Beejou
Johnny, I know you've been so stressed with little Tessy and I can't imagine how it feels. I want you to know we're still praying for you here and T-Bone and Royce send kisses to you two.
John has had *two* dogs with IMHA (immune-mediated hemolytic anemia) which is the same thing Billy had. Once you've had an animal with an auto-immune disease you look on vaccines with a totally different eye. It wouldn't be typical here to do bloodwork *before* a rabies shot -- John's right, it would be wise, but it's not typical here at all.
However -- Janet is TOTALLY right -- I can't believe they gave him a rabies shot (let's talk about the shot that has the worst long-term problems, right up there with lepto? *sigh*) -- they should *not* have done a rabies vax with his skin in the shape it is. *Any* steroid lowers the immune system -- and to have his system hit with that *and* rabies all at once is a big huge thing.
I'm going to guess that he's likely feeling puny because of the *rabies* shot more than anything. They are tough to take ... and particularly when he's already feeling sore from the skin problems.
This isn't something *YOU* would know ... you will next time, but most vets here tend to want to "get it done" while you're there -- thinking they are saving you money by "doing it all at once". They get the vax done (which helps it look good to the county) and don't then have to worry that you won't come back for the rabies later.
The rabies might make him react and feel unwell -- but you wouldn't see IMHA *that* quick usually. It takes **at least** two weeks after a vaccine (and vets don't even want to admit that it can take up to 2 to 4 months) to see something like IMHA. YOu will honestly need to be watchful given that his body now has so much to deal with.
See -- when a vaccine is given, the body is "exposed" to a few cells of that disease. The body then "conquers" those few cells and in response the body manufactures "anti-bodies" against rabies.
What occurs with auto-immune stuff is that the body begins to generalize. Rather than the immune-system turning off and then on and then off again in the face of a threat (and then the extinguishment of that threat) -- the body doesn't turn the immune system off. INstead the immune system looks around in the body for something *else* to attack. In the case of vaccines the body sees those anti-bodies (which are baby red blood cells at that point but which have some of the characteristics of the disease cells) and the body -- because the immune system is still on high alert -- says "Hmmm -- those look TOO MUCH like those bad diease cells -- gotta kill THESE too!!"
From there the steps are easier -- once the body begins killing it's own red blood in the form of antibodies, then it turns against other reticulocytes (baby red blood cells). Then once it kills normal red blood cells it kills adult red blood cells. IMHA is now in full throttle.
The good thing is they only gave ONE vaccine. Don't let him have ***ANY*** other vaccines (in fact, given that he's likely to need steroids occasionally, I wouldn't vaccinate that boy at all without titers first -- altho you can't titer for rabies).
Are you in a county that requires rabies annually?? ugh. Orange does, Seminole (me) doesn't.
WAtch him carefully -- particularly if the lethargy lasts into tomorrow. "lethargy" is never ever a good sign. It's probably the one sign that will turn a seasoned dog owner into full blown panic more than any one symptom. Sometimes it can just mean they don't feel good. But too often it can be the harbinger of something bad.
Beejou
By the way, his gums look good and when pressed snap back to a fleshy pink virtually instantly. No problems there. He's also alert and letting me know when the neighbors come and go, which is probably a good thing, even if he doesn't feel like hanging out with me or Royce for any other reason right now.
I do not have a thermometer but he doesn't feel unusually warm, his breathing is normal and he seems easily handled and comfortable. Just seems like he's feeling depressed, I know that isn't very descriptive but that's what it is.
VERY good observations. **Really** good things to check! You rock! Those were exactly the right things to check!
btw Get a cheap Wally-World thermometer and label it "DOG" -- reminding family members that means this thermometer has been in the part of the dog where the sun don't shine!! ergo **LEAVE ALONE** lol ...*grin* It tends to be far easier to keep track of the thermometer labeled "DOG" than you'd ever believe LOL
Beejou
the only thing it says about the Rabies shot is "first three letters of manufacturer PFI"
That's Pfizer and if I recall they do use Thimerisol -- they don't say so on the label (it is apparently an ingredient in an ingredient). Merial is the only one I know of that doesn't use Thimerisol. There's a lot of linkage out there if you want to check it out. I found this easily: GSD Board link
John and I are just cut from a different bolt of cloth here -- John's been thru it twice - both with Sadie (who didn't survive IMHA) and now Tessy has lymphoma (possibly caused by the drugs used to treat the IMHA).
You're gaining valuable experience here.
Question: Are you still SEEING fleas? You live in an apartment, which tends to be an impossible situation. But do remember -- that what has occurred with T-Bone can happen from just ONE bite from ONE flea who bites and then dies! Just the spit from one frigging flea can cause months of trauma to the skin of a flea-allergic dog. It doesn't take a "flea infestation". It really doesn't. Just one bite will make them miserable for months and months.
And you honestly can't always prevent it. T-Bone's fortunate in that shepherds tend (this is just my own personal experience -- this is NOT any data I've picked up from anyplace for sure - just my own observation and conversation with other owners) not to *get* fleas as badly as some other breeds. REally often fleas are extremely attracted to immune-suppressed animals. It's capricious tho -- I've had dogs who just never EVER seemed to get a flea. and others who you'd have thot had out a flea-welcome sign. Then I've had others and if you combed both dogs equal amounts of time you would get very nearly the same number of fleas on Dog 1 as Dog 2. There's no real rhyme nor reason.
I would ask the vet to make sure the lot number from the vaccine both goes in his record there and they also give it to YOU so you can keep it in his personal file.
I'm sorry you got hit with this -- poor T-Bone feels yucky enough without more. Did you see where they gave him the shot?? Massage that several times a day -- it helps distribute the vaccine and also helps him not get a lump at the shot site.