Reaction to flu/tet vaccine

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BBP

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My young Connemara just had his jabs yesterday. Bit quiet this morning apparently (I wasn’t up til later) but now he is walking like a drunk banana, bent to the left, unsure of his feet/slightly unsteady, super quiet and droopy lipped. Eyes are interested in treats but body doesn’t want to move to get them.

Those who have had similar, how long did it take to resolve? if the vet came out what did they do for them? He is eating if I lift his hay feeder so his head can be at chest height. Just about to give danilon. Vet said if I am still worried they can come out, but I’m not sure what it could escalate to, or if these things just resolve like a sore arm after a jab? I have never had one that has reacted before.
 
My horse gets like this if the injection is given in her neck. I have got the vet out and asked for bute for a few days, they have also given a painkiller in to her rump to get it in to her quicker. Since then I have always asked for injections in to her chest and for a few days worth of bute. My vets said that its usually the carrier for the injection that they react to so you may only get it once, since I've had it twice I've not risked it again and just ask for them to inject in to her chest and take home 4 days worth of bute.
 
I had this several years ago, vet came back out but as far as I remember other than a bit of bute we just left her to recover. Took a few days and I do recall being very worried but she was with me for another 15 years after that so no lasting harm done. Vet thought maybe the flu not the tet one, so I never let her have the flu jab again.
 
Had this with my young Connie , when he had his first tet//flu booster.
Vet just gave bute for 5 days, he was fine after about 3 days.
When it is the combined vaccination he now always has it in his chest and then has a couple of days bute.

If he is too uncomfortable to put his head down, don't forget to make sure he can access water. I put my boys bucket on a folding step.
 
Yes my mate was lame last time because she had it in her chest and it swelled up and made her really sore! If you search for it there is a thread on here about it. It took about one - two weeks to resolve.

As it’s in the neck I would be feeding and putting water on a level he is comfortable with and giving danilon as you said. Hope he feels better soon!
 
Just been to check him again and his neck is super swollen on the left side (under all the fluff). He keeps it bent to the left which throws his weight to his right shoulder and means he has to do a half circle to get anywhere he wants to go as he sort of drifts to starboard everywhere. His water and hay is all raised up to the level he wants his head at. His respiration rate was pretty high earlier but the vet wasn’t too concerned. They said colic is more the risk with the cold weather and if he stops eating/drinking/moving around. I have cameras up, but being black he is the worst one to try to spot in the dark (he has access to arena, hardstanding and shelter) so for my own piece of mind I might go check him again in a few hours.
 
I had this with my Hanovarian x TB every combined jab, she would be unable to move her neck for a good 5 days and likewise caused similar movement to yours, everything had to be lifted off the ground. It should be reported to the vet as they have to feed back to manufacturer. Always had to have the vacc in the chest after the first couple of times that happened. I learnt to be less concerned about it after the first couple of times, but kept her as low stress as possible when she had it in the neck. I believe they can have it in the rump as well, both of which don’t have quite such an extreme reaction, still significant swelling, but nothing on the same scale and I think as the chest is more mobile seemed to dissipate quicker.
 
My mare has also had a bad reaction from flu/tet injection in the neck. She had a highish temperature, was off her food and really struggled to eat off the floor. I always ask for her to be injected in her backside now and no problems since. Hope yours feels better soon xx
 
Yes. Had it with Woody. Severe reaction. Emergency vet out. Could only walk sideways like a crab. Huge lump on chest. Was very poorly. I complained when vet bill arrived and the practice got the money from the pharmaceutical company.
 
I hope your horse is OK this morning. My pony has horrible reactions too. We have settled them down by upping his bute 4 days before and after (he is on one a day as a retired arthritic field ornament) and having it in his chest. He had his 2 weeks ago and apart from a small swelling and minor stiffness, he's been OK.
 
Mine had a bad reaction some years ago.

He went seriously lame. Like ridiculously lame. Hobbled to the field like a crippled old man.

Had a physio out who could not find a thing wrong with him.

Took the best part of a week for him to get back to normal.
 
My friend's TB would be like this if the jab was given in his neck - it usually resolved itself within 48 hours with rest, being kept warm (he never had a temp) and danilon. After it happened twice, he had his jabs on his rump and that was never a problem.
 
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fornema said:
I had this with my Hanovarian x TB every combined jab, she would be unable to move her neck for a good 5 days and likewise caused similar movement to yours, everything had to be lifted off the ground. It should be reported to the vet as they have to feed back to manufacturer. Always had to have the vacc in the chest after the first couple of times that happened. I learnt to be less concerned about it after the first couple of times, but kept her as low stress as possible when she had it in the neck. I believe they can have it in the rump as well, both of which don’t have quite such an extreme reaction, still significant swelling, but nothing on the same scale and I think as the chest is more mobile seemed to dissipate quicker.
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I've had horses have a bad reaction to the injection in the chest. I always ask for it in the rump now.
 
Bless him, he still has the turning circle of titanic. He got himself into a field shelter and then had to figure out a 16 point turn to get out as he couldnt bend his body and step across. It’s such a great example of how having neck pain and lack of straightness through the neck can make them look extremely ataxic and throw off their balance. I saw the video exracehorse posted of their horse and that is what he is like, staggering off to one side.
 
One of my horses has a reaction to a flu jab, in fact any jab that is given in his neck. He gets a swelling in his neck so he has all jabs now in his backside & there is now no reaction. Don't just have a think & hope it will right it self, phone your vet & speak to them about what is happening. He may need just time, but he may have something else happening that the symptoms are pointing to.
 
Toby_Zaphod said:
One of my horses has a reaction to a flu jab, in fact any jab that is given in his neck. He gets a swelling in his neck so he has all jabs now in his backside & there is now no reaction. Don't just have a think & hope it will right it self, phone your vet & speak to them about what is happening. He may need just time, but he may have something else happening that the symptoms are pointing to.
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Don’t worry, I have spoken to 3 different vets at my practice in the last 24hrs. He is being closely monitored.
 
Luckily my current horses are fine but one I had reacted really badly. I rang vet who advised bute for 48 hours. He couldn't move his neck. He had his water, hay and feed higher up for a few days. He was fine after 48 hours. Hope your horse is OK.
 
My connie reacted to his last flu and tet vaccine had vets put all weekend and all night into early hours / thankfully this time was fine 🤞🤞 it’s scary though how is he doing xx
 
He is definitely feeling sorry for himself but is eating and drinking and trundling around quietly and very slightly improving each time I go up. I did I give him his own emotional support arabian for a little while (he isn’t usually in with her as he’s a thug, but it cheered him up to be allowed to stand and chew on her today and he wasn’t up to launching full scale rugby tackles at her). Got to go and collect some more bute tomorrow for him.
 
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