Benadryl before rabies vaccine

[mtoy]

I made an appointment for Millie's rabies vaccine and told the nice lady about her previous reaction and my concerns of a repeat. She asked many questions about what had happened and then asked the vet. The vet said to give Millie Benadryl (1.5 of 25mg tablets for her weight of 23 lbs) to help counter a possible reaction. Has anyone heard of that before?

She goes in for it Monday afternoon.

[LoveMySadie]

We used to give Hank benadryl for his tree/grass allergies until they got so bad that we had to resort to steroids. He had no problems with the benadryl however.

What kind of reaction did she have? And how old is she? When my cocker spaniel, who had serious heart issues, got older our vet quit giving her rabies shots. He wrote an exception letter due to her age and health concerns in case we needed it, but she didn't have rabies shots for her last 3 years or so. Is that a possibility for Millie?

Leslie

[ZdogZ]

Our vet has my mom give her dog (a chihuahua) some benadryl before her shot because she has a reaction to the shot (she swells up).

[jeepgal]

We had to give Trixie benadryl after a shot before but I can't remember which one it was though. "NO:": We also were told to give it to her when she got stung by a bee before. Both times the vet is the one who told us to give it and how much. We gave the children's liquid kind though.

[Jespah]

I've never heard of giving Benadryl to counter an allergic reaction before getting a vaccine. It's pretty commonly used for allergy related issues with dogs as most of us have experienced. When Jemma got stung and blew up like a Corgi balloon she got a Benadryl injection.

I know you mentioned before that they won't let her not have a rabies shot - I'd ask if she could stay for a while afterwards so if something happened she'd be able to get immediate care.

[Redwood Corgi]

This is what my vet recommended for Timmy since he has adverse reactions to the Rabies vaccine. I give him the Benadryl 1 hour before our appointment and by then the Benadryl is totally in his system and reduced the reaction (swelling) to nill.

This year we will do a titer for the rabies and if it is high enough, the vet will make out an exception letter for him, since he's had a MAST cell (cancerous) tumor removed this year. We want to avoid any histmine response, since that is what MAST cell tumors are (lots of histamine type cells gone crazy).

[mtoy]

Millie is 13. Her last vaccine made her very ill but wasn't a typical allergic reaction. She was dazed, had tremors, had trouble walking and lost bladder control. It was very bad for 2 days and slowly got better until at about 5 days she was pretty much back to normal. She saw a vet for it but actually looked pretty good for the vet (like when your car acts perfect when you bring it in for a problem). That vet has retired and is gone. The vet I'm seeing Monday worked at the same office and we saw her back then but not for that problem, so I'll tell her all about it and ask for an exception. Maybe she'll give one? If not we'll be ready for the vaccine and just cross our fingers for the best.

I seriously was not going to do this. I don't think she needs it, she's had 8 rabies vaccines so far in her life, give me a break. I could give a hoot about the city and her license - if they can't keep the library open how can they keep track of a 13 yr old dog's vaccine schedule? But as Karl reminded me, she bites, and that opens up a whole other can-o-worms. He wants the legal protection of the vaccine, so here we are.

[taflar]

Would a titer be a possibility?

I would definately ask about the medical waiver. And yes, I agree at her age she's most likely immune and another "booster" won't make her any more immune.

There is a study going on right now where they are trying to prove the theory that rabies vaccines are good for 7-15 years. The problem is going to be convincing the governments or health departments that they're good for that long and that giving multiple unneeded vaccines to animals does them more harm than good.

I'd definately try the benedryl though. And I use the 25 mg. capsules for my guys when they've needed one. They work just fine.

Peggy

[Jane Austen]

I recieve a Benadryl and two Tylenol tablets when I have Remicade infusions. So it doesn't surprise me to have it given to a dog before the shot.
Duchess is coming due for her Rabies shot in May. Glad this thread came up now to remind me to check into her reaction to the shot. She was just a little "off" three years ago for the last one.
Duchess will be twelve in July, after this one I won't want her to have another, if it came due. June

[mtoy]

Would a titer be a possibility?

I would definately ask about the medical waiver. And yes, I agree at her age she's most likely immune and another "booster" won't make her any more immune.

There is a study going on right now where they are trying to prove the theory that rabies vaccines are good for 7-15 years. The problem is going to be convincing the governments or health departments that they're good for that long and that giving multiple unneeded vaccines to animals does them more harm than good.

I'd definately try the benedryl though. And I use the 25 mg. capsules for my guys when they've needed one. They work just fine.

Peggy

I'll ask about titers too. I know all about the study, it's a good one and I wish it was done and already law. It's not only good medicine, it's common sense. Unfortunately a law like that keeps people from spending $$ and that's never a popular thing when laws are made.

[mtoy]

We're back, and so far so good. Millie had her benadryl - 1.5 tabs - and isn't any more tired than usual. How come I can take 1 benadryl tab and be nearly knocked out for hours?

Anyway, the vet was fabulous and even remembered Millie from years ago. We talked long about the risks and implications of the vaccine, including titers. She thinks because Millie's reaction was so far off from a typical reaction that it must have been a reaction to pain (maybe the shot was given in a way that caused more pain?). So I decided to let her give the shot, along with some rimadyl to take home with us. So far so good. She chased Linky's butt all over the yard, begged for snacks, read a little C2bC on the iphone and is taking a snooze right now. I hope that's as exciting as it gets.

Here she was at the vet (she takes her best photos when she's not at home):
http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4037/4535182573_63cd8be784_o.jpg

[disraeli ears]

Andy has had one reaction to a shot...the vet at the time thought it was caused by her intranasal bordetella shot (she had only ever had an injectable bordatella).

However, we just went to a new vet today...and she said that HER guess would have been the lepto component of the DHLPP (or whatever it is) that Andy got that day.

Anyway, Andy was due for her boreatella and rabies shots today and the vet said she *could* pre-treat her with a Benadryl shot if I wanted. I opted to not do it, since Andy had never had a reaction to injectable bordetella or rabies vaccines.

And her checkup was great! +CTHUMB+ The new vet took good care of a nervous Andy, giving her cookies and kisses on the head. :CUTE:

[disraeli ears]

Millie looks very happy in that picture, too! Glad she didn't have any reactions.

The vet gave me a Rimadyl to give to Andy, too...in case of any soreness.

[taflar]

I'll ask about titers too. I know all about the study, it's a good one and I wish it was done and already law. It's not only good medicine, it's common sense. Unfortunately a law like that keeps people from spending $$ and that's never a popular thing when laws are made.

Yeah, I know. :MAD: But there are other things to spend money on at the vets. At least my guys could find other things. :WINK:

Peggy

[taflar]

Anyway, Andy was due for her boreatella and rabies shots today and the vet said she *could* pre-treat her with a Benadryl shot if I wanted. I opted to not do it, since Andy had never had a reaction to injectable bordetella or rabies vaccines.

You can leave out the lepto too. I don't use it. It's the one thing that's most known to cause reactions and usually not needed. Even if there is lepto in your area (and it's not in all areas) you need to find out if the strain in the vaccine is the same as the strain of lepto in your area. Otherwise it won't do anything anyway.

Peggy

[taflar]

Glad to hear Millie did well!

Peggy

[Jespah]

I asked my vet about titers yesterday when having 2 of my cats vaccinated and checked-up. He said that they were very expensive - at least here in Canada, and that he doesn't see a point to them for rabies when we know that the vaccines last 3 years now.

[jeepgal]

You can leave out the lepto too. I don't use it. It's the one thing that's most known to cause reactions and usually not needed. Even if there is lepto in your area (and it's not in all areas) you need to find out if the strain in the vaccine is the same as the strain of lepto in your area. Otherwise it won't do anything anyway.

Peggy

Peggy, our vet insists that our dogs get the lepto since we apparently do have it around our area (Along Columbia River in NW Oregon). I really am not sure or know so I guess I trust the vet to know. So far my dogs haven't had a reaction to any of the shots they have received. Is it really a big deal to give it since they give the cocktail shot with lepto in there?

I know the breeder we got both our dogs from mentioned not to give lepto since that is the one corgis seem to be most allergic to. I did mention that to our vet and that's when he told us we have lepto in our area.

[taflar]

Peggy, our vet insists that our dogs get the lepto since we apparently do have it around our area (Along Columbia River in NW Oregon). I really am not sure or know so I guess I trust the vet to know. So far my dogs haven't had a reaction to any of the shots they have received. Is it really a big deal to give it since they give the cocktail shot with lepto in there?

If your dog should have a reaction to the lepto in the vaccine it can be a very big deal. And some reactions might not be immediate. They might come out as an auto immune problem that you might not connect with the vaccine right away.

I'd do some research and see what the strain is in the vaccine and what strain of lepto is in the area.

And it was my vet who told me to stop using lepto here as it is the most likely thing in the combo shot to cause a reaction and it's not needed here.

I know the breeder we got both our dogs from mentioned not to give lepto since that is the one corgis seem to be most allergic to. I did mention that to our vet and that's when he told us we have lepto in our area.

Do some research on lepto. The lepto in the area might not be the same as in the vaccine. JMO.

Peggy

[taflar]

I asked my vet about titers yesterday when having 2 of my cats vaccinated and checked-up. He said that they were very expensive - at least here in Canada, and that he doesn't see a point to them for rabies when we know that the vaccines last 3 years now.

Hmmm, one of my vets says they've gone down in price quite a bit and are almost the same as vaccines now. I don't know for sure as I haven't priced them.

The thing is they probably last 7-15 years and any positive reaction on a titer means there is still immunity.

I don't know that I'd do titers for any animal for rabies, but for a dog that's had a reaction or an older one, or one with an auto immune disorder, I'd sure look into titers and not be giving ANY shots I didn't absolutly have to.

Remember everyone, vaccines are for healthy animals.

Peggy

[Dillydoodle]

Glad to hear that Millie is doing ok.. she sure looks happy at the vets office!! cute photo.

I do not give lepto to my two - mostly becuase Dillon initially had lepto and lyme vaccine when he was a youngster and i that these vaccines ( more likely the lepto ) caused a weakening of his immune system as within a month after, he started having issues with allergies that have contineud through his life.

Of course, with Gus's Dermatomyositis ( autoimmune disorder) I am very cautious about vaccines and we only do what is absolutely necessary. Rabies is always a nervous time for me as the first time when i got him, he had a horrible flair up of his dermatomyositis due to the vaccine. He had the vaccine just before coming to me. He was not on his meds... Last summer he was due and i was really nervous about this vaccine and per my vet, we gave him a slightly higher dose of his daily medication for the dermatomyositis the day before , the day of and the day after his rabies vaccine and i also gave him extra antioxidant rich fruit juice (acai -blueberry juice) the few days before and after his appointment - and he did fine, no reaction at all... But we do not do lepto or lyme for either boy and we discuss vaccines each year and i usually skip a year with vaccines for my two per my vet.

[taflar]

... and i usually skip a year with vaccines for my two per my vet.

You know you can give the combo shots every three years too. Or even farther apart than that if you desire. They are not mandated by law and owners can decide on those what to give and how often.

When Lacy got auto immune hemolytic anemia she did not get any vaccines not needed by law. Meaning NO combo shots. She was 7 at the time so she had enough immunity by then anyway.

The alternative meds vet I use told me seniors don't need the combo shots, by the time they're 8 they've had enough to provide immunity for life.

There is a yahoo group, Beyond Vaccination
http://pets.groups.yahoo.com/group/BeyondVaccination/?yguid=129341596
that has a lot of info if you're interested in more opinions and research.

Also lots of articles on this site:
http://www.caberfeidh.com/HHC.htm

For more reading:
http://www.dogsadversereactions.com/MinimalVaccineUse.html
http://www.vetinfo.com/dogvacc.html
http://www.canismajor.com/dog/vacci01.html
http://www.shirleys-wellness-cafe.com/petvacc.htm
http://www.shalako.com/vaccine.htm
http://tollchester.tripod.com/vaccine.html
http://www.weim.net/emberweims/Vaccine.html
Peggy

[Jaxerspal]

What a great picture of Millie! Glad to hear she's doing well.

[mtoy]

Link had his puppy shots (including the rabies), then the 1 yr rabies. When they wanted to give the cocktail shots again I had them do titers instead and it came back with a strong immunity to everything tested (no rabies test was done). The titers cost about $60, vs about $40ish? for the shots. But the cost is easily recouped in better health, in my opinion. Each vaccination ups the chance of autoimmune diseases, and if they're clearly not needed there is no reason to get them.

I won't have any more cocktails for Millie, there's no need at her age.

Peggy, do you know how long a titer test is usually good (accepted)? 1 year, 2 years, 3, 5? They didn't tell me when we had it done.

[taflar]

Peggy, do you know how long a titer test is usually good (accepted)? 1 year, 2 years, 3, 5? They didn't tell me when we had it done.

That I don't know. And actually it doesn't really matter. With everything but rabies you can choose the schedule you want to follow as they are not mandated by law. All the other shots you can give or not give or give at whatever interval you choose.

IMO, do the titers every three years if that's the schedule you're comfortable with. Or even longer if you choose. Maybe more frequent if you feel pressured by your vet.

Peggy

[Dillydoodle]

titer testing at my vet is way more than $60- it was like $120 and i was told that many people check titers yearly... well i think that is excessive.. and I was surprised at the cost..

[corgiland]

Glad to hear that Millie is doing well!

[MVons]

I have to ask our Vet about Titers to get a CA price. Meanwhile, still too cold to have mosquitoes yet as Chester will need to go for his heart guard prescription.

I hope I remember Benadryl when Chester is old. Glad Millie did fine.

[taflar]

I hope I remember Benadryl when Chester is old. Glad Millie did fine.

It's not an age related thing. Morgan had a reaction to one of his puppy shots. He's not had ANY combo shots since.

A dog can have a reaction at any age. There is no way to know when or even why.

Peggy