Could my dog's hives after rabies shot be an allergic reaction?

Hi there and thank you for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach to address your concern. If you have given Benadryl already, I would monitor Bella for now. If the symptom does not go away or worsens, then I would take her in to be seen if possible. Reactions are temporary and will eventually go away (either on their own or with the help of medication). Reactions can be quite severe sometimes so be on the lookout for severe facial swelling, hive development, extreme lethargy, vomiting, breathing difficulty, etc. and get her in to be seen by an emergency veterinarian as soon as possible. Otherwise, if she is normal right now with none of the above symptoms, I would just monitor her after giving the Benadryl and see how she does. I hope this helps! Please let me know if you have any other questions or concerns and I would be more than happy to help you further. Please take the time to mark this question as helpful or not as it helps us to improve on the quality of our answers to other pet owners. Thank you kindly!

Thank you for submitting your question regarding Roy. Rabies is vaccination that is required by law and as you mentioned his lifestyle included exposure to wildlife. I would recommend that he has this vaccine at the veterinary hospital. He can be given an injection ahead of time to keep him from suffering the allergic reaction that he did last time. This will be a safer option for him. I hope this information helps!

A swollen face, swollen lips, red eyes, severe itching or difficulty breathing may all be symptoms of a vaccine reaction. An antihistamine, such as diphenhydramine (Benadryl), can be given but only under the advice of your veterinary. Legally, we are prohibited from recommending you medicate her in the absence of a physical exam and a VPCR (veterinarian-patient-client relationship). If her symptoms persist or worsen, have her examined by your veterinarian or at the nearest veterinary ER.

Signs may come back after Benadryl efficacy has decreased. Next 8 hours would e a kind of cut off. If not coming back the signs will disappear. Remember to record this reaction on his vaccination card.

Your dog should get an antihistamine before the vaccination. You should ask your vet about giving him a diphenhydramine , or chlorpheniramine injection about an hour before getting the vaccination. This should avoid the reaction or at least reduce the impact. Your veterinarian should have these injectables available.

A short course of predisone is unlikely to have any adverse effects in an otherwise healthy dog but may be of more risk if she has other, underlying health conditions? It may however reduce the efficacy of the vaccine and limit the protection this gives her against rabies. It would be worth telephoning the clinic to assess the risks and benefits of her particular case if she has a complicated medial history

Poor Mukku! This could be an allergic reaction the vaccine or it could be unrelated. Due to the potential for a reaction, I recommend to have him checked by his veterinarian. He may get an anti-inflammatory as well as a medicated shampoo. I hope he starts feeling better quickly!