Hi Lori,
I concur with the previous responder: This most certainly isn't normal! Dogs will often get a *small* (pea-sized or less) lump after receiving a vaccination, but not anything as large as what you're describing, and definitely not after this amount of time (9 days) has passed!
Reactions to vaccines do happen, but they usually do so almost immediately, and I, personally, have never heard of a reaction such as this so long afterwards. (One of my own dogs developed a reaction to her vaccines in combination: as long as she received the rabies by itself, and it was several weeks before or after the distemper-parvo-et al, there were no more difficulties. But her system couldn't assimilate the barrage of all her vaccinations at one time, and so, when given that way, she immediately--within 30 minutes--broke out in hives and required treatment for the reaction.)
I'd think a check with the vet who administered this vaccination is in order, and your dog examined and treated as necessary. If the vaccine is, indeed, the culprit, both the vet and the drug manufacturer should be advised, to watch for any further reactions of this type in other animals.
I am also wondering if this could possibly be an abscess, or some other type of aberration caused by the injection (rather than the vaccine), or if it could be something totally unconnected. I'd very much like to hear what the vet says, Lori! If you could get back to us here, once you've had your dog checked, I, for one, would be highly appreciative!
Best to you and your dog!
rory
