ER vet trip : additives in vaccinations?

[BriaLeigh]

Zander had a bad experience last nite. We went to our regular vet at 4 to get his last vaccination and rabies shot. I dropped him off at home with my boyfriend around 630 and i came back at 730, walked in the door and put stuff down to say hi to Zander. 20 minutes later ALL OF A SUDDEN zander had these hives EVERYWHERE. It seemed like it was so fast they were getting worse before my eyes! By the time i got the vet number and called them and got in the car his eyes were swollen shut. It was a half hour drive and half way there he started wheezing and coughing! I was trying to keep him awake and alert and breathing and his face was itchy. it was awful. Hes going to be 4 months next week! I couldnt believe this happened so young. At the emergency vet they gave him steroids and benadryl and within 2 hours he was fine again. Regardless of the $150 dollar vet bill and the fact that it was unexpected... i was going crazy. They told me since hes small this is really bad and it could be possibly fatal if it happens when hes older. So now they ahve to premedicate him for vaccines.

They said that it was probably the additives in the vaccinations. Can anybody explain to me why the additives are in there and what they are for?

Has anybody else ever had this problem with their puppies????

 

[Rocky Hoya]

I am sorry to hear about your puppy. It is a good thing you reacted so fast. No advice sorry just wanted to say what a good mommy you are. I hope your puppy is doing better today.

 

[Cami]

I would opt for having a titers test run VS more vaccines. This test will show the level of protection from the previous vacinations. Alot of owners don't do any vaccines after researching about bad experiences (or having a dog that has sufferred them). Do a search here on BW concerning titers/vaccines.

I was always of the mindset that you do as the vet says concerning vacinations. After getting Cami, my first dog as an adult, I went thru the whole puppy vaccination process. She was pretty much sick the first 9 months of her life, (related or not, who knows?). When it came time to have the boosters at age one, I opted for titers. I had researched that info here at BW. She was tested and showed adequate levels with no need for the boosters. We had to do the required rabies and I opted for the bordetella as she is around alot of other dogs.

Hopefully your pup bounces back quickly.

 

[Draymia]

I agree with Cami. With this kind of a severe reaction, I would not want to ever give another vaccination. You have no choice with the rabies since it is a law.

Just do titers from now on. You might be pleasantly surprised that Zander may never need another vaccination. I have a four year old that had two vaccinations as a puppy and since 11 weeks, I have run just titers. She has had full immunity and I expect her titer results to continue to show the same.

 

[crazychopper]

what additives are

additives are materials in then vaccines that actually carry the dieases your vaccinating against. Dieases need something to "cling"to to be useful so the aditives are their vehicles. some additives are metallic substances. usually it's the additives that animals have the allergic reactions to. The Purvac rabies vaccines is made to have less additives and we use it most the time on cats. it might be something to look into. titers are a good idea but the most important thing is that your pet is protected