VACCINATION READER FEEDBACK

[SIDE EFFECTS]  06/13/2009: Susan from Memphis, Tn USA writes: "I took my Bichon Frise in for his yearly vaccinations 2 days ago and now he is crying all the time and acts like he can barely walk. He has eaten very little and has not been to the bathroom. How many days should this last? I do not recall this reaction in the past. He is 3 years old."

[SIDE EFFECTS]  06/09/2009: Kacy from Granite Bay, California writes: "Rabies Reaction: In Feb of 2008 my 8 1/2 year old Pekinese required,by law, a rabies booster. The injection was given we came home and I kept looking at her thinking something was not right. I asked my husband if she looked funny to him and he say "OH MY her face is swollen". So back to the vet I went, they gave her another shot to counteract the vaccine. I told the vet that this dog would NEVER have another vaccine of any kind. He agreed!

Kacy"

My Ragdoll cat received the last in a series of kitten vaccines (others were given by breeder as she was now 4 months old), we stopped by a friends house on the way home and I left the Rebekah in her crate in the garage. When I returned to check on her 10 minutes later she had vomit all over the floor of the crate and her eyes were dialated and she seemed dioriented. We rushed back to the vet who was now closed, so on to emergency. The vet there really could not see anything wrong with Rebekah. Less than 90 seconds later, Rebekah projectial vomited across the room and his comment was "OH I guess there is something wrong!" DAH He administered a shot to counteract the last one. She has NEVER had another vaccine (she is strickly an inside cat). She is now 10 years old and PERFECTLY healthy. She has only been back to the vet ONE time in her life and that was for a UTI-urinary tract infection-my fault for not cleaning water bowls often enough.
Kacy"

[SIDE EFFECTS]  06/09/2009: Nancy from Gap, PA writes: "Friday my 7 year old 10 LB toy poodle had his yearly vaccinations. On Monday, he was honking like a loud goose, choking and spitting up foam. We rushed him to the Vet and he developed Kennel Cough as a result of the Bordetella vaccine. He is on medication and is very sick and just lays around with this sad look in his eyes. I will never allow him to have that shot again. Since he is never around other dogs I feel secure in doing this. I'm also reading that Lymes vaccine has a lot of side effects too. I probably will only allow rabies vaccine from now on....because it's the law!"

[SIDE EFFECTS]  06/06/2009: Margaret from Barry, Texas writes: "I gave my min pin his second shot today and now he is swollen in his face and he has red rings all over his stomach,what do I do I never had this happen I always vaccinate all my pups."

I took my 4year old MIN PIN (7pds and very active) Diamond, for her LYME BOOSTER SHOT yesterday. After her shot she was tired, but i thought that was normal. Around 6pm that night I noticed a golf sized bump on her lower back, where thet gave the shot. Also she was acting very lazy. This was strange and i called the vet. i was told to give her 1 "81mg" asprin and call the next day. My dog has this shot last year, and i didn't notice any side effects. All night she was extreemly tired, and lazy. Acting sick. The next day i saw the bump still, also she was not acting like herself. she wast excied for food, treats and she laided in bed all day. when i tried to take her outside she collapsed and ran back in to lay down. she will not sit near anyone and is acting hurt. i gave her another asprin and called the vet. i went in for a visit and they said she was having a bad reaction to the lyme booster. they gave me a liquid medican to give her once a day for 4 days and they said she will get better. now im homw with her and she is still acting so strange, im scared. she is sitting in her bed with her eyes shut facing the wall. she wont play or sit with me on the couch. let me know if you have experinced this.. i need hope that she will get better.. thank you"

Sincerely,
CShep3"

[SIDE EFFECTS]  05/31/2009: Carmen from Ladysmith, B.C Canada writes: "I am just commenting on the side effects of Feline Vaccines. I believe 2 of my cats have has serious reactions. My cat Willow ( she has now passed ) started having seizures shortly after having a rabies vaccination. She had to be on phenobarb for the rest of her live. I also believe her life was shortened because of the vaccination reaction. And if that wasn't enough I had my kitten Sawyer's first set of shots in December. The next day I heard him growling behind the couch..he had bit off the end of his tail and was attacking it like it wasn't his own. I went back to my vet that day and she kept him for observation and treated him for fleas ( he didn't have any ) I thought this was a bunch of bull and called the homeopathic vet up island. She sent me some tinctures that seemed to help. He goes in spells now....is good for a few weeks then regresses. When he was neuted I asked for the tip of his tail to be removed just incase this would solve the problem. It hasn't. He still growls, attacks his tail and his back crawls like there are bugs crawling on him. I am going to try accupunture next, get him on some more homeopathic, and will never vaccinate him again I work in an animal hospital and this puts me in a tough spot as i do believe our animals are being over vaccinated."

The dog is a chewweenie, 3 years old and 17 pounds heavy."

[SIDE EFFECTS]  05/28/2009: Susan from Orlando, FL writes: "We recently adopted a puppy from the Humane Society. We visted with him several times before choosing him as the one. He was healthy, happy, energetic, playful, eager to please. He was simply a joy to be around. Of course, when you adopt from a shelter, the pets have to be spayed or nuetered and receive vaccinations. This was done on Tuesday. We picked him up on Thursday. He was a completely different puppy! He was very lethargic and coughing. The clinic tech said he was tired because he had just woke him up. He had no idea that he was very ill. We took him to our vet that evening. He was diagnosed with kennel cough and given antibiotics (an injection & pills). I treated him with aromatherapy as well. He seemed to improve slightly over the next two days. By Monday he was relapsing. Tuesday I called our vet. Since he couldn't be seen until Wednesday morning, we called the Humane Society and they had us bring him in. They administered a shot of penicillin and gave us different antibiotics. My husband didn't like the look the vet and tech shared when they listened to his chest. That was at 3:00 pm. At 5:00am, we had to rush him to the emergency clinic. He was stumbling, bumping into things and urinating uncontrollably. The clinic put him on oxygen for an hour (they close at 7:00 am). Then we went back to our vet. They administered IV antibiotics & fluids. He passed away that evening. I feel western veterinary medicine killed this wonderful creature."

[SIDE EFFECTS]  05/27/2009: Yogakathy from Ulster Park, NY USA writes: "vaccination reactions immediate and delayed: Sweet Patootie, 1 1/2 year old bichon frisee, had facial swelling just hours after his vaccination - I think Bordetella injection was the only different one. 6 months later he developed near-fatal auto-immune hemolytic anemia, and barely survived a week in intensive care - almost at the point of getting a transfusion. He did live, but died prematurely at the age of 11 1/2 years. Unknown cause of death. I resorted to having his titers tested yearly, and they really do stay high enough for years after vaccination."

05/25/2009: Michele from Baltimore, Md. writes: "Reactions to shots update. I had said that my dog Molly had been sick from her distemper shot,she ha"

I rescued a male, yellow labrador retriever, 8 months old, and took him to our veterinarian of 20+ years. He was examined and given a Corona First Vaccine. On our way home, his "lips" began to swell up and he looked fat cheeked. So I immediately called back to the vet and returned to get it taken care of. He was given a shot to reduce the swelling and his medical record was to indicate his allergic reaction to the Corona."

[SIDE EFFECTS]  05/18/2009: Nolan from Port Richey, Florida writes: "I have a female pug that is now 9 years old and very healthy. About4 years ago, she developed a rash and itching as a result of her "yearly" shots. She was given a steroid shot and was ok after that. I now give her some benadryl before taking her for her shots, and we have not had any reactions since. We will get her shots this year, but this is the first time in 4 years. After reading the info on the lifespan of rabies innoculations, I am comfortable with this schedule."

05/18/2009: Nolan from Port Richey, Florida writes: "I have a female pug that is now 9 years old and very healthy. About4 years ago, she developed a rash and itching as a result of her "yearly" shots. She was given a steroid shot and was ok after that. I now give her some benadryl before taking her for her shots, and we have not had any reactions since. We will get her shots this year, but this is the first time in 4 years. After reading the info on the lifespan of rabies innoculations, I am comfortable with this schedule."

[SIDE EFFECTS]  05/17/2009: Michele from Baltimore, Maryland writes: "I started reading this site about all the pets with reactions from their shots because I, like most of you, get my 2 dogs their shots as a responsible pet owner. My vet has went to every 3 years, but I don't think that really matters. Here is what has happened to my Molly. We took both of our dogs for distemper shots. They are Tank and Molly. Tank seems to be fine. Molly, by Sat.(2 days after her shot) couldn't get up,or walk, we had to carry her up and down the steps,then she started throwing up,not wanting to eat she seems very confused. We took her back to the vet Tues. he put her on Rimadyl. I have since taken her off the Rimadyl because of more vomiting and not wanting to eat. She is also diabetic. Her diabetes is controlled. She has developed a hugh lump (that is bigger than what my hand can cover)by her hind leg,on her side coming up on her back. My vet told me that she is carrying alot of weight in her backend, which dogs usually carry the weight in their chest. Well this lump has quadrupled its size in 1 week. So we are going to see a specialist on Mon. After reading this site and even before I am convinced this is all from her Distemper shot. I told my husband that none of our pets will ever receive boosters as long as they live. I will let you know the outcome.Sincerely, Michele"

[SIDE EFFECTS]  05/13/2009: Lily from Commerce City, Colorado writes: "My cat "Cleo" became fatigued,and unresponsive for nearly 3 weeks after receiving the 3 year dose vacination for rabies recommended by the vet. My Cleo was never the same cat again.She died at age 8."

I took my 8 month-old Siamese kitten to get tested for FIV Friday of last week (5/8) and while we were there, she was given both her rabies vaccine and the first of the shots for feline leukemia. When we got home she was acting fairly normal, but the next morning we found her huddled in a corner, shaking and unkempt (her feet were covered in litter). We cleaned her off and tried to comfort her, but she was acting very paranoid and jumpy. It is Wednesday now (5/13) and while she's shown marked improvement, her behavior is still far from normal. I'm fairly beside myself--prior to getting her vaccinated, she was absolutely the most cheerful, engaged, talkative and loving cat I'd ever met. Now she seems distant, lethargic, impatient and when I look in her eyes, I no longer feel like she is looking back at me. I feel just horrible for allowing this to happen.

I started her on Thuja a couple days ago, but haven't seen much of a difference in her behavior--maybe I started it too late? I called the vet, but am hesitant to bring her in as she is still eating and drinking normally, and I don't want to scar her further. She seems to be running a low-grade fever from time-to-time so I think I will make her an appointment. If anyone else has any suggestions or similar stories, I would be eternally grateful if you emailed me, I'm at a loss about what to do.

I should note that one of my two other cats--both of them are American shorthairs--was also vaccinated at the same time and her behavior has been normal. Still, I don't think I'll be getting them any more vaccinations in the future--they are all disease free and only go outside when I'm supervising them. It's just not worth the pain and fear it causes them, or the heartbreak it has caused me."

[SIDE EFFECTS]  05/11/2009: Lori from Dothan, Alabama writes: "My pet poodle received his annual rabies shot May 2. I notices the next day that he would only sit or lay, hardly no walking, and by the evening he could not stand up. I took him to the vet May 4, got a steroid shot and he was better. But when I came home on May 5, he hadn't drank water all day or left his bed. I took him to the vet again Wed May 6. He stayed over night and died Thursday May 7.

He was a toy poodle, 3lbs, and happy and healthy, full of life. I wished I had not taken him, but I thought I did the right thing. After reading the web, he had all the signs of adverse reactions.

We miss MAX!!!!"

[SIDE EFFECTS]  05/07/2009: Jenniebcmb from Mount Holly, NJ writes: "I was given a tabby kitten almost 3 years ago this fall. She was born outside, so I wasn't sure what she had come in contact with so she was given rabies, FELV, and distemper; maybe something else, but I cannot remember. She was taken back the next year and received the booster for distemper and 3 yr. rabies. She is due this month for distemper, 3rd year. I have been debating on whether I should take her. When she was given all the shots the first time, I thought she was going to die. She laid in bed with me all night. She could barely move, she was burning up and wouldn't eat or drink. This was all the same day. The next day, she was fine. But the shots made her very ill."

[SIDE EFFECTS]  05/04/2009: Lisa from Buffalo, New York writes: "I have a jack russell terrier (7 yrs old) 11 lbs. She received her rabies shot and they drew blood for heartworm on a Thursday, on Friday she was mopping and her back end was sore. Would not let me touch her, she even snapped at me. She started to vomit. She is not eating and has no energy. Would this be a side effect? What should I do?"

05/03/2009: Clover from Sioux Lookout, Ontario Canada writes: "Side effects of vaccination?

Hi, I have a 3-month old white boxer who has just been transitioned over from Medi-Cal Development to Eagle Pack puppy formula. Yesterday I took him to the vet. Right before we left he had a bowel movement and I noticed there was a bit of diarrhea near the end, which caused me a slight concern. He had his last set of shots for the year (incl. rabies) and since then his bowel movements have been straight diarrhea (not quite 24 hours). I'm not sure if this would be related to the vaccination since he started to experience diarrhea before he got his shot. I'm not sure what to do now! At what point do I choose to take him back to the vet? Thank you!"

[SIDE EFFECTS]  04/30/2009: drjenhawes from Kalispell, MT writes: "Has anyone had success treating hypertrophic osteodystrophy in puppies? It is the technical name for the distemper vaccination reaction that happens in Weimeraner and other breeds of dogs....HELP! My poor puppy CHILI is miserable..."

[SIDE EFFECTS]  04/29/2009: Michelle from Virginia Beach, VA writes: "1 1/2 year old mini long haired daschund had distemper shot. 4 hour later no engery and throwing up. Emergency vet gave benydrl. Two days later still not eating and not feeling well.

My complaint is why the same dosage for 8 lb dog vs 100 lb dog.

Thanks."