Sick chihuahua, already asked someone else, but theyre unavailable right now.

Question
they are about 12 weeks old and he was vaccinated two weeks ago on the 18th...he was a lot happier before the shot. he was responsive and loving. but after the shot, he started acting funny and just seemed distant. he is going to the vet again today to get an ultrasound on his head...

The original question was:
ok, so one of our puppies is sick or something and we would like to know what is wrong..here are his symptoms:

~soft spot (normal for a chihuahua puppy)
~breath smells "metallic"
~weird behavior (runs into walls, looks very distant, whines and cries even when being held)

possible causes:

~liquid in the brain
~DAP shot

And the expert's response was:

A soft spot on the head of a chihuahua is not the same as hydrocephalus, which is water on the brain.Yes they do sometimes have the spot because of the hydrocephalus.
I can't tell you unfortunately what is causing his behavior.
Let me ask you these questions however:
Did he just get vaccinated and if so, how did he act before that?
Is this behavior of sudden onset or has it been like this for a long time?
How old of a puppy are we talking about?
If he was just vaccinated, he could be having a mild reaction to the vaccine. I have never smelled a metallic smell from this but I know that some of them (puppies that is) will cry when held after being vaccinate from having a sore spot where they were injected. It happens.
If he isn't better by the morning, a call and visit into your vet's is in order.

So I'm just giving you all the info the other expert asked, and wondered if you had any other ideas.

Thank you very much :)

Answer
Hi Kyle,

Thank you for writing to me.

It's quite clear to me that your puppy suffers from vaccinosis.  I would never again give him another vaccination!! That is my own opinion on the subject after what you have described.

Because Chihuahuas are so small and because vaccine manufacturers recommend giving the same amount of vaccine to a Chihuahua as to a Saint Bernard, Chihuahuas may be more susceptible to vaccine related problems.

Some symptoms include lethargy, depression, and possibly death. Any unusal reaction is of concern.

Vaccines are a very controversial subject and one you should discuss with your veterinarian. Many Chihuahua breeders were losing puppies a few days after giving vaccines (especially the tiny ones) and once they started giving half doses of vaccines (the killed vaccines rather than the modified live ones), and they quit losing their puppies. Logically, you would wonder: "Why give the same dose of a vaccine to a 90 pound dog that you would to a 3 pound dog?" Even within the breeding community, there is dissension about which vaccines to give. One breeder has quit giving the Leptospirosis Vaccine to their puppies based upon research at Kansas State University that suggests that there are more reactions to this vaccine than to others, and that Leptospirosis is pretty rare. Another breeder has not had any problems with this particular vaccine, although it is not given to their pups until 4 months of age.
 
Another possible cause of your dog's sudden behavior to be considered is low blood sugar.  Because Toy Breeds have such a small fat reserve around their liver, they are prone to low blood sugar. Although this can occur at any time, it's especially important to watch your new puppy due to his small size.

Some of the symptoms of low blood sugar are, lack of coordination (stumbling, falling, staggering), followed by coma and death if not treated.

Although you should always consult your veterinarian for the proper treatment of your particular puppy, you can keep some sugar handy (honey or sugar water) to boost your little friend's blood sugar level stays when it starts dropping.

The Vitacal supplement is essential for any pet owner's medicine chest. It is specially formulated to give your pet the nutrition it needs and fast. It has been known to bring a puppy suffering from low blood sugar immediately out of the beginning stages of a coma. It also has high potency vitamins, minerals, fats, and carbohydrates which your puppy needs. Because it is high in B vitamins, Vitacal can actually stimulate your pet to start eating right again. We recommend it be taken home or purchased immediately after taking home a puppy weighing less than two pounds. It can very easily save his life. It costs less than $15.00, much less than an emergency trip to the vet. VitaCal or Nitrical is especially beneficial for pets that are stressed (due to a change in environment or a new home) or recovering from illness or injury. It is also specially formulated to be gentle on sensitive digestive tracts. Each ounce provides 90 kiloCalories of usable energy. VitaCal / Nutrical can be ordered from Drs. Foster & Smith, R.C. Steel, or Becky's Chihuahuas. Or you may be able to obtain it through your veterinarian. For severe cases of low blood sugar, your veterinarian may need to give an IV of a sugar solution. As a precaution, you can always make sure that when you're going to be away for a while that your little friend eats before you go and that you leave him food for when you're gone. Don't feed him candy, as this can cause the blood sugar level to surge and then drop drastically.

Best Regards,
Shelley Davis