Vaccine reaction

[PasoVicki]

Late yesterday afternoon, all of our horses (except Danesa, who isn't due yet) had vaccinations -- 4 way and West Nile. This morning Dancer, our 17 year old gelding, is acting like he aged twenty years overnight -- walking stiff and slow, barely picking at his food, standing with his head hanging down and looking pitiful. I called the vet, who said to give him a dose of Banamine and watch to make sure the symptoms don't get worse. He's sure it's a reaction to one of the vaccines, since Dancer was fine the previous afternoon. Has anyone else had this happen? Anything else I can do to make him more comfortable? It's been about two hours since I gave him the Banamine, and he does seem to be feeling a tiny bit better.

[PattiB]

We've had bad reactions from time to time. Some are sore necks, others are high temps, lethargy. Did you take his temp before the Banamine? If your temperature is as high as ours, he could use a good hosing and a fan to stay cool. The Banamine should start making him feel better.

[DSDECKERT]

Yes, my gelding ALWAYS has this reaction when we do multiple shots, even spikes a temp of 103+. I give him banamine 2 x a day and lots of hay to keep him stretching his neck. I've also learned to break his shots up into 2 batches.

You can hose him down or do an alcohol wipe, that will help make him feel better too.

[PasoVicki]

I didn't think to take his temperature before I gave him the Banamine, but he did feel rather warm. Luckily, the weather has been unseasonably cool the past few days, and it's quite comfortable outside right now. He does seem to be more alert now (three hours post Banamine), and he's picking at his hay . . . but still moving very slowly and stiffly.

[Carol Nelson]

I have had more reactions to shots than one can shake a stick at...so as Deb says...I break them up. This year I gave a EEWT, an intra-nasal strangles and a West Niles...each about two weeks apart. That way you can tell which one is causing the reactions, and stop giving it. But it may simply be that it is just too much going into the site...causing inflammation and soreness.
That is why too I never give the shots in the neck anymore...I installed my own set of stocks and we give all injections in the butt muscles.
Sterilize the site well, use the butt muscles, and split up the shots...oh and always have epinephrine on hand for severe reactions.
Thankfully due to all this preparation, we didn't have a single problem this year.

[Terry Wallace]

Question....were they given shots in the neck? was alcohol used to clean the site...or did the vet just walk up and stick them?

Next time.....Hip inject them. This is what I always do now. The reason is...every time your horse moves...he uses the big muscle between hip and tail head. This helps the vaccine distribute quickly. I always use alcohol to clean the site....pour on a teaspoon...swipe with your fingers to get excess off...walk away... get your shot ready, when the site is dry...inject in the correct manor.

Horses can avoid moving their neck.... they can hold it and have it become stiff from lack of movement and a shot...

I've been giving horses all types of shots for 25+ years. Both vets I worked with through the years...used alcohol to clean the site...I learned this from them. Do not inject a wet site...always let it air dry first.

Number of injections I have given...likely exceeds 1,000
Number of reactions to an injection.....ONE...where? The neck......
It was a 4-way shot to a Paso Fino mare.

For the pain from a reaction after vaccination...bute is a good call. Its an anti-inflamatory and a pain reliever.

JMO! Just my experience...works for me.

[motorgypsy]

We agree - reactions are not uncommon and it's better to split shots up over an extended time frame.

I'm repeating what Terry said - NEVER INJECT A WET SITE!! Not wet with alcohol or water or sweat or anything. It must be dry. Most vets do not sterilize the injection site any more because studies have shown that a sterile needle does not take anything in with it if the site is dry. But it doesn't hurt to sterilize if you let the liquid dry before injecting.

Now - a question about butt shots - Arwen's hide is so thick the needles bend and she is a wuss so I need to use a small gauge needle. Any ideas??

Also there is a great diagram that shows where you can inject on a horse but I can't find it. Does anyone know where it is????

[PasoVicki]

The vet gave both of Dancer's shots in the neck, no sterilization. He gave one of the ponies her shots in the chest, which I hadn't seen before. I'll have to ask him next time about injecting the hip.

Dancer seems to be feeling better. He hasn't eaten enthusiastically today, but he's at least nibbled. He was moving less stiffly and painfully by this evening.

Question: Once a horse has had a vaccine reaction, should I expect similar (or worse) reactions in the future? Or are reactions sometimes random? This was Dancer's third round of shots since he's been here. He hasn't ever had a noticeable reaction previously.

[GeorgeGuns]

And here's why:

Vaccines stimulate the immune system. A major part of this happens in the long bones of the body in the marrow, lots of cells go into high gear to produce antibodies and more whitebloodcells as the body isn't sure yet that its not a real infection. This hurts. This is why we get bone pain and body aches with flu or fever. The fever happens because this is an intense metabolic process, so the temp goes up as the body's activity (immune and metab) goes up. The stiff necks and soreness are due to in influx of whiteblood cells to the area as the body identifies the nature of the invasion and decides the appropriate action. Now all this can make a horse feel pretty darned poopy and so they go off their feed, or they are just too sore to reach down to get it.

As bad as it looks, these are actually not dangerous and quite normal responses, they just look pitiful.

Responses to be concerned about: Hives, colic, wheezing, and these are atually more related to the carrier product of the vaccine than the vaccine itself. Perservatives and immune stimulant additives are usually the cuplrit.

Red flag situation: very sudden onset (usually within minutes of vaccination) of hives, respiratory symptoms, seizure activity - these re true allergic reactions in horses and can get quite ugly and be deadly.

The mild symptom that would put me off further use of a particular vaccine would be stocking up or prolonged symptoms - this horse is probably over vaccinated, and suffering from a "vaccinosis", a term that is gaining aceptance in the vet community.

For mild or normal reactions, comfort is the goal - bute, banamine, or MSM (this really does help!!!), raising the food and water for a few days, not asking for work, hot packs to the area, and a little extra TLC.

[appyday]

Yep I do a vaccine weekly....and just let him be...he will overcome it...I know they can look really pitiful...best I do is give a bute tab....