Wondered if anyone had experienced this before as a vaccination side effect?  My pups were 8 weeks last week, 1 is very tiny, the other normal size.  We went to the vets for Myrtle (the bigger pup) to have her 1st Vaccination, and for Midge (tiny one) to have a check up (she has had lots of set backs in her short life so far, but had been fine for over 10 days).   Vet said that as she had not had any immunity related problems, and had been fine for over a week, he saw no reason for her not to have her first vaccinaiton as well as her sister, so both pups were done.  No apparent side effect, not even sleepiness.  However on Friday I noticed that Midge was tending to sit with one of her paws sort of twisted over, and by Saturday she was walking that way too - the foot was twisted right over for the joint and she was walking on the side - it looked awful :( . At about 5 weeks she had had a tendency to walk with her feet a little twisted, but this was much more extreme.  I put her leg into a wrapped support using micropore with a tiny matchstick splint, moved the splint on Monday to a new position, and by Tuesday the leg was back in it's normal position, she is fine now.  However, had a chat with a friend today who recently  had a very similar occurence with a Poodle pup, in this case both legs suddenly looked as if the pup had ricketts and pup was walking over on both front feet.  The vet did some research and said it was a known side effect of vaccination!!!  Has anyone else ever had this?  I always have first vacciantions done on my pups before they leave, but this came on 4 days after the vaccination - what if it had happened after a pup had gone to it's new home?  How many vets woudl be honest enough to look into it and admit it was a side effect?  Anyone had any other unexpected side effects from vaccinations?

Im sorry to hear about your pup, Ive had a google but the only thing I could find was this:

http://www.ehow.co.uk/about_6162194_immune_mediated-polyarthritis-vaccinations-dogs.html

I found that link, and a few others on similar lines, but this was nothing at all like that.  No signs of inflamation, no signs of discomfort or pain, it was almost like the joint had lost all means of support, and the puppy  was walking on the side of the foot as it was hitting the ground first, because it was so floppy.  Apparently the poodle pup was like this too, but worst, as it was both front legs and the whole leg want bowed shape.  Both pups are fine now, but I am very concerned about the next vaccination and any ongoing problems from this event.  Obviously will talk to my vet about it, but was hoping to get some more personal experience from other CDers.

We had a problem that sounds similar but it was a back leg and she held it in the air. We also had swelling on one side of her face. I took her back to the vets and we decided to put her on piritan for the second vaccination which went fine even though I was really worried. When she eventually went to her new family I told them what had happened and gave them my vets number for their vet to talk to. Think it was decided that if she were to be vaccinated again (booster) she was to be given piritan again for a few days before and after. That was a few years ago now but hope it helps. Gail :) :) :)

Hi Gail, interesting to know others have suffered similar unexpected side effects.  I don't have a problem about her going to new home, as she is staying firmly here - after all the drama and problems I am firmly bonded with her, and as we have no idea why she had problems and why she is so tiny it would be very unfair for a puppy buyer, so I can monitor her after the next vaccination myself, very closely.

If you havent already, go back to the vets and fill out an adverse reaction form - the more people do this, the more information there is regarding adverse reactions and the better informed people and vaccine companies and vets can be in the future.

We will be back there on Friday, so will go over it all with my vet and request we fill one in.

Apparently this has happened recently in a litter of OES and Leos (according to a friend)