Making Note

Airlie had her annual vaccinations shortly following her first birthday-

and proceeded to have a reaction to them.

I knew it was possible, but have never experienced any issues with any other pet under such circumstances.

I knew the egg-sized, warm-to-the-touch knot in the muscle below her shoulder blade wasn't any more of a concern than the same knot I received from a tetanus shot many years ago. I knew babies often had swelling, pain and fever at injection sites associated to their vaccinations. I just didn't like it. Most people aren't aware that, unlike people, animal vaccines are not administered based on the size of the animal. Every animal, no matter how big or small, receives the same dosage. Reactions are common, and sometimes life-threatening.

In Airlie's case, it took a week but the knot slowly grew smaller, day by day, until it was finally gone. The day after her vet visit she wasn't her crazy, energetic-to-the-point-of-trying-everyone's-patience self. She took the morning walk in stride, but seemed to be moving slower. Probably because of the pain in her shoulder. After that, she walked over to the toy box, stared at the toys, then went to lie down when normally she would spend a few minutes ferrying each toy to her pillow first, til she had them all neatly arranged according to her preferences. She yelped any time Kansas or Leo would initiate play and then grasp her neck with their teeth.

It's all behind us now, but something to keep in mind for next time. At least at the moment we are living in a county that accepts the 3-year term for vaccines, rather than them being a yearly requirement.