Monday, March 28, 2011

Where is the card?



Good morning ladies...I hope you had a great weekend.  Ours was eventful to say the least.  I know many of you have little ones (the four legged kind) and share my love of the little beasts.  So my story begins.   On Saturday there was a clinic held for Rabies shots by a local Vet and so we took our three little ones to get their shot.  We decided to get 3 year shots since there was a savings and then we wouldn't have to worry about it for 3 years.  Well, all did well except my little MagPie ..... she had an allergic reaction to the shot.  Now I have never heard of this in all my years of having pets, so I'm wondering if I just had my head under a rock or if it is a well kept secret.  Maggie was fine all day Saturday, but on Sunday morning she didn't get up.  I kept going to check on her but she just continued to sleep.  Finally I picked her up to take her out and she yelped...so I just thought she was a little sore from the shot.  I kept feeling around on her and she was swollen across her back and down one side and it was tender.  I started putting ice on the site and watching more carefully.  She started shivering but continued to sleep.  Late in the afternoon she sat up and it was like she couldn't hold up her head.  There were a few jerks and I picked her up and I think she had a seziure.  It lasted about a minute and scared the pee water out of me.  I called the vet we use sometimes when we need them to come to our house (We have some big outside dogs).  He told me this was common and she was having an allergic reaction with fever.  Give her Benedryl and a baby aspirin and then repeat in 8-12 hours.  So we did that and she actually got up on her own this morning and went tripping outside! She is mobile once more. 

I did a little reading on the Internet and it seems this is quite common.  Facts:  No matter what the size animal the dosage is the same.  Allergic reactions can occur quickly or can wait several months before happening.  Many reactions can occur....one like Maggie's or something more intense with death resulting.  Skin problems with hair loss and itching...cancer at the injection site...and the list goes on and on.  Now I know this shot is very important but I could have lost my little one very quickly.    So if you are due to get the shot, please be watchful and mindful of what can happen.  If your pet has difficulty breathing, get them to a vet immediately.  Their airways can close and they can die!  Since reactions can occur at a later date keep this info in the back of your mind and remember.  Sometimes a Vet can miss what is going on since the patient can't tell them what they are feeling. 

So, no I didn't have a card to show you this morning, only a picture of Maggie sleeping peacefully in her bed this morning.   I'm way behind on everything including laundry since this weekend was spent watching and waiting with Maggie.  Hopefully things will get back to normal today.  We are hoping she will take food today.  Keep your fingers crossed!  I'll be back later this week with something new to post.....I hope!

17 comments:

craftieodmae said...

Thanks for sharing, glad to hear she is gonna be okay, Bandit always sleeps most of the day but never like that, was it becuse of the 3 year shot verses maybe a 1-2 year?

Shaz in Oz.CalligraphyCards said...

Oh so very glad the namesake Magpie is on the improve! thanks for sharing, what a blessing! Shaz in Oz.x

DottyA Cards & Things said...

They are so sad when sick... and then to know we may have been the cause, it just makes it worse... So glad she is up today, Keep us posted!!
Thanks for all the info too... I'll keep it in mind!

Michele Kovack said...

awwwwww.....poor little thing! I am glad she is doing better! How scary for you!

Starla said...

awwwww! Poor baby! Well, I hope she is up and around more today!

Sylvia said...

I thought maybe the card was under the doggie! My cats take off with me things all the time. I am so sorry about your Maggie and am grateful she is OK. I know what you mean about losing the weekend. Mine was due to gardening! Happy Monday to you!

Broni said...

Geez, how scary that must have been for you, Glenda!! I hate the "one size fits all" attitude. They do that when they clean my cats' teeth too. Once, my little Winkle ran into the wall for 3 days trying to shake the anesthesia. I'm so glad your little MagPie is ok.

Gloria Dawson said...

So glad that Magpie is better! It's so hard to judge what to give and how much to these extra small little ones. My little Lily is only 3 lbs and I always worry about the doses that the vet gives her.

Blessings,
Gloria

Selma said...

Oh how scary. I always hate when my little dog doesn't act normal. You know something is wrong and wish they could talk. Our baby just had her teeth cleaned and got all her shots. This time she did fine. I'm so happy Maggie is doing better.

Bonnie Weiss said...

OK, now that's pretty scary for you and for little Maggie ... happy to hear that she recovered quickly. I had that very same thing happen to one of our little schnauzers and she was in shock by the time I got her back to the Vet. She did survive but her entire demeanor changed from that time on ... she has never been quite the same. I had quite a nasty "discussion" with our Vet about this entire inoculation thing for dogs and cats and needless to say, I have changed Vets. Sending little Maggie some puppy hugs.

jojoscraps said...

I'm so happy to hear that your little Maggie is going to be ok. It's heart wrenching when our four legged family members get sick. Have a great day getting caught up!
Jo xx

Bonnie said...

Wow, how scary! I'm glad she is on the up side of this reaction, and hope she continues to improve. Sorry to hear that it happened at all. Now, I'm beginning to wonder about a border collie that we used to have. He would lose his rear coat each summer after check ups. Thanks for the tip to other pet owners.

Leslie Miller said...

Awwwww, sweet baby! I'm sorry, but I'm sure glad to hear she's doing better. I didn't know about the allergic reaction, either. I would not be able to concentrate on stamping if it were Wally feeling puny. Hoping she'll be up to lots of ball chasing soon!

Dawn B. said...

I have never heard of this either..Poor thing. Hope she feels better soon.. Take good care...

Patti P. said...

Glenda, Just now seeing this post and I am so sorry you had to go through that....hope Maggie is still improving each day. We had one of our cats have a reaction to her shots (annuals and rabies together) and since then because she never goes outside we only do the rabies that we are required by law to do. One of the vets in our practice says he does not vacinate any of his...matter of personal views. She hasn't had annuals for several years and will soon be 17. It is terrifying when something you did causes them pain, even though it is in their best interest. My Cricket is losing her eyesight and we see her failing each day and I can't stand the thought of losing her. We lost her litter mate a couple of years ago and we still mourn him with a broken heart. I wish you only the best.

Patty Sue 2 said...

Glenda,
How scary for you. I know how much you love your 4 legged members of your family and how it hurts to see them having pain. They never ask for sympathy just keep on trusting us to care for them. You are in my prayers.

Priscilla Waker said...

hi ,. i just want to say ,. i love your work,. and also love your dog., i have 2 yorkies myself.. Twinky and Elvis.. and they got allergic reaction this week from their shots too :(
.. regards, Priscills