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Allergic Reaction to Vaccine

This is not really a question, as I got the answer last night at the Vet ER, but thought I would share with others, because I did not know.

My 8 year old female Cocker Spaniel had her annual check up and vaccines yesterday. Fortunately, she was given a good health report. Last night I took her outside and was with her the whole time. On the way back in, we stopped and said "hello" to our resident toad frog, and she sniffed him and I rubbed his back. After being in the house for about 10 minutes, her left eye began to swell and was quickly swollen shut. I thought maybe she had been sprayed by the frog. I put some ice on the swelling and it helped a little, but then her muzzle began to get puffy too.

I got online and read that if a frog sprays their "poison" on a dog that they will foam and droll at the mouth. She was not doing that. I was reluctant to give her Benadryl without checking with her vet, who does not take calls after closing. I called the Vet ER and the receptionist suggested bringing her in, as they have been seeing a lot of snake bites. (This has been an unusually wet and hot Spring in our area and snakes are coming out early). I wanted to wait to see if the swelling went down, but she sort of insisted.

The diagnosis was, she had an allergic reaction to her vaccine. We have had Cocker Spaniels for years and I have never heard that before. After a 45 mile trip and a $150 doctor bill, I know.

Hope this helps someone else. But even though it may be inconvenient or costly, don't hesitate to check with your local ER clinic if you are unsure.
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Avatar universal
Our vet now gives Mabi a antihistamine (in the nose) before giving her vaccinations. He also spreads them (vaccines) out at two different times to make sure they don't have a counter reaction. She has had no more reactions. Although it is possible Bailey got stung or bit, you might ask your vet about the antihistamine along with the vaccinations. Good luck with Bailey.
Helpful - 0
462827 tn?1333168952
The reaction WAS the vaccine......They always say bug bite!  
Here's a great resource to get you started......Good luck with your new one! :)

http://www.dogs4dogs.com/blog/
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Avatar universal
Our 12 week Yellow Lab puppy had a series of vaccines, thirty-six hour her right eye and face was swollen.  After we got the shots,the vet  said she might have an allergic reaction and to watch her for the first 24 hours.  If she did have a reaction,  we were suppose to give her Benedryl and if that did not work to call the emergency vet.  

During the first 24 hours the dog scratched often and her eyes were bloodshot.  The severe reaction happened 36 hours later when her eye and right side of the face swelled.  Thankfully Benedryl worked.

I called the vet and she believes the reaction was not the vaccine, but instead a bug bite or something else. I really have to wonder,  this is worrisome because Bailey is scheduled for another set of vaccines in a few weeks.  
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Avatar universal
same thing just happened to my 7 year old cocker!  she went in for her shots came home and started pawing at her face and running around crazy, jumping, kicking at the carpeting.  I called the vet and they said bring her back NOW!  I brought her in and she already had facial swelling!  She never had a reaction before!  Then a week later her tummy and private area is covered in welts!  It 's very hot to the touch, she is going crazy again.  Call vet again and bring her in they thing it's an allergic reaction to a bug bite?  I hope it's nothing to do with the vaccination again!  She seems fine after the last few days, but sometimes pants a lot???  It's been hot, but she's in the a/c...
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Avatar universal
same thing just happened to my 7 year old cocker!  she went in for her shots came home and started pawing at her face and running around crazy, jumping, kicking at the carpeting.  I called the vet and they said bring her back NOW!  I brought her in and she already had facial swelling!  She never had a reaction before!  Then a week later her tummy and private area is covered in welts!  It 's very hot to the touch, she is going crazy again.  Call vet again and bring her in they thing it's an allergic reaction to a bug bite?  I hope it's nothing to do with the vaccination again!  She seems fine after the last few days, but sometimes pants a lot???  It's been hot, but she's in the a/c...
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Avatar universal
It was in the early 80s when we got our Corky. He was also the Buff color, and I named him Corky because he was the color of cork. We only had him about 4 years. We moved and did not have a place to keep him, so we gave him to a friend who was also a Cocker lover.

Max (Maxwell Smart), the B&W was rescued one day before being put down at the local shelter. In the late 80s we got Sammy (Samuel Joseph Cocker - aka Joe Cocker) a Buff Red and he died at 11 years old. He had been gone for 2 months and someone sent me a photo of Max, who was about 18 mos, and told me of his impending death. Needless to say we fell in love. He had some major stress issues in the beginning, and still does when it storms, or if we are gone for too long.

Four months later, our long-legged blond, Mabi, came to us via adoption. A family had gotten her as a puppy, and just didn't realize how much time and effort was involved. Plus she was a "runner" and they couldn't keep her from running away. So, we took her. She was a "wild child" for the first couple of years, but has settled down to a sweet young lady now.

I like Collies, but they are just too big for us to care for. That was a cute story about your Corky.
Helpful - 0
441382 tn?1452810569
The link worked fine!  What an adorable pair!  :D

The doggy on the left is a beautiful silver buff color!  My second Cocker, Buffy, was that same color.  Corky (that IS some coincidence, huh?) was a reddish buff.  I don't know how Corky came to get his name because when my grandfather brought him to me, he had gotten him from my great aunt who had gotten him from who-knows-where.  She was the one who named him Corky.  When Corky died my mom got a Cocker Spaniel puppy and named her Buffy.  She was beautiful.  We got her from a breeder who showed her dogs.  I tried to show her a time or two but I was only 16 and I had nobody to show me what to do or mentor me and, the judges told me "you have a really nice puppy there, too bad she won't let me look at her!" because every time we put her up on the table so the judges could look at her, she thought she was at the vet's office (aluminum table!) and she'd stand up and put her paws around their neck!  LOL!  Ah well.  It was a short show career.  

When she was about four years old I got married and moved to my own house and she stayed with mom and dad.  That's when I got my first Collie and I have had collies ever since.  

I still can't get over the fact that your first Cocker's name was Corky!  That's just such a coincidence!  When did you have him?  Did it happen to be in the early 60s?

Ghilly
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Avatar universal
WOW! What a coincidence! Our first Cocker was named Corky too. We didn't have a clue what we were doing with him. He was our last "outside" dog and was not nearly as spoiled as these two are. LOL!

I am going to try this link to our Facebook page. It may or may not work. ??

https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.118151458315809.20089.100003628655390&type=3&l=57e7873b76
Helpful - 0
441382 tn?1452810569
I would LOVE to see pics of them!  My very first dog was a Cocker Spaniel that was given to me by my paternal grandfather.  His name was Corky.  I got him when I was six and he died when I was 16.

If you go to your profile page there is a place where you can post photos.  I am kind of technologically challenged when it comes to putting the photos in the actual posts but it's simple to add them to your profile page.  Even I can do it without messing it up and that's saying something!   LOL!

I am sure that someone else here can explain to you how to put photos into the posts themselves, in fact, I am hoping that someone offers the information to you because I would like to have it myself!  :D

Ghilly
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
I asked, as none of my dogs have ever had a reaction. They said that sometimes they can go years without one, and she may never have another one again. I did have a note put in her regular Vet file so they can give her something in advance next time. Yes, it was a little unnerving to see it swelling before my eyes. But she is fine today.
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Avatar universal
Did they say why  she had a reaction this time, and never before?  That is scary.
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Avatar universal
Thanks for your comment. I wish I had found this site last night before we went to the ER. I have now bookmarked it. When I get in a "panic" mode over my babies, I can never seem to find the answers or a chat group when I need them. They are my reason for getting up in the morning...literally. I would post a photo of them, but I don't see a place to do that on here.

Happy TAILS!
Helpful - 0
441382 tn?1452810569
I'm very sorry to hear about your ordeal!  I'm certainly glad, however, to hear that everything turned out OK!

Thank you very much for posting about it and for your words of wisdom regarding not waiting to react to something that you think may be wrong with your dog!  I hope that everyone who reads your words takes them to heart and does the same thing!  Many more doggie lives will be saved if people take their beloved pets to the vet at the earliest sign that something is seriously wrong instead of taking a "wait and see" approach.  Thank you again for your very wise words!

Ghilly
Helpful - 0
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