Jezebelle and Keela got their bordetella shots Friday. I debated about doing it, but since we've started showing and we're around so many dogs, I decided to err on the side of caution. The vet said it would sting. Neither girl reacted during the shot, but a few seconds after being back in my arms, Jezzy started twisting and squirming and crying. It lasted probably not even a minute, with the vet saying, "I told you it would sting." It was injected in the scruff of the neck. They had the same vaccine last year without any reaction.
Fast forward to the last few days. Jezzy has been rather quiet since the shot. But starting yesterday, she acted like she really didn't want to eat, starting with breakfast. If I hand fed her, she grudgingly ate it. Tonight I warmed it before I gave it to her and it seemed to help some, but she was still really slow. I was thinking tummy bug since last night she was acting like her tummy was bothering her. She was standing hunched up, tail tucked, just miserable looking. I could hear her little tummy just a gurgling, so I gave her a little Pepto and it seemed to help. No problem with bowels, vomiting, etc. She'll chase the squirrels if she sees them, but other than that, she hasn't actively engaged in playing with Keela.
Tonight, she did act like she wanted to play, so we were playing fetch. Both girls were chasing the ball, though I did notice that Jezzy started hassling rather quickly. That made me stop throwing the ball and instead I got her to sit in front of me to work on commands. She's bark talking at me the whole time, acting fine and being silly. I reach down with my hands on both sides of her neck to scratch her neck and head and I literally could feel her neck swell. The swelling runs from just right of center across the left side of her neck. It is about an inch wide and two inches long right at the base of her neck, i.e. the scruff area where the shot was given. Looks like someone stuck half a golf ball in her neck. It's rather warm feeling to me. Jezzy doesn't really act like it hurts, but she doesn't like it when I am feeling around it.
I'll admit I panicked and snatched her up to check and see if the swelling was wrapping around the front of her neck and impairing her breathing. It wasn't, but to be safe I dosed her with benadryl, and she'll get another dose here in a little bit. We'll head to the vet first thing in the morning, though if it had happened during business hours, I would have broken the speed limit to get there! It scared me!
I am assuming it is an injection site reaction to the bordetella vaccine. I am certain it isn't a spider bite since she has been in the house, in my line of sight, and in/out and between my hands for the proceeding half hour. That, and in 2005 when she had her first year booster parvo/distemper combo shot - the same thing happened. They injected on the right side, right behind the shoulder. About a week later, she was outside playing and running around and Boom! she had a huge knot on her side. X-ray's and exam showed no muscle damage and the vet didn't think it was due to the vaccine since it was a week later. I didn't agree with him since there wasn't any other explanation. The only problem with what happened in 2005 - it took almost 6 months for the lump to go away, and almost another 6 months to get the hair to grow back. Once the lump went down, the hair fell out.
So what do I do to help her? Assuming it isn't an abscess or infection from the shot itself? I have to admit I feel horrible for giving her the bordetella vaccine. The lump isn't pretty, and it is down right scary to happen while my hands where on her neck. If nothing else, it will prove to my vet why I want to titer for parvo/distemper this year. Vaccines and Jezebelle don't go well together. It makes me afraid for next year when she needs her rabies shot. One year she is fine with a vaccine, the next year - we have what happened tonight.
I've passed from scared to death to regret to what do I do now to keep her safe in the future?