I'm new, will load avatar and post pic's at a later date. I've been looking at this site for the past week, in great part due to the loss of my first rattie, Fang, who was only 5.

He received his annual "routine vaccinations", ( less rabies) on 3/8/2008. For 5 years he had been in great health, and was vet checked on the date of the vaccination. On 3/21/08, having awakened to the sight of blood bright red blood on the carpet  and he was urinating the lblood. - It was off to the vet right away. Blood studies were done as was an abdominal x-ray. The x ray was negative, ( I'd suspected hemangiosarcoma), as his gums were pale and he seemed out of sorts. His platelets were quite low, and his hematocrit was 29, not good. He was given an injectable steroid, to be followed by a routine of prednisone and doxycycline.

His lethargy improved in the afternoon, but the next morning, he was vomiting blood, and the gums were paler than the day before. More bloodwork - platelets were zero and hematocrit down to 14!  The prognosis was less than poor, even were he to be transfused and started on chemo. I took that to mean that his chances were slim to none, and that "slim" had left town. The vet agreed, and the decision was made to mercifully put him to sleep.

The final diagnosis was idiopathic thrombocytopenia.

I had heard of the "rare" occasions in which this condition has been attributed to vaccinations, but never gone through this with any of my dogsover my 50 + years of owning them.  The word "rare" now has no meaning to me other than to say " watch out it can happen to you too!" While vaccines have not been empirically determined to create this problem, there appears to be sufficient anecdotal reports as to suggest a correlation. Having done much reading over the past week, my decision will be to obtain titers first before vaccinating, or forego vaccinations except for the required rabies. Depending on circumstances maybe even the rabies, as I have a 4y/o female, Maya, who just received the complete regime, inclusive of rabies, on the same date as Fang.

I post this as a warning to other owners. I have heard of other dogs responding well to initial treatment of this disorder, but in Fang's case, the onset was so sudden and so severe, that he was virtually doomed from the beginning. I wasn't prepared for him to go so soon, he brought such great joy to our lives!

I am so sorry for your loss!  I agree with getting blood titers first before vaccinating. I know their much more expensive than vaccines, (around $80 from what I've heard), but it's worth it to me. to save a little each month, so that I can afford to do that when it's time for their vaccinations.  Thanks for sharing. 

So, basically due to the thrombocytopenia he had no blood platets to clot his blood and he bascially bled out is that correct?  Again, thank you for sharing...people should know they have options.  If the blood titers show the dog has imumnity then why revaccinate for their DH[L]PP (Distemper, Hepatitis, [Leptosporois], Pari-influenza and Parvo) ????

I am so sorry for the loss of your little one.  The circumstances are truly horrific.   However, losing a furry loved one under any circumstances is heartbreaking.  Please accept my sincerest sympathy.

When our toy fox turned 11 we stopped all shots because she was sick for a week after her shots the year before.  She was in inside dog who stayed in her own yard and lived to be 17 + years old.

Can someone please explain what titers is?

Thanks,

Yukon

We're so very sorry to hear about Fang.

Our prayers go out to you and your family.

Love, Chris and Lori