Injection Site Reaction
My dog
received her yearly vaccination a month and a half ago. She has had
reactions to shot before so they usually give her an antishistamine shot
prior to the injection. Otherwise her face swells some. This time they
were using a new injection and didn't think she'd have a
reaction, so they did not give ger a shot prior. Everything was fine with
an exception of a huge bump at the injection site. A month and a half
later the huge bump was still there and now accompanied by another bump
to the side of it on her neck and her neck was stiff...hurts to move. Her
eye lids are swollen, she has had a fever. The injection site has popped
and oozed, looks infected. She acts as if she hurts all over. First the
vet gave me an antibiotic for her and gave me anti bacterial ointment for
the eyes. The ointment made the eyes worse. The antibiotic seemed to
knock the fever but she's still very ill and the lump on her neck and
sore at injection site is still present. They tested her for an auto
immune disease.
Vaccines are modified germs which stimulate both the local and systemic immune systems of animals. It is common to have reactions. Severe reactions are uncommon. Swellings at the site or local lymph nodes may occur as the local immune system reacts to the invasion of the vaccine germs. Animals with stronger immune systems have greater local reactions. Most swellings resolve and dissipate within a few weeks, and need no treatment. Some reactions leave an abscess at the injection site. The abscess is the accumulation of white blood cells that showed up to fight the invading germs. Some abscesses are absorbed internally, and others break open to the surface of the skin. Ones which break open, need to be cleaned and kept dry. Ointments usually are not desirable, for they keep the site moist and oozing. I prefer daily cleaning with a povidone iodine scrub like Betadyne.
Systemic antibiotics are rarely needed. Any swelling which continues to grow in size past the first couple weeks should be seen by your veterinarian. Swelling which rise up quickly, but remain the same size after a couple weeks usually resolve on their own. When in doubt, have your veterinarian examine the site.
Reactions may vary from year to year due to the progressive changes of the vaccine manufacturers. Higher quality vaccines are more expensive, but are much less likely to produce vaccine reactions. Low cost vaccine services have more problems than conventional veterinary services.
Return to Petsdoc.com home page
Return to Ask the Vet Index page
