vaccines are a live or killed version of the disease that is injected under the dog's skin. As the body absorbs the organisms, it responds my manufacturing antibodies specifically to fight that disease. One the small amount of injected organisms are killed off, the antibodies remain and are better equipped to attack and kill that organism next time it invades the bloodstream. This is why it is important to boost vaccinations every year or so, to "re-teach" the body how to fight off these particularly virulent invaders. In rare cases, a dog may react badly to a vaccine and experience a wide range of symptoms.
Mild Reaction
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Mild vaccine reactions can begin 24 hours to one week after the injection. Symptoms may include lethargy, fever, or a slight rash or itching at the injection site, and will usually go away on their own. Symptoms that continue or worsen after 24 hours should be reported to the vet.
Moderate Reaction
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A moderate vaccine reaction may include severe itching, hives and swelling of the face and neck, and is the most common reaction experienced by dogs. The condition is called urticaria, and usually arises within an hour or two of vaccination. The vet will ask you to bring your dog back to the clinic immediately, where she will administer antihistamines and steroid injections to combat the allergic response. If urticaria is not treated immediately, the dog's condition could worsen and become life threatening.
Severe Reaction
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A severe reaction is characterized by anaphylactic shock, and generally occurs before the dog even leaves the clinic. Anaphylaxis is life-threatening, and can cause vomiting, diarrhea, difficulty breathing and a sudden drop in blood pressure. This is an emergency situation. The vet will rush your dog to the back of the hospital where she can place an endotracheal tube and administer oxygen to help your dog breathe. She will place an IV line and begin the rapid infusion of fluids to help raise the blood pressure to safer levels, and will administer epinephrine, dipenhydramine, and steroids to curb the immune response to the vaccine. Once the dog is stabilized, he will be monitored closely for several hours, or until he shows signs of complete recovery.
Prevention
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Although a severe vaccine reaction can be scary, avoiding vaccinations is not the answer. The chance of a dog having a reaction is so small, that letting him go without vaccines is definitely more dangerous. If your dog has had a vaccine reaction, make sure the vet knows this before new vaccines are given. A pre-vaccination injection of dipenhydramine is often enough to ward off an allergic reaction. Some dogs react so violently to a certain vaccine, that vets prefer to eliminate just that one injection from the dog's vaccine protocol. Some vets prefer to space vaccines out over the course of several months instead of giving them all in one day, as this can sometimes prevent reactions. Discuss your concerns with your vet, and she will tailor a vaccination schedule for the utmost safety of your dog.
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