Vaccine reaction

[jawa]

2 years ago, a new to me 4 year old OTTB reacted to vaccines in a similar fashion. His neck was swollen and he wasn’t comfortable raising or lowering his head/neck. Raised his hay and water and gave him bute. It took almost a week for him to return completely normal. The next time we gave bute ahead of shots to try to get ahead of any reaction. He had a bit of swelling around the injection site, but wasn’t too sore.

Jump to this year, I forgot to give him any bute. He had a teeny tiny swelling around the injection, but was otherwise fine.

The previous brand of vaccines came from Merck, this batch was from Zoetis.

[KJT]

I found with my vaccine-sensitive mustang, that spreading them out over several days helps tremendously. And also a light workout immediately after they’re given seems to lessen his stiffness and soreness.

[zakkandtoto]

A friend’s horse reacted exactly like yours, OP. Owner called me one day and asked me to come look - one of his mares couldn’t raise her head.

I found a huge knot on her neck and was told that she’d had her shots two days earlier = abscess at the injection site. He took the horse to a different vet who lanced the abscess. My friend was given the option of caring for the mare at home or leaving her at the clinic, he chose the latter. Wound up with a huge vet bill that the vaccine company eventually reimbursed him for.

[Palm_Beach]

@cincoandrain

I’m dealing with my first vaccine reaction after owning horses for over 20 years, and I wondered about others’ experiences. I bought a 13 year old eventing pony mare last summer and she has brought me a ton of joy! Friday, a week ago, my longtime vet came and did vaccinations. 6-way, Flu-Rhino, Rabies, and IN strangles. The next morning, I noticed my mare was stuff and sore in her neck. My two geldings were/are completely normal. I administered bute twice a day for the next couple days. On Monday my vet came and did bloodwork. She advised continue the Bute and apply warmth and DMSO to the swelling on her neck, which I’ve done twice a day this week. The blood work looked okay with a slight elevation to the white cell count, which is normal per the vet.

However my mare is still sore with a hard lump on her neck! I’ve contacted the my vet so she’s aware, but I wondered what my expectations should be about the lump and soreness. Has anyone had this happen, and does the lump gradually go away or will it abscess out?

Thanks!

I skipped to the end, so apologies if you updated. I have one that can’t handle the 7 way, he gets his shots split up, and I give him bute the morning of and the morning after the shots. Sometimes he still gets a small swelling, but nothing that prevents me from riding or anything.

[CindyCRNA]

@Scribbler

Well if its just inflammation from the shot it should go down with time.

Now the usual protocol is not to do IN strangles on the same day as any IM shots in case the strangles spores get under the skin. So I assume you have had blood work to rule out this being bastard strangles from the IN?

If it abscesses out with bastard strangles you will want full quarantine. Not something to mess about with.

I’ve moved away from the 4 or 5 way shots. They are too hard on my mare.

All of this! I don’t give more than a 3 way at any one time, nothing from Ft Dodge and IN strangles at least 2 weeks from any IM vaccination.

[cincoandrain]

Thanks all for the responses. On Monday (10 days after vaccination) the vet came back again and ultrasounded the neck lump. She said there’s no organization to the inflammation (no pus pocket to lance) and to keep her moving as much as practical. She has a hard, bar-of-soap size lump that I have been massaging and putting DMSO on every other day. I would love to have the swelling go down faster. Any ideas? Icthammol? Back on track neck cover? She’s still sore and stiff in the mornings especially, after she’s been in and sleeping/resting overnight.

[PNWjumper]

I’m at 2 weeks (post-beginning of swelling, which took a couple of days to show up after the last shot) with my guy and it’s finally almost gone. I think just continuing with the DMSO is the best way to deal with it. But I guess you could ask your vet about adding a gram of bute at night? That’s not a consideration with my guy who went through kidney failure 2 years ago…we avoid NSAIDs unless absolutely necessary. But might help your mare deal with some of the stiffness/soreness.