Newbie Intro With A Puppy Scare

[Sjacksun]

Taking a moment to introduce myself - Steve in VA.
Recently acquired my third Rotti, first two passed naturally previously,she is 10 weeks old, acquired in distress as a orphan at 4 weeks, we nursed her on goats milk, she was progressing very well eating playing, etc. Second Vet exam at 8 weeks included a deworming shot and first DHPPC vaccination.

Five days after vaccination on 1/22/06 lithargy, and a fever hit her with subsequent diareha and then vomiting started. Immediately took her to weekend Vet ER room, she had a 104.5 fever, white blood count was down to 3.8 which put her at deaths door! Test for parvo was negative. The Vet keep her overnight immediately put a IV in and her fever started coming down within an hour. Next day she is back home back to normal eating and playing, temp is normal. Vet has no explanation for sickness-discounts my connection to vaccinations, she believe it was some type of stomach virus subscribed amoxicillin for 5 days.

She is due for the second series vaccination on 2/7/06 boy will we be nervous I hope she doesn't have any reaction again! That was real scary! She is on Nutro Ultra food. Anyone had any similar experiences any advice is welcome. This baby is so cute! A real sweetie!

[ElsasFamily]

Hi Steve, glad you found RDN, and thank you for saving this little bundle of joy. This is a wonderful site. There is so much information here. One could spend many days here reading.

Anyway I'm very sorry to hear about your girl. But, I happy to hear she is feeling much better. Many here recommend waiting a while for vaccinations. I would certainly suggest that you wait a while longer before getting the next series. Especially since it's so close to her being extremely sick. Talk w/your vet and work something out. It's also recommended that the first vaccine not be given until at least 9weeks of age, and then the next vaccine should be given 4weeks later.

~Kim

[RottsNScotts]

Also, find out if your vet is using 5 in 1 or 7 in 1 vaccinations. If so, research the newer break down for vaccinations. You don't want to challenge her immune system in such a drastic way.

[BostonRott]

If her vaccine was done on 1/22 (or 1/17....I can't tell from how you worded your post), she is not due until FOUR weeks after that. 2/7 is WAY too soon. Cancel that appointment, and reschedule the next vaccine to 4wks after the first one. Then do not do #3 until 4 weeks after #2. This is what the vet who has done the research on vaccines and vaccine reactions in this country recommends.

Also, do not give the rabies vaccine within 4wks of the other ones. Delay it as long as you are legally allowed to.

Giving too many vaccines at once over-challenges the immune system and you get a poor reaction to everything. The more you spread them out, and the fewer "ingredients" in each vaccine, the better the immune response will be.

Finally, when you make the appointment for the next set of vaccines, try to get something early in the a.m., so that if there is a reaction that day, you can get back in to your vet instead of the emergency vet. Often, it is a vaccine reaction, the second one will be stronger and faster to onset than the first one was.

I'm sorry you're going through this with her. Sounds like you are doing things correctly and you've put some time in researching. Nice work!

[SABELLESMOM]

I'm sorry to hear a poor little baby is going thru all this. I agree with previous advice. And do hold off on th Rabies as long as you can. They changed things recently in NY, thinking it's s good thing to give Rabies to puppies at 3(?) months. Rediculous! I refused and waited. No one said a word.

[Sjacksun]

BostonRott - will check on changing date for follow-up combo vaccine- first one was on 1/17 paper work indicates follow-up shots in 21 days, and again in 21 days.. I did ask which vaccine it is upon doing research on this forum. Vaccine is proguard which is rated better than some others. Will delay shots like you- am concerned with her rather weak state, she just stopped the amoxicillin. I just am convinced she needs more time to build strength and progress as well as she was prior to the first shot.