Dog allergic to rabies vaccine. When to take him to emergency vet?

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!

It sounds like she could have had a vaccine reaction as they typically happen soon after being administeted the vaccine. Your vet will likely want to give her injections or steroids and diphenhydramine, and may keep an eye on her to make sure the swelling goes down. In the future she may need pre-medication prior to being vaccinated to avoid another reaction.

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.

This is probably an allergic reaction due to an insect bite or a plant outside. those reactions tend to resolve within 48 hours without treatment. if the swelling becomes too large or if your dog becomes lethargic, take him to the vet in order to get an antihistamine/steroid injection. from your description at this moment i think he is probably fine, but this can change so monitor him closely.

Thank you for submitting your question regarding Bo. How scary! I recommend monitoring him closely for 24 hours. Then I recommend asking the veterinarian for a letter stating that it is unsafe for him to receive the rabies vaccine in the future due to his severe reaction. He will likely react again with future immunizations. Good luck!

Swelling of the face and mouth/facial swelling are often initial symptoms of an anaphylactic/allergic reaction. These reactions can occur in dogs after vaccines, after exposure to a food or substance they are allergic to, or after a bite from an insect. As it is impossible to predict whether an anaphylactic reaction will remain localized or progress to trouble breathing, which can be life threatening, it is safest to contact a 24 hour vet for Bella at this time to have her seen. The ER may recommend a treatment plan including anti-histamines, corticosteroids +/- epinephrine and montitoring until the selling has gone down. They will also likely recommend an at home dose for Benadryl after establishing a valid patient/client relationship if this should occur again as it is uncertain at this point what Bella is allergic to. Wishing Bella a quick recovery!

Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! I would recommend taking Shorty to the vet again for a follow up exam. Whatever was causing the allergic reaction is still in his body. He may need longer treatment with steroids. You can continue to give the Benadryl every 8 hours but if there is no change, I would see a vet. Good luck and kisses to Shorty!