Reaction to flu jab

[Shantor1]

Has anyone's horse reacted after having a flu or similar vaccination? My horse was vaccinated on Tuesday and yesterday and today I've noticed him rather depressed and subdued. There's a hot and painful swelling at the site of the injection and he is having difficulty lowering his head to eat grass.

Tonight I brought him in and he is eating albeit from his wall manger and haybar as this doesn't involve him lowering his head. I read somewhere that hypericum is a good remedy to give a horse that has this type of reaction but not sure. If it gets worse then it'll be a vet call out.

Just wondered if I'm over-reacting [He's 10 year old TB type and has had more injuries, ailments and illnesses than in the entire life span of my chirpy 35yo cob gelding!

]

 

[chestnut cob]

Yeah mine did last year. Took him to dressage and had to pull out half way through because he was so lethargic.

He had a snotty nose, was really down in the dumps and generally under the weather for about 2 weeks in the end. Just gave him a few days off and he was ok.

 

[Shantor1]

Hmm, that would explain it! He is rather down and lethargic. Was due to enter him for dressage next week but don't think I'll bother as he's not well. Lunged him tonight and we didn't have our usual "OMG there's a horse eating monster rabbit in the corner of the school, buck, snort et al!". Coco the clown could've popped up and he wouldn't have taken any notice.

I'll rest him and keep an eye on him. Thanks for your reply.

 

[gloster_image]

Mine has had a reaction the last 2years - he had COPD symptoms, couldn't breathe and was diagnosed with COPD earlier this year - it actually turned out to be a reaction to the flu vaccine. (it's a live respiratory virus in the vaccine)

 

[_jetset_]

Yes... hannah has a reaction to the carrier fluid rather than the actual vaccine. It goes down after a few days, and she always has to have it done in her bottom now as it swells so much when done in her neck.

 

[faerie666]

It could be that he is developing an abscess at the injection site, the fact that there is heat and swelling and a lot of pain there points to that. I have seen this happen several times before, and the vet had to come and drain it. If it doesn't look better by tomorrow I'd call the vet.

 

[Shantor1]

Yes, I agree, it maybe an abscess brewing. I'll see how he is in the morning and if its still swollen I'll call the vet out.

 

[Caritas]

my horse has had several bad reactions to a herpes jab and the injection site swelled up the size of a tennis ball. I rang the vet who said this can be quite common although had never happened before. He also had trouble lowering his neck and acted very strange for over a weeks. eVERY DAY iW OULD GO TO THE YARD AND THINK THAT THE SWELLING WAS GETTING BIGGER. eVENTUALLY IT STARTED TO GO DOWN BUT TOOK ABOUT 4 WEEKS IF i REMEMBER RIGHLY, TRY NOT TO PANICK, IM SURE IT IS NOT INFECTED BUT DO BE GENTAL AS IN=M SURE IT IS QUITE PAINFUL IN THAT AREA.

 

[Shantor1]

Your poor boy Caritas. Glad to hear he's well now.

My boy is better this am and have given him some more anti-inflam homeopathy pillules and applied Aloe vera to the site. It is not as swollen or painful and he's got more sparkle in his eye. Led him out to grass and watched him, he carefully stretched his neck down and was managing to eat OK. Doesn't look like an abscess. Phew!

Thank you everyone for all your helpful posts.

 

[calon]

my friends stallion almost died a couple of years ago after it ended up at liverpool clinic all his body and organs swelled up horrible

 

[Blackm]

Sorry to hear about your horse - I hope he is on the mend soon. I lost my 2 welsh Cobs earlier this year. They got a combined flu and tet vaccine. Both were fit, healthy and not overweight before vaccine. Within 24 hours one of them developed acute laminitis and a few days later the other developed exactly the same symptoms. Neither had ever had laminitis before but they didn't recover and we had to have them both put to sleep.