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  Discussion on Fever after vaccination
Author Message
Member:
Quatro

Posted on Saturday, Apr 9, 2005 - 8:00 pm:

Dr. O, nothing is ever simple with Levi. Levi had a 4 way Ft Dodge westnile,tetnus, e/w enc. vaccination yesterday. This afternoon, when I got home I noticed him walking with a short gait on his front end. Of course with the other problem i paniced, as usual. I felt his hooves and they are cool, but the rest of him was not. I took his temp and it is 102.5. He normally runs about 100.5 - even 101 sometimes is normal for him.
I called the vet on call, he said to give him 10-13 cc banamine orally, and watch him. He ate his grain, and i walked him out to graze, and he is gobling up his hay.
Is this a sometimes unhappy, but normal reaction within 24 hours of vaccinating. He has not had problems before. The vet also asked if i had antibiotics on hand, suggested giving him some sulfa antibiotics, but was so iffy about everything, i don't know. He has no significant swelling on his neck. I can not really tell where he gave him the shot.
I will check him again later. Just did not know when I should worry, or just be ok with it being a reaction to the vaccine.
thanks
suz
Moderator:
DrO

Posted on Sunday, Apr 10, 2005 - 9:26 am:

Susan, the description, incidence, and treatment, of vaccine reactions are described in the article associated with this forum. I personally do not prescribe antibiotics just on the changes you note above and think if infection a likely possibility would have the horse examined. Important points that differentiate typical vaccine reactions from more serious reactions like infection are also covered in the article.
DrO
Member:
Quatro

Posted on Monday, Apr 10, 2006 - 12:50 pm:

Dr. O, Levi is scheduled for his vaccinations tomorrow. My question is, in light of his reaction last year, should I give him 2 gm of bute prior to the vaccinations as described in the article on vaccination reaction. Also, he will get the tetnus and the 5 way combo again. I am pretty sure they use the Ft. Dodge still, but any suggestions so that we don't have another occurance as in last year.
thanks
suz
Member:
Quatro

Posted on Monday, Apr 10, 2006 - 12:54 pm:

Oops a correction, I guess it is a 4 way. The thing that confused me was the bute was under localized reaction, so I did not know if it would help with prevention of the fever etc.
thanks
suz
Moderator:
DrO

Posted on Tuesday, Apr 11, 2006 - 6:20 am:

Following one local reaction I will often try one more time without bute just to see if this is a pattern. Sometimes a horse will react one time but not again. But have the bute/flunixin ready as there is a good chance this will repeat and let us know how the experiment works out. If you get a second reaction I would predose with bute in the future.
DrO
Member:
Quatro

Posted on Tuesday, Apr 11, 2006 - 10:14 pm:

Dr. O, So far tonight Levi seems fine. I am taking your advice and going to check to see how he does in the 24 hour period. I did have the vet vaccinate in the Rump, since the stiffness last year was in the front end, he received the shot in his neck. Hope his Big ole' Butt comes in good for something!
thanks
Sue
Member:
Lilo

Posted on Wednesday, Apr 12, 2006 - 9:23 am:

I have a similar concern, since my gelding, Jose, came up with a stiff neck and a depressed attitude after spring shots last year. The vet thought it was because he was fighting the shots in the neck. Maybe the rump is the way to go. The vet is coming out tomorrow for spring shots -I will suggest it to him.
Lilo
Member:
Qh4me

Posted on Wednesday, Apr 12, 2006 - 11:21 am:

My mare took a reaction to the her 7 month pneumobort vaccine with a very stiff neck, so since then, we gave her 9 month and now her spring vaccines in her rump. No issues. She had never had reactions before in her neck. Because she is so close to foaling, she didn't want to take the chance on a reaction, so decided to give in the rump.
Member:
Quatro

Posted on Wednesday, Apr 12, 2006 - 12:03 pm:

Hi All, So far so good, Levi is fine, just annoyed that the flys are back out eating his ears. He even ran up to me, tucked his head and slid into his fly net this am. The best part about the rump shot, I threw a big chunk of yummy alfalfa on the floor, the vet poked him, and he never even flinched, just kept munching. Don't know if the tensing up would have anything to do with it, but if I have my druthers, the rump is the way to go!
thanks
suz
Moderator:
DrO

Posted on Wednesday, Apr 12, 2006 - 6:33 pm:

When you say rump Susan do you mean up high on gluteals or low in the back of the thigh? These areas are not without problems also.

Worse is high in the gluteals (the yellow area in the article on giving injections). The reason we give it a yellow is if you get an abscess up here it burrows down through the muscles and comes out the back of the thigh. Though I have not had it happen personally I did see one when interning and it was a 6 month disaster and I have always avoided this area for anything but antibiotic injections.

If we are talking about the back of the thigh not every horse will stand quietly for being tagged in the leg here and it is difficult to do this with the safety of doing a cervical injection.

Every place has its ying and yang and this may be a good choice for some horses but not all.
DrO
Member:
Vickiann

Posted on Wednesday, Apr 12, 2006 - 8:42 pm:

"Deep into the muscle of the rump" was what a long-time, real cowboy recommended after a horse of mine had reactions to 3 different injections (laminitis). I cannot say how that worked out, but he sold the horse to a cowboy buddy of his and she was still alive and well several years later.
Member:
Quatro

Posted on Wednesday, Apr 12, 2006 - 9:36 pm:

Dr. O, It was up high in the yellow area. I am just glad I did not read your post before I went to bed last nite, cuz then I would have worried about that. It doesn't take much. However, all 4 guys got the shots in the rear, and it has been 24 hours, hope that is enough time to be beyond the worry zone. I will need to have him come back in a few weeks to do Rabies, so now I guess my question would be since that went OK, do I do Rabies neck or Rump??? Geeez, so much to worry about!
thanks
suz
Moderator:
DrO

Posted on Thursday, Apr 13, 2006 - 7:27 am:

Sorry to be the cause of worry but if I prevent a horse from going through what this other horse went through it will be a fair trade. You should relax in that it is very unlikely but since thousands of horse owners will look at this, statistically I have a shot at helping a horse or two.

If you want to use the hind leg use the back of the thigh (the green area).
DrO
Member:
Quatro

Posted on Thursday, Apr 13, 2006 - 2:19 pm:

Dr. O, not your fault I worry about everything. Getting better, but if there isn't anything to worry about, I will invent something! So far they are all doing great! Thanks
suz
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