Rabies Vaccine Reaction

[ChibiLuv]

They should really warn you about the possible Rabies vaccine reactions. Molli just got her second Rabies shot and had a very bad reaction to it.
I was wondering how many of your babies has this happened to?? Is it common or rare?
Also a question to Texans- have any of you been able to get a letter from your vet saying your dog doesn't have to have the Rabies vaccine and has this caused any problems traveling or boarding or anything??
Also do you think she will loose her hair in the spot? This is what it looked like yesterday, it looks a bit better today.

[Yorkiemom1]

How long ago did she have her first rabies and did she have any reaction to it? This is localized...did she have a systemic reaction....fever, lethargic, vomiting, seizures, difficulty breathing, etc??

[bjh]

From what I am reading I think if you live in Texas you are out of luck. Here is a link to a website that has some great information:
States Allowing Medical Exemptions for Rabies Vaccination | Truth4Dogs

I don't know if airlines would except titer tests but I did read somewhere that some countries require titer tests and the dog has to have a microchip so that the titer test can be matched to the dog.

Did you take the her back to the vet? You might ask your vet about the exemption and the titer testing. Hopefully she will heal quickly and the hair will grow back.

[Marhcarter]

Originally Posted by Yorkiemom1

How long ago did she have her first rabies and did she have any reaction to it? This is localized...did she have a systemic reaction....fever, lethargic, vomiting, seizures, difficulty breathing, etc??

I agree. This looks localized, like a reaction to the injection at the site but not a full blown allergy. I see this occasionally with some antibiotics and some pain medicines in people, like maybe the medicine infiltrated the sub q close to the surface instead of the muscle or the pH of the additives disagreed with her? I would still let the vet know, even if it seems to be getting better. If it is like people meds, all adverse reactions are supposed to get reported to the manufacturing company so they can watch for trends. Also, anytime a reaction like this happens, I would stay away from getting that same thing in the future as reactions have a tendency to worsen with each exposure.

[ChibiLuv]

She got the vaccine last friday. She was lethargic and not eating well for 3 days after. Her leg and belly were swollen and red and the area was painfull for a while
She is only 2yrs old so she has only had a couple of these but never had a reaction to any vaccines before. I of course never want to get her this vaccine again but I am worried there are no medical exceptions here- will a couple of vaccines show up on titers forever? What we do a titer some time later and it shows shes not protected?? I am so worried about her ever having that vaccine again!

[Marhcarter]

Originally Posted by ChibiLuv

She got the vaccine last friday. She was lethargic and not eating well for 3 days after. Her leg and belly were swollen and red and the area was painfull for a while
She is only 2yrs old so she has only had a couple of these but never had a reaction to any vaccines before. I of course never want to get her this vaccine again but I am worried there are no medical exceptions here- will a couple of vaccines show up on titers forever? What we do a titer some time later and it shows shes not protected?? I am so worried about her ever having that vaccine again!

I would check with the vet on a couple of things. My vet said the rabies is good for 3 years but that some vets will give it every year anyway. He said it is the exact same dose either way. Huey got his last week and his certificate shows he is good until 2016. Also, if your vet will document an allergy to the vaccine, I would think that would keep you from having to vaccinate. You can't give a medicine where there is a documented allergy.

[ladyjane]

I have seen a few of these and as I told you in your other thread, it is usually permanent hair loss. I don't know how common it is, but I don't think it is necessarily rare. I have a pup who has a round hairless spot...I adopted him so I honestly don't know for sure but when seeing a round spot (usually on the right side), this is what I suspect. I have not yet discussed my pup with my vet...but will when time rolls around for his rabies vaccine. It is creepy because I don't want full blown cutaneous vasculitis.
Usually you don't see them later on unless their hair is kept short

[ladyjane]

RABIES VACCINE--Skin Reactions


This link talks about localized and generalized reactions. I have seen both.

From the link:

schemic Dermatopathy / Cutaneous vasculitis

A little known and often misdiagnosed reaction to the rabies vaccine in dogs, this problem may develop near or over the vaccine administration site and around the vaccine material that was injected, or as a more widespread reaction. Symptoms include ulcers, scabs, darkening of the skin, lumps at the vaccine site, and scarring with loss of hair. In addition to the vaccination site, lesions most often develop on the ear flaps (pinnae), on the elbows and hocks, in the center of the footpads and on the face. Scarring may be permanent. Dogs do not usually seem ill, but may develop fever. Symptoms may show up within weeks of vaccination, or may take months to develop noticeably.

Dogs with active lesion development and / or widespread disease may be treated with pentoxyfylline, a drug that is useful in small vessel vasculitis, or tacrolimus, an ointment that will help suppress the inflammation in the affected areas.

Owners and veterinarians of dogs who have developed this type of reaction should review the vaccination protocol critically and try to reduce future vaccinations to the extent medically and legally possible. At the very least, vaccines from the same manufacturer should be avoided. It is also recommended that the location in which future vaccinations are administered should be changed to the rear leg, as far down on the leg as possible and should be given in the muscle rather than under the skin.

[ladyjane]

Also, I have seen cases where the Pentoxyfylline did not work but it seems to be the treatment of choice. In two cases I personally dealt with, the pups were put on prednisone and did well on it. There was scarring afterwards and hair loss.

[CouversMom]

Poor girl, I hope there are exceptions... That is horrible

[Marhcarter]

Ladyjane, what is your experience with frequency? Every year or every 3 years?

[Yorkiemom1]

Originally Posted by ChibiLuv

She got the vaccine last friday. She was lethargic and not eating well for 3 days after. Her leg and belly were swollen and red and the area was painfull for a while
She is only 2yrs old so she has only had a couple of these but never had a reaction to any vaccines before. I of course never want to get her this vaccine again but I am worried there are no medical exceptions here- will a couple of vaccines show up on titers forever? What we do a titer some time later and it shows shes not protected?? I am so worried about her ever having that vaccine again!

In Texas, you can opt for rabies every 3 years.....some vets still try to push you to get it every year, but that is not necessary. My brother has a collie that received her rabies vaccine and has gotten titers checked every year.....it has been either 5 or 7 years, I cant remember which, since she had her last Rabies shot...his vet told him some dogs are protected a lifetime from just the two initial rabies vaccinations.

[Lovetodream88]

Oh my poor thing. What did your vet say?

[ladyjane]

Originally Posted by Yorkiemom1

In Texas, you can opt for rabies every 3 years.....some vets still try to push you to get it every year, but that is not necessary. My brother has a collie that received her rabies vaccine and has gotten titers checked every year.....it has been either 5 or 7 years, I cant remember which, since she had her last Rabies shot...his vet told him some dogs are protected a lifetime from just the two initial rabies vaccinations.

It depends on where you live in Texas. Some areas are every year!

[ladyjane]

Originally Posted by Marhcarter

Ladyjane, what is your experience with frequency? Every year or every 3 years?

Where I live it is every 3 years.