I have put this here as i wasnt sure where else to put it.

Do certain strains of vaccinations/antibiotics cause reactions?

I sold a puppy on 16 months ago and she had a weird reaction to a jab.  She had a HUGE growth on her withers the size of a large orange.  She has previously had an injection of antibiotcs and the lump showed up 10 days later.

Has anyone else had this happen?

As per my post regarding Duramune - my boy now 14months had his first annual booster (ie the year after his first 2 jabs) and the same thing has happened.
Where the jab went in he's swollen then a few days later it turned hard.

I'm going back tomorrow (bank holiday in IOM today) to see if they can sort it before it gets any worse.

Hope your one is ok.

I'm bothered that this seems to be considered an acceptable reaction now by the vaccine manufacturers.  Years back, when I used to booster every year, I never saw this kind of reaction, not did I hear of anyone else getting it, so I wonder what has changed?

Is does seem a recent thing doesnt in.  In over 20 years of my main breed and my father breeding before me I did not recognise this reaction.  One of my last litter went to live with a vet and she did say that different vaccines were used across the UK, hence the different timescales when baby puppies could be vaccinated.  Sure if we all live in the UK or England we should be offered the same vaccination ?

I'm not sure this is a known reaction to a specific brand of vaccine as I'm sure I've heard it mentioned as a possibility with other brands.  I would love to hear from vaccine manufacturers why it is considered acceptable now.  As far as I am aware, I've never come up in a huge lump after a vaccination!

More dogs than you know have reactions to there booster injections. A friend lost hers after its booster. There was A good write up in  "our dogs" about annual boosters.

antibiotics also can give a reaction, like us not every one suites every dog. But! dogs can't tell us can they if they feel ill.

I always check on the net to see what reactions there can be, then keep an stricked eye on them.

Denese

HI Denese,

I am currently trying to get some information as I am at such a loss to know what to do.

My dog, a normally very boisterous, fun, loving 2 year old Ridgeback, had his 3rd booster just over a week ago now, and has suffered a massive reaction to this, his paws are very swollen up, has hives all over his body, high temperature, and violent shaking. We have him at the vets at the moment, where they are unable to advise exactly what is wrong, and therefore do not know what to administer to fight whatever reaction he is having.

I would be interested in what symptoms your friends dog had, you say they lost him following his jabs.

Thanks.

Emma

Would like to read this as am now really concerned about what to do about boosters. My two adult tt's have had boosters each year (they are now 3 and four) and not had any problems. Have a five month old puppy now and would like to read as much as possible about the subject before I consider future boosters. Do you know which edition of Our Dogs the feature was in? any idea if I could get hold of a copy?

Do a google on adverse reactions in dogs and dont be surprised at what it comes up with.

Many dogs are immuno compromised on vaccination. Many vets continue to push vaccinations for dogs who have severe reactions.

I hope Emma that your vet has reported the adverse reaction to the vaccine manafacturer. If he doesnt make sure you do.

No dog should ever be revaccinated if they are ill in any way or have had a previous adverse reaction no matter how small.

If any one is interested Dr Jean Dodds from Hemopet is an amazing woman to listen to in regards to the vaccination protocols that should be used. The vaccine manafacturers and the vets themselves would lose alot of money if vaccinations were not given on an annual basis as they are now.

So if after reading all the bumf on adverse reaction to vaccination, what is the alternative.? Will our dogs be more likely to succumb to parvo etc. Is there any alternative test we can have to check our dogs will not be likely to get these awful diseases?

Hi,
In my opinion all puppies must have there vacinations. But! I would only give mine a booster if a virus was around. If mine went in kennels which the don't I have a house sitter. I would have the kennel cough vaccination. There has been many reports of dogs becoming seriously ill after there boosters. My friends dog a westie died after its second booster.
My daughters akita became very ill. He is now o.k.
The artical was in our dogs 16 May 2008 by Archie Bryden. well worth a read.
As one of his quotes " Not everbody knows that the measles and distemper viruses are closely related. We don't vaccinate our children every year."
He was also appalled to encounter some vets who would instist on a full course of vacination, as given to puppies, if an owner was even a month or two over the anual date for boosting.  He quotes clearly financial gain,  this is professional malpractice which ought to be reported to the Royal College."

Denese

> But! I would only give mine a booster if a virus was around.

How are you going to know?

You can have a titre test which is a blood test this will show antibodies and whether or not your dog has immunity. Or, you could find yourself or your dogs a homeopathic vet and give homeopathic nosodes which protect without causing side effects. 

Don't forget research int he USA has found that once a dog has immunity then they are immune for 7 years to life. 
Dogs can catch these deseases vaccinated or not,   A strong immune system is the best protection for any dog and that can only be found in dogs that are not bombarded with chemical wormers, flea products and vaccines.

Might be worth having a look at Catherine O'Driscoll's website, this lady has done lots of research : http://www.canine-health-concern.org.uk/
I have the new dvd which she has made and it is interesting to listen to vets opinions on over vaccinating and too many chemicals pumped into our animals.

> homeopathic nosodes which protect

There has never been any evidence that homeopathy has any efficacy at all.

> Don't forget research int he USA has found that once a dog has immunity then they are immune for 7 years to life. 

I believe the evidence was that some dogs showed immunity after 7 years.

> A strong immune system is the best protection for any dog and that can only be found in dogs that are not bombarded with chemical wormers, flea products and vaccines.

Personally, I very much doubt that.  The vast majority of dogs take these treatments in their stride and do nothing but benefit in their general wellbeing from them.
Some diseases have been all but wiped out by the widespread use of vaccines. 

Isabel, I suggest you get the dvd and see for yourself, when qualified vets start doubting what is everyday practice in the UK we should all start to listen.

The research has shown that immunity lasts for 7 years and sometimes longer, so you are right in your statement that some dogs showed immunity after 7 years.  Thanks for clarifying.

And yes you are right that most diseases have been wiped out because of widespread vaccination as it has with humans, but humans are not boostered every year against these wiped out diseases, and neither should our pets be.

It's a very emotive subject and unless you have experienced a dog dying from a disease or a booster to prevent it, then our opinions will always rely on our own experience.  

Most people are aware that a strong and healthy immune system helps prevent disease, so it makes sense not to weaken it with too many chemicals. 

> but humans are not boostered every year against these wiped out diseases, and neither should our pets be.

We haven't managed to wipe out any of the diseases that we vaccinate our dogs against.

> The research has shown that immunity lasts for 7 years

I will clarify again, the research shows that some dogs are still immune after 7 years.  That is not the same as saying all are immune for up to 7 years.

> Most people are aware that a strong and healthy immune system helps prevent disease, so it makes sense not to weaken it with too many chemicals. 

Where is the evidence that vaccines are "too many chemicals"?
I won't buy the DVD thanks :-)  This subject has been under scrutiny for many years and I doubt I would hear anything we have not heard again and again.  But it is not me or you that Catherine O'Driscoll et al has to convince it would be the BVA and that would require sound scientific evidence not DVDs expressing opinions direct to the public.
I agree it is an emotive subject but despite having experiencing loosing a puppy to a vaccinatable disease many years ago I would always hope to not allow that to colour my perception but to continue to always be inclined to the scientific evidence.

I think it has coloured your perception and quite rightly too, once we experience something horrific we would be silly not to question why, whether scientific or otherwise.  But unfortunatley that is leaving you with a very narrow point of view.  I have experienced the opposite of you, that a dog I loved was killed by a vaccine, and a friends dog died of lepto after having the lepto vaccine, so I would be stupid not to question yearly boosters.  Although I do believe we have to protect our animals and after lots of research I chose to geve my boys the puppy vaccinations only.

It has been proven that once a dog is immune to a disease the immunity will last for 7 years to life.

We haven't managed to wipe out most of the diseases we vaccinate humans against that is why we have an immunisation programme, but my point is we do not need it EVERY year and neither do our dogs.  

> and quite rightly too

It may or may not have coloured my perception but I would never say that.  It absolutely should not be about our experiences but should always be about the evidence.

> It has been proven that once a dog is immune to a disease the immunity will last for 7 years to life.

I can only say again the evidence I have seen says only that some dogs were found to be immune.

> so I would be stupid not to question yearly boosters.

Indeed you would :-) I hope scientific research never ceases and that all accepted regimes are continually questioned but I think we do have to accept the evidence as it stands at any given moment in time, not what we might theorise.

> but my point is we do not need it EVERY year and neither do our dogs. 

No we don't need to vaccinate every year for every disease but the immunity varies species by species and disease by disease and each requires its own evidence to support how long immunity can be expected to last for a sufficient number of the affected population to ensure continuing herd protection.
Unfortunately we will not manage to wipe out all human diseases as some continually mutate and with dogs I doubt we will do it with any disease unless enforced vaccination could ever be achieved which I doubt very much.