Hair loss at vaccine site

[dodgeandmar]

Marlee had a super bad ear infection two weeks ago, so I took her to the vet. They cleaned it up and ran tests and also diagnosed her with hypothyroidism. Well after all that they also vaccinated her...4 months early, because she hadn't been vaccinated since 2009 according to their records (she had, obviously, just at the vet where I was in school). They obviously didn't check her rabies tag, nor did they ask me. I was so mad. Also, she has allergic reactions to vaccines and they didn't know that because they didn't ASK before vaccinating her. Anyway, about 3 days later she lost hair on both hips at the vaccine sites. Now we are at the vet again to recheck her ears and they want me to spend 80 bucks on skin tests. And they are acting like I am a horrible person for saying no. Now these bald spots are not itchy or scaly, they haven't spread or gotten worse, and they are right on top of re vaccine sites. Since I know she is already allergic, I feel like this is just from the vaccines. I told them
I am coming back in two weeks for a thyroid recheck and if it's worse we can do it then. They are still giving me attitude. I do not want to subject her to more sticks and pokes and medicines when I feel like it's pretty obvious it's from the vaccines. Has anybody else experienced vaccine related hair loss? They are making me feel bad, but she has ZERO signs or symptoms of any skin disease.

 

[dodgeandmar]

Well after that rant the vet herself came in and said that the nurses were wrong, she thinks it's just a combo of thyroid and vaccine. :rolleyes:

But I'm still curious about if you guys have experienced hair loss at the advice site.

 

[Sansal]

I'm sorry this happened! I think it is irresponsible that they vaccinated Marlee without telling you. I would let them know that you do not want any treatment in the future without notice.
I have not experienced hair loss with a rabies vaccine but when I googled hair loss and rabies a ton of results came up, for example this one:
Dog Rabies Vasculitis
Maybe you can talk to your vet and in the future do a titer instead of re-vaccinating.
I hope the hair grows back soon

 

[Gatorblu]

I can't believe they vaccinated your dog without your permission and one that was dealing with an infection. That is one vaccine I don't think I would be paying for. Vaccines can put stress on your dog's immune system, (hence not vaccinating an dog with an infection) which can lead to hair loss, especially in a hypothyroid dog. I know someone's dog who had lost it's hair, but I honestly don't remember who right now. I do remember that they never got another rabies shot after that. Their's was a result of an allergy to the shot. I hope Marlee is feeling better and her hair grows back quickly.

 

[spook]

Yup, hairloss after a shot : Spook has that everytime he has his anual shots, not the rabiesshot's, but for other stuff.. sorry I only know the dutch names.
But after a shot he gets this big bump in his neck... then looses the hair (about the size of a fingernail) and then it grows back after a month or so.

the vet says its no big deal, but I don't like it. Spook does a lot of playing in dirty water so he must have those shots.... but I still think that stuff is no good for him.

 

[Jan]

I think you need a new vet! :( Not only did they vaccinate your dog without asking, they vaccinated a sick dog. That is a real no no. I would refuse to pay for the vaccine as it probably hasn't worked. I would wait for a few months and then do titers instead.

Good luck!