Vaccination Side Effects in Pets

Both of my boxer dogs have had reactions to distemper shots

we believe our dog is suffering from an overdose of distemper. Oscar, a dashound came to us 9/08 at approx 9 mos. We were not able to obtain any previous shot records from previous owner. We took him to a vet and he was healthy. They insisted he get his distemper and parvo shots since we were not able to produce it in writing. May of 09 he received his first DHPP shot for 22.40lbs. We took his new shot record to a new vet because of cost. New vet says he must have more shots since it is not on paper. He received DHLPP Annual Vaccine AND DHLPP Vaccine both the same day each dose for 22.7 lbs. A few days later Oscar appeared to be depressed. He was eating and drinking fine. He refused to jump up or down on the couch. Almost a week later Oscar is unable to use his back legs at all. His paws were dragging behind him and he could not stand on his back legs. We rubbed his back and legs looking for an area of pain, he showed none. We took him back to the vet and they said he slipped a disc and if not better in a few weeks will have to have surgery for a slipped disc. He is now on Metacam Suspension, Tramadol Tablets, Methocarbamol Tablets for pain, muscle relaxer and an inflammatory. My husband and I argued with both vets that he already had the shots and they said he must have them and it must be documented. Oscar is totally confined to his crate except for potty time .It is not known at this point if he will ever walk again. We are searching the web because of the irony of timing. We think it is due to an overdose. Can you help?

Reactions to shots update. I had said that my dog Molly had been sick from her distemper shot,she ha

EC: Hi, Michele. Could you please resend your feedback? You put your comments in the subject box, which only allows a few characters! Thanks!

I started reading this site about all the pets with reactions from their shots because I, like most of you, get my 2 dogs their shots as a responsible pet owner. My vet has went to every 3 years, but I don't think that really matters. Here is what has happened to my Molly. We took both of our dogs for distemper shots. They are Tank and Molly. Tank seems to be fine. Molly, by Sat.(2 days after her shot) couldn't get up,or walk, we had to carry her up and down the steps,then she started throwing up,not wanting to eat she seems very confused. We took her back to the vet Tues. he put her on Rimadyl. I have since taken her off the Rimadyl because of more vomiting and not wanting to eat. She is also diabetic. Her diabetes is controlled. She has developed a hugh lump (that is bigger than what my hand can cover)by her hind leg,on her side coming up on her back. My vet told me that she is carrying alot of weight in her backend, which dogs usually carry the weight in their chest. Well this lump has quadrupled its size in 1 week. So we are going to see a specialist on Mon. After reading this site and even before I am convinced this is all from her Distemper shot. I told my husband that none of our pets will ever receive boosters as long as they live. I will let you know the outcome.Sincerely, Michele

Has anyone had success treating hypertrophic osteodystrophy in puppies? It is the technical name for the distemper vaccination reaction that happens in Weimeraner and other breeds of dogs....HELP! My poor puppy CHILI is miserable...

1 1/2 year old mini long haired daschund had distemper shot. 4 hour later no engery and throwing up. Emergency vet gave benydrl. Two days later still not eating and not feeling well.

My complaint is why the same dosage for 8 lb dog vs 100 lb dog.

Thanks.

We adopted a pit mix 4 month old puppy from the humane society. Her first shots were given there 2 weeks prior to us adopting her. We took her to our vet for her follow up Distemper/DHHLP?? last Saturday. By early Sunday morning she had large welts all over her body, scratching, crying, eyes swollen shut and lips and mouth area swollen, vomitting, diarreah. We took her to the emergency animal hospital early on Sunday morning. They gave her 2 injections of benadryl and a script for prednisone. They said it was a severe reaction to the vaccine and her next step would . I would have thought the humane society would have mentioned this to us prior to adoption. We are worried now that she has to get her 3rd dose on May 2nd. There has to be another way. This is torture on the animals and on the owners.

We took our Miniature Daschund, Hannah in for her third distemper vaccination yesterday and she had a severe reaction. The first shot gave her a reaction and we had to take her back to the vet for steroids, I questioned them on whether this shot was really necessary given the severity of her reaction. They indicated it was and that if we pre medicated her she would be fine. We did pre medicate for the second shot and there was no reaction. Yesterday she began vomiting, loose stools, face began swelling, eyes swelled shut, veins in ears swollen and she was obviously in pain. She went back to the vet for steriod injections and benadryl. We have to give benadryl every 12 hours for 2 more days. There will be no more distemper shots for this dog, she is too valuable to us.

I took two Blue Merle Cardigan Corgi pups for distemper shots. At ten weeks old, this was to be their second shot. The first was done by the breeders vet. We were informed that they would act tired for the next day, and not to worry. While waiting for my husband to pay the bill, the male had a bowel mishap. As the vets assistant went to clean it up, she noticed that it was very mucusie look to it along with a white stringy effect. They put a sample under the scope and detected coccidea eggs. The dogs were given Albon Oral Susp.-5ml first day,2.5ml for the next 8 days. This was done on Sat., by Mon. The male was vomitting, had the runs and began shivering, we went back to the vet for the next three days, we were told to be patient. The third day, after keeping the puppy for a few hours, the vet called, saying that they could not tell what was wrong, and to take him to an emergancy clinic. We took them both, she was starting to act the same way. The male was taken in immediatly, the female waited to be examined before being admitted. We were called the next night, telling us that the male was in horrible pain and needed to be put down. After his actions were described to us, we both agreed not to let him suffer like that. The girl was kept in intensive care for 5 days, and was tested for everything known to man. Everything came back neg. We racked our brains, trying to come up with a cause for all this horrror and told the vets every little detail of the two weeks that they lived with us, and, nothing! We brought her home on the 6th day, paying a vet bill of slightly over $10,000. We still do not know what happened to our babies, the only thing not mentioned was the vaccines.

You asked about vaccination reactions. With my new whippet pup, I actually decided to do a modified vaccination schedule. A single distemper then wait 2 weeks then a single parvo. After both shots, the pup literally screamed all night long. I had no idea this was a reaction. A few months later my pup wound up with cardio-myopathy and is dying. I read in the book Homeopathy for Cats and Dogs by Don Hamilton, DVM that the parvo vaccine can cause cardio-myopathy. Also, my holistic vet said that my pup was probably susceptable and that the vaccine caused his condition. This has cost me thousands of dollars over the past 2 years to keep my sweet dog comfortable until his ultimate death. I no longer vaccinate at all and my dogs are healthier than ever. Unfortunately, it took the slow death of my sweet Jack to finally figure it out. We've been using Arsenicum (homeopathy), a raw diet, Canine Cardiac Support (glandulars), CoQ10 as well as Pimobendan (pharmaceutical) from Canada in support of his condition.

My four year old bichon received the distemper vaccine last year and started having seizures that lasted up to an hour. The seizures lasted about one month. He continues to have seizures when he hears loud noises or becomes extremelly upset. THIS WAS NOT AN ISSUE PRIOR TO THE VACCINE FOR DISTEMPER.

Molly, a rescue puppy, (lab/rotty mix) was 10 weeks old when we got her. Already had 2 distemper vacs from the shelter. At about 12 weeks (12 pounds) took her for healthy puppy checkup. Dr. said she was very healthy. Then he gave her a third distemper.

He turned toward a cabinet (didn't know what he was doing), turned around with a huge needle. As I was asking "what is that?" he injected her. Then informed me it was her rabies.

I would have waited if he'd given me an opportunity to say "NO, not yet". At 7 months, called to make an appointment to have her spayed. Was told she was ready for a booster distemper. Told them I wasn't going to give any more.

Then was informed that they wouldn't/couldn't take her in without the booster. Against my intuitive "knowing", I let them give it.

That's when she began acting goofy: licking/ chewing her paws constantly, chewing at her belly, licking the air, very exciteable, displaying symptoms of separation anxiety. Her npples were swollen (maybe from the chewing).

Got homeopathic detox meds from the Pet Medicine Chest. Gave her two two-week sessions. It helped temporarily.

Talked with another homeopath who said it was her immune system. Got two bottles of Transfer Factor. It took both bottles (2 months) before I began noticing the improvement.

She seems to have recovered almost completely, except she still licks at the air when she gets excited.

Her diet consists of some commerical kibbles (Beniful) supplemented with home-cooked stew containing either organic chicken or ground organ meats (raised locally, non irradiated - heart, tongue & liver). Also brown rice, 16-bean mix, fine ground carrots, yam, home-grown broccoli, celery & home-canned green beans.

I freeze it in 1/2gallon glass jars.

To that, at feeding time, I ad: raw wheatgerm, brewers yeast, Vit C, MSM & cell salts, diatomacious earth, cod liver oil. She and her 12 year-old sister, Mariah (Old English Mastiff) are beautiful, healthy, sleek coated.

Molly will have her 3rd birthday end of this month (April '08). She's never had another vaccine of any type. Had a titer run at the vet about 4 months ago and she's STILL PROTECTED against distemper.

She'll NEVER had another vaccine until the Rabies titer tells us she needs it.

My wonderful dog Dusty was almost 10 years old. He had been healthy except for some recent arthritis. I took him in for his annual checkup. They gave him his distemper shot. By the next day he was humped over, wouldn't eat and couldn't have a bm. Within 3 days he was on an IV and on the 4th day he couldn't even stand and we had to have him put down. His platelet count was 6, his red & white counts were both extremely low. He was bruised all over and had a huge lump at the place of the shot. The ultrasound showed that his spleen was dimpled and the vet believes he had tumors in his spleen. I don't know if he already had cancer, and the shot set things into motion, or if the shot caused his death, but I am mad! If I had known this would happen, I would NEVER have had him vaccinated that day! I miss him terribly. He was the best dog I have ever known and we will never forget him.

One of the following homeopathic medicines for companion who has a reaction to vaccination.

Acontium napellus

Works well with animals who have had seizures after vaccination may also respond to Aconite.

Thuja occidentalis

Is usually the first choice for vaccine-induced breathing problems.

Belladonna

This is the remedy may successfully treat seizures that occur after a vaccinations.

30c Homeopathic remedy rules:

Don't touch the pellets with hands use spoon, crush them up and use and folded paper like and funnel etc. To put them directly into the mouth. One dose of each is usually enough, but if you see any improvement then it worked. If not give one more dose.

Pet & Human Vaccinations: I was doing research for alternatives to vaccinating my son and found many vets using Nosodes instead of traditional vaccinations. Here is a quickie Wikipedia explanation of Nosodes:

"Nosodes are homeopathic remedies that are made from the specific products of a particular disease. This can be tissue containing the actual disease agents or tissue affected by those agents. Sometimes nosodes are made from vaccines containing the organisms. The nosodes are prepared in a diluted and potentized form just like all other homeopathic medicine. There is no potential for an animal to become infected with a given disease agent from a nosode because of the pharmaceutical process that occurs which dilutes and inactivates any viable organisms."

Anyhow, I continued my search to see if they can be used on people as well and found a local doctor who prepared all of the vaccinations my son needs. If you are looking for an alternative for your pet or baby, check out Nosodes.

EC: More information about Nosodes here: http://www.shirleys-wellness-cafe.com/nosodes.htm