Swelling (from Rhino-flu vaccination) looking from underneath belly - before exercise
Swelling post exercise - much better - Chief is glad he doesn't look like such a boob now!
I waited almost a couple of weeks after the horses got their West Nile vaccine boosters to give them their Rhino-Flu shots this week. They all had some swelling in their necks after the WNV, so I decided to give them the next round of shots in their chests (pec muscles). I guess this time I should be glad with only having one out of three show a reaction. Here are some photos of Chief’s “boobie”. He is eating well and seems to be his normal self. I took him out for a ride this afternoon and he felt well and energetic. The swelling went down a lot from the exercise but is still there so I put some DMSO on it, and gave him some bute in some complete feed which he is ignoring. I left him alone with it and will see if he goes ahead and eats it. He normally eats everything but bute isn’t something he normally gets and obviously doesn’t care for it in his food. I’ll post a few photos of the scenery from our ride today. The weather is unbelievable for December! Took him out barefoot, this dry weather has sure gone a long way towards the horses having really tough feet for this late in the year.
Hi Karen, I find its not that uncommon to get “fluid pooling” ventral oedema as a result of pec injections. I suspect as a result of hitting a vessel on the way in with resultant “leakage” and the ventral nature/close proximity chest means you see it more so than you would in neck/rump. If the oedema disappears that readily with exercise – perhaps that’s all it was? Or was the site reactive, sore and horse unwell?
JoHB BVSc
Thanks Jo – today the swelling is nearly all gone and he is feeling much better! I don’t think he was unwell so much as just not as energetic as usual.