I swear, I don't know what to make of the predictability of reaction to yearly vaccines anymore; I've had troubles in the past couple of years I've NEVER had in well over 30 years of giving all my own vaccinations....
Now, I give a 6 way multiple routinely, and have for MANY years; it includes the Venezuelan enceph, because I live where it has occasionally shown up, and when it does, the vaccine can become VERY hard to get, very quickly. Until the last couple of years, I'd had horses get sore/have swelling only a couple of times, but last year, three of my then-9 horses were sore and had some site swelling, in varying degrees, and this year, two have been sore and 'short striding (I give in the buttock ONLY, unless I have a really compelling reason to use the neck!)--and one of those was the worst I've EVER seen!
This 12 YO gelding was so SORE only hours after receiving his shot he didn't even want to eat his supper; so I gave about a 3/4 dose of banamine orally, AND a large-dose of ranitidine(he is prone to ulcers)that evening, and it really helped him. By the following evening he was again very lame and 'short striding' on that leg, but was willing to eat and drink, so no more banamine(I surely am not going to give multiple doses of banamine, esp. close together,AND to an already ulcer-prone horse, unless there is NO OTHER choice!) He remained sore but eating and drinking normally for another day or so, then on looking closely, I realized that the swelling had 'dropped down' to his gaskin, which was hot and tight. So--I hot packed him, then walked him for about 15 min. He is finally noticably improved, but I am thinking that next year, I will try giving ONLY a tetanus and EE-WE, *maybe* VE, shot, leaving out the rhino and flu, to EVERYONE, and then buy a couple of rhino/flus to give to any horse I might take anywhere to an ADT or ?? away from home. I have essentially a 'closed herd' now; all are 7 years or older,so my risk factors are minimal for the contagious diseases like flu and rhino.
Years ago, an old friend who was a large animal (cattle, but as many horses) vet of many years' experience, told me that unless you wanted to swab w/ alcohol for several minutes, there was really no point, so I have not swabbed an injection site since....just my own experience--and have had ONE site infection in all the years since-an abcess, from a rhino booster, so not at all sure it had anything at all to do w/ not using an alcohol swab first. I hasten to add that I believe that EVERYONE should ask and rely upon the advice and counsel of their OWN trusted vet, though!!
I do *suspect* the 'carrier agent in the vaccines--and did think Havlogen was 'better' than others, but---I had less problems w/ Ft. Dodge, which apparently no longer uses Havlogen, than I have recently using the brand that DOES use it....FWIW, this year for the first time, I went ahead and used the 1 1/2" X 20 ga. needles that routinely come with the individual doses of the vaccines, on all but two of mine. They actually were less 'squirmy' when I placed the needle, then gave the shot, than usual--and the ONE I used a 1"X 21 ga. needle to give in the buttock-my smallest mare-was the other one who got sore and was short-striding! (I also used the shorter, smaller diameter needle to give the booster in the NECK of my 26 YO mare, because she has had SO many shots in the butt in her long years--and she has thankfully been FINE....)So- WHY this is happening is to me a mystery....
Glad to hear your mare is feeling better, barnbum--seems very odd that it would be that long before such soreness manifested, though?
Margo
