This is an archived Horseadvice.com Discussion. The parent article and menus are available on the navigation menu below:
HorseAdvice.com » Diseases of Horses » First Aid » Anaphylactic Shock in Horses »
  Discussion on Anaphylactic Shock - What's causing it?
Author Message
New Member:
Watchman

Posted on Wednesday, Jun 7, 2006 - 2:49 pm:

My 2yo warmblood gelding was given the Fort-Dodge 4way vaccine in spring 2005 (first set of vaccines ever) and had a reaction of eye lids swelling and excessive hard swelling of the nostrils and lips within 1 hr of vaccine. My vet administered Dexamosine IV and the swelling went down considerably. And then continued treatment with oral Dexamosine for 2 more days. My vet thought he had a reaction to the antigen in the FortDodge vaccine, and recommend switching to a different brand in the future.
This year - 05/2006 - I used Intervet's 5-way Prestige vaccine and he had another reaction about 1 hr. after administration and came all of sudden. It was much worse - I could watch the swelling increase on his face as his eyes swelled shut, lips looked like donald duck, and nostrils swelling close. I knew what was happening, so I administered oral dexamonsine, banamine, and epinephrine immediately, while talking to the vet on the phone at the same time. About 2.5 hrs later the symptoms subsided. At a minimum he reacts to any injection given (IV or IM), even sedatives (ace, rompran, etc), with mild swelling of the nostrils. But has no local reaction at the injection site. What's the best way going forward to figure out what he is allergic to? And how should I proceed giving him vaccines? I've already gotten advice to pre-treat him with dexamosine IV, and 1 vaccine at a time, but I would like to not be so worried every time I stick him with a needle.
Moderator:
DrO

Posted on Wednesday, Jun 7, 2006 - 7:24 pm:

Wow Amy,
These sound like immune reactions so there is something common to all of these injections or perhaps your horse has multiple allergies. Sometimes horses will swell in the lips and head with sedatives because of the head being down and dependent edema forming. Horses have been known to become sensitive to the silicone coating on needles but this usually causes a local nodule.

If I had to guess it would be the preservative or if we rule out the sedatives perhaps it is one of the specific vaccine antigens and not the adjuvant. They may share a similar adjuvant.

You will have to carefully weigh the danger the vaccine reaction represents vs the danger of the disease. Perhaps you should stop vaccinating for non-life threatening diseases, like the respiratory infections. Tetanus and rabies can be given separately. One EWEE/WNV encephalitis booster in the spring. Each vaccine should be given by itself and several weeks apart. By doing it this way we may identify a specific vaccine. But you should keep the epi at a ready. Also you should have prednisolone sodium succinate on hand, the dosage is in the article. It is a very fast acting corticosteroid and more useful than dexamethasone which is slow acting even if given IV.
DrO
Member:
Banthony

Posted on Thursday, Jun 8, 2006 - 9:19 am:

Dr. O,

Our 7 yr old Oldenburg had a reaction to a strangles vaccine. Swelling of the jaw and throat latch that lasted for 4 days. Not so bad that it was a problem for breathing or swallowing, but very noticeable.

I'm thinking he shouldn't be vaccinated for strangles again as the next time might be much worse.

What do you think?
Moderator:
DrO

Posted on Thursday, Jun 8, 2006 - 9:03 pm:

Linda,
We look at vaccines in the Overview article not as something that is an absolute but discuss the good and bad effects of vaccination and how to go decidng what to vaccinate for. But part of this decision needs to be based on understanding the Strangles vaccine and disease. I think by reading through these articles this is a decision you can come to base on this information. See:
  • Care for Horses » Vaccines & Coggin's Test » Vaccines an Overview
  • Equine Diseases » Respiratory System » Strangles & Streptococcus equi
DrO
Home Page | Top of Page | Join Us!
Horseadvice.com is a BBB Accredited Business. Click for the BBB Business Review of this Horse Training in Stokesdale NC