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Discussion on Reaction to Procain Penicillin.
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Member:
geronimo
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Posted on Tuesday, Feb 24, 2009 - 1:27 am:
My 30 year old Mare has been on Penicillin for a full week. We have been giving shots every 12 hours, 30 ml. She has a very large edema from the pec muscle down through and past her front legs. It is 3 inches deep, and about 5 by 10 inches. Due to this, as well as the fact that I really hate giving the shots, I ordered an oral antibiotic and since it had not arrived I was told it would be fine to give another shot. Tonight Tawny had a terrible reaction. We did everything we have been doing for the past week. We redirect the shot after 15 ml, then pull and look for blood before administering the drug. After redirecting and into 5 ml, she stopped eating, pinned her ears back and started spinning and snorting. It took about 15-20 minutes to calm her down but her body was trembling and her flanks were pulsing. She was scared. We all were scared. I called my vet and they said it was a Procain reaction and to watch her. It's been about 3 hours since the shot. She is not normal. She is depressed and keeps moving from one corner to another. She stomps her front feet and switches her tail. She pulls up her back left leg. Her muscles aren't twitching any more and she is tired. She is safe in her stall and has bedding. She will be checked hourly for the next few hours and then more or less depending on how she is doing. What can or should I expect? What is normal when this occurs?
She is on the penicillin due to a bacterial infection, which came about right after a vet visit for dental work where she collapsed in the rack. It was a bad deal and she was too week to have dental work done in the manner it was done. She was given sedation and could not stand in the position in the rack with her head held up high for the dental work... Anyway, things have been a strain since then. It seemed like it she was very stressed and perhaps being down caused some sort of infection.
Well, that's another issue.... Please let me know what I should look for and expect due to the injection.
Thanks, Lisa
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Member:
hollyw
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Posted on Tuesday, Feb 24, 2009 - 7:05 am:
Lisa, so sorry to hear about your old mare's condition.
When did the swelling in the chest begin?
The reason I ask is because many years ago, a vet gave one of my mares some tranquilizer and some anesthetic. She was scared of vets, and he was scared of her, and he didn't get the anesthetic into the blood stream but put 1/2 a bottle of it into her muscle. All of her chest muscles "fell" half way to her knees the next day . . . and it took quite a while for it to dissipate. Also, she developed a grapefruit-sized swelling right on her chest, and with hot compresses, it finally opened up a perfect hole and drained all the pooled blood and liquid. It was very scary for me.
Dr. O. will be able to give you more info on the Penicillin reaction. I am so sorry to hear of it. You must feel so helpless.
Is she drinking water? It would seem that it would help her system rid itself of the drug.
Hang in there.
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Member:
scooter
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Posted on Tuesday, Feb 24, 2009 - 7:18 am:
Lisa, I had that happen years ago too. My mare had a cut on her leg and I had given penicillin...per vet for a few days. On the fifth day she had a reaction very similar to what you describe, scared me to death. I called the vet and he came out immediately...I'm not sure what he did..if anything it was so long ago. I do remember him saying I may have nicked a vein, which won't show blood on pull back. This was a young horse tho and in a few days she was back to normal. I won't give pen shots anymore after that I always ask for something oral, usually Tribrissen MUCH more expensive, but after that I don't care!
Hope your mare recovers as mine did.
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Moderator:
DrO
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Posted on Tuesday, Feb 24, 2009 - 8:52 am:
Lisa this was a toxic reaction to the procaine component that happens when injected directly into a blood vessel. For more on this reaction, other possible reactions, and how to avoid the swelling problem you are having see the article on Penicillin associated with this article.
DrO
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Member:
geronimo
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Posted on Tuesday, Feb 24, 2009 - 9:06 am:
Diane and Holly, thanks for your words of support. Tawny is doing good this morning. She was eager for food and had ears up and not showing signs of being depressed as she was last night.
Edema is still there but not as deep, maybe 1 1/2 inches.
No more shots for my horses, that's for certain.
I'll be switching to an oral med today, wish me luck.
Thanks, Lisa
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Member:
geronimo
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Posted on Tuesday, Feb 24, 2009 - 9:10 am:
Thank you Dr. O. I have been looking at the articles, even before this happened and did not see anything specific to helping with the edema. Can you please guide me to the specific section?
Thanks
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Member:
pattyb
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Posted on Tuesday, Feb 24, 2009 - 10:20 am:
Lisa....I had that happen once to an older gelding for post op. He did fine until the 4th or 5th day, then he had a mild to moderate reaction. As I walked him he kept kicking the air but settled down within a half hour. I too was very careful about pull back and there was nothing there. I called my vet with my knees shaking and that was the last Procain shot I ever gave....now I use Naxcel or orals.
Glad to see she is recovering, I know that was very scary for you.
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Moderator:
DrO
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Posted on Tuesday, Feb 24, 2009 - 6:31 pm:
Lisa are you giving the injection into the pectorals?
DrO
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Member:
geronimo
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Posted on Wednesday, Feb 25, 2009 - 8:39 am:
We were rotating the injections, using the neck area, rear and pectorals.
She was depressed yesterday and walking very stiff. She is arthritic so the episode probably didn't help her joints. The edema is very firm.
Is it OK to give banamine along with the Baytril paste?
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Moderator:
DrO
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Posted on Wednesday, Feb 25, 2009 - 9:30 am:
I don't recommend use of the pectorals just for this very reason, it is so prone to swelling and soreness. As to picking up the edema, bute (or flunixin), exercise, and light massage may be your best bet. Though not tested I do not know of any contraindication of giving a NSAID with Baytril.
DrO
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Member:
geronimo
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Posted on Wednesday, Feb 25, 2009 - 1:21 pm:
Thank you Dr.O. I was told Tawny is eating well this morning and it a little perkier. She will also get some bute and she usually responds well to it when the arthritis flares up. I'll be checking her this afternoon to see if she is moving around better.
Thanks, Lisa
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Moderator:
DrO
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Posted on Thursday, Feb 26, 2009 - 9:37 am:
Let us know how things are going.
DrO
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Member:
geronimo
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Posted on Thursday, Feb 26, 2009 - 9:57 pm:
We are giving Tawny Banmine and she is much happier now. She is taking the antibiotic paste with grain and molasses. On Saturday we will send a urine sample to the lab to see if her infection is gone. I'll keep you posted. If there are signs of infection I'm told they will need to do a scope to look for stones and I really don't want to sedate her again after her last episode of collapsing... She is a tough old gal but she can only take so much at her age. Thanks for your advice and support.
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Member:
vickiann
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Posted on Friday, Feb 27, 2009 - 8:49 pm:
Glad that she is feeling better, Lisa, and hope that she will be okay.
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