Lump From Vaccination?

[bobchic]

Mr Fluffy had his last vaccination on the 20/04/09.

He was also micro chipped at the same time so the vet did the vaccination away from the chip.

I was a wuss and was not in the room when both shots took place.

On the 22/04/09 my OH noticed a lump on Fluffy's neck (fleshy lump that is less then a 5 cent piece size and a bit oblong).

23/04/09 I gave my vet a call concerned. The recpetionist said the vet wasnt there but it was more then likely a reaction to the vaccination. She wasnt able to confirm if he gave the shot near his neck.

Its now the 29/04/09 and he still have the lump on his neck. It hasnt gown and is not painful.

I dont want to keep calling if its nothing to worry about... Should I take him back in to get it checked out?

I have even looked at the skin and its not red or causing him irritation...

How long do vaccination lumps last for usually?

Thanks everyone

[puggy_puggy]

They can take at least two weeks to totally disappear.

As long as it is slowly going down I would not worry.

[Red Fox]

Yes, this happened to my dog too with both of his puppy shots. The first one was huge -about the size of a golf ball- and took a few weeks to disappear. The second shot was done behind his front leg and although it still got swollen it was much smaller than the first time. Vet said it was a common reaction.

I wonder if it was a reaction to the C5 though? When it comes time for his booster I will only be doing a C3.

[Bindii]

Completely normal for it to last up to 2-3 weeks (as puggy puggy said, as long as it's slowly going down and not getting larger)

Sometimes, not always, but in many cases 'receptionists' at vets are actually vet nurses and do know what they're talking about. If they don't, they would generally always check with the vet - i'm suprised there wasn't one there when open?

Most injections are given on the back of the neck, or lower - in between the shoulder blades... i think the main reason is probably because they are given subcutaneously and it's easy to grab skin in that area of dogs and cats.

i got my 2nd cervical cancer vacc just over a month ago and still have a little lump!!

Edited April 29, 2009 by Bindii

[Patters]

I vaccinate my pups with C5 and the lump always lasts just under a month. My vet has changed the brand he uses in the last 2 years, and the injection itself is no longer as painful as the previous brand. Sometimes, the lump is very tender for the first few days (up to 7 days), but often it is not painful at all. Just check regularly that the actual injection site has no infection (redness, pus) and if it is painful a warm washer, several times a day, will help.

My tiny Papillon pups get the same amount of vaccination as my Collie & Setter pups and some get the lump, some don't, some on the first vaccination, some only on the 2nd. As there is no way I can predict who will get a lump or not, I don't book their first show 'til a month after their final vaccination.

[bobchic]

Thanks for the replies everyone...

What I meant by 'the vet wasnt there' is, I called at 2 in the afternoon, and the vet that did the vaccination is usually the late shift vet (when the clinic closes at 8pm). So she couldnt ask that exact vet where he had stuck my puppy...

Oh and yes I do realise she was probly a nurse... Didnt mean to offend.. Opps... lol..

I do believe that the lump would be from the shot.. But since she couldnt confirm thats where he got jabbed I was still a little concerned. And she had said it would take a few days to go down...

But if other puppies have taken longer, Im not so worried... I check it every day and its not getting bigger... So its all good...

Thanks heaps for the replies everyone.. I now feel much better

[Bindii]

I thought they were receptionists too, before i became a nurse haha.

Ah i get what you mean now about the vet not being there- as in, the same vet.

I guess the thing is as i said earlier, where you described is where most injections are given so chances are that's definitely what the lump is from..

Either way it's getting smaller!

Edited April 30, 2009 by Bindii

[Tenties]

These lumps i have been told are caused by the vet not going deep enough with the needle, the vaccination fluid pools in between the layers and slowly disperses over time although sometimes they dont ....sometimes they turn into a cheesy matter that needs a quick nick with a scalpal to release it ive had it in my dogs as well as horses and the same reason was given both times ( by my boss at the time ).

Linda...