VACCINATION READER FEEDBACK

[SIDE EFFECTS]  03/06/2009: Anna from Gilbert, Arizona writes: "Hello My name is Anna!

this morning on march 6th at 8am i took my 6 month old bichon frise for his rabies shot and two other booster shots. the clinic didn't tell me that there may be side effects!! he was fine when i brought him home. but just 30 minutes later he is crying, lipping, and not moving!! i called the clinic and they told me that is normal!!

i never seen my dog acting this way. i am worried so i made another vet appointment for later this afternoon to get a second thought. he isn't drinking or eating. just laying on the bathroom floor. i will keep you inform.."

[SIDE EFFECTS]  03/01/2009: Erin from Omaha, Nebraska writes: "My cat Romeo got a three year Rabies shot about three weeks ago. He was okay at first, a little tired but still acting fine. Then two weeks later he began to be very lethargic, sleeps much more than usual, and seems weak. He rarely wants to play anymore. He barely eats or drinks anything and hasn't had a BM in over a week (He usually only goes once every 3 days because of his special food he's on). Also, when he sleeps he gets what looks like muscle spasms all over his whole body. I have called the vet and they insist it could not be from the vaccine. I am taking him to the vet again tomorrow. He still seems happy (i.e. purring and wanting to be held) but just isn't himself. Any advice??"

[SIDE EFFECTS]  02/27/2009: Vicki from Yuma, AZ writes: "I took in two stray kitties in 2005 and they have been in for spaying and shots as needed since then. One of them, Annie is 8 pounds and Buffy is 12 pounds. Over the past 2 years when they got their shots Annie has suffered terribly. She cries, licks, runs around frantically, won't let me near her and is just miserable for about 2 days whereas Buffy is fine. I asked the Vet about it after the first bad reaction as I was worried Annie got too much medicine or something and the Vet told me the medicine was premeasured so each cat got the same amount regardless of their weight which I thought was strange. Anyway, my girls are due for their yearly shots soon plus their rabies also and I am leaning towards not having Annie get any shots at all which I hate to do since she is an inside/outside cat as I also have 2 rescued dogs and a doggy door, but I don't want to put Annie at risk for the adverse reaction to the shots.... I am SO confused as to what to do. I love my furry kidz so much and I want to do what is best for them but I'm not sure what IS best for them.....Any help out there?? Vicki"

[SIDE EFFECTS]  02/19/2009: Monica from Whittier, CA writes: "My 6 month old Bengal kitty received her booster vaccination yesterday along with a leukemia shot. She is a very active and playful kitten and was fine when we came home yesterday. This morning she awoke very lethargic and obviously in pain. She cried out when I picked her up even hissing, which she has never done before. She's just sitting on my bed looking at me with sad eyes. Any advice would be helpful."

[SIDE EFFECTS]  02/18/2009: Julie from London, United Kingdom writes: "My little pug puppy got the following vaccinations this morning: 'distemper, hepatitis, parvovirus, parainfluenza, leptospirosis'. She has not been eating all day, is normally very active but have been sleeping all day, and vomited twice."

[SIDE EFFECTS]  02/17/2009: Mari from Madison, WI writes: "On December 5, 2009, I took my perfectly healthy, 7 1/2 year old calico kitty, Margo, to the vet for her annual 'wellness visit.' Arbor Ridge gave her rabies and distemper vaccine. A few days later I noticed she squeaked and cried out if I tried to pick her up. I took her back to the same vet (big mistake) and he diagnosed Margo with some sort of back injury, perhaps from jumping off a high object, he said. She is an indoor cat and had never been sick even one day in her life up until then. He then sent me home with Medicam to give her. It worked until it wore off and then I read about the lethal side effects. I returned to him when Margo didn't improve. He again encouraged me to give her Medicam. He also sent me home with Tramedol, a pain reliever. I then tried a so-called natural vet who took many tests, barium, x-rays, consultations, etc. costing me alot of money. They determined Margo was not passing urine and stool. They gave her an enema and expressed her bladder (very painfulf or her.) This vet also recommended Medicam which surprised me and then referred Margo to the UW School of Veterinary Mecicine for further tests. They ran many tests and couldn't locate a reason for her pain when handled. They gave me Lactulose and some capsules to shove down her throat which was terrible for both of us. They gave her so many drugs that it is a miracle she has survived.

I finally consulted with a reputable pet communicator who asked me if Margo had had any vaccinations lately. I said she had, indeed, had shots right before all this happened.

She then went on to say that the needle had hit a nerve making it painful for Margo to squat and suggested an acupuncturist. I took her advice and the acupuncturist also gave Margo a chiropractic adjustment. She recommended TRAUMEEL (a safe, natural anti-inflammatory supplement)and THUJA (used for bladder irritation) to ease Margo's discomfort. I am also giving her prune juice each day. The veterinarian at the UW Vet school wanted me to keep Margo on the Lactulose and said 'We don't know the effects of prune juice." Interesting! They also sent me home with antibiotics to start giving Margo several days before the tests for any infection that would call for them, were back from the lab. She was hospitalized there for two days because they wanted to do a cat scan and an MRI but the neurologist upon examining Margo, said she didn't feel that was necessary. They had given Margo a form of morphine when she stayed there in the ICU unit. She was given a phentanol patch to relieve pain which didn't work one bit. She is urinating and deficating but still is sensitive to being picked up. She was just fine before those vaccines!! The vet, of course, is taking no responsibility and the others who examined and over medicated Margo are being quite evasive about the reasons for her predicament even though I had told them over and over that Margo had been perfectly healthy before that 'wellness visit.' I guess that is all part of the "Code of Cover-up."If anyone has any other suggestions please write.

Mari"

[SIDE EFFECTS]  02/17/2009: Sherry from Longview, Washington writes: "Our Female scottie named Maggie got very ill after receiving her rabies shot. The vet wrote a note saying Maggie needs to be exempt from any future rabies shots. Maggie is now 7 and doing fine."

[SIDE EFFECTS]  02/13/2009: Kelly from Fort Benning, Georgia writes: "dog dental vaccince side effects: I took my 3 yr old Maltese into the vet to have her teeth cleaned.She is only 4 pounds! The vet told me about the new dental vaccine that they have been reccomending to smaller breed dogs. I told them to go ahead and give her the shot while she was under. When I went to pick her up she seemed ok until they set her down and I tried to pick her up. She cried out in pain and then started to whimper. I set her back down and she was just pitiful! There was a large knot where the shot went in but I was told this is normal. She couldn't move for the first 24 hours at all. Not to eat, drink, or use her pee pad. We are now going into day three and she can still hardly move. If you try to pet her from mid back down she cries out then will whimper for hours after. If anyone has any ideas, I would love to hear them. "

[SIDE EFFECTS]  02/11/2009: Dianna from Bailey, Virginia writes: "My cats received rabies vaccine several years ago. She had a severe reaction with swelling, hives, and not wanting to move. I had her to emergency three times to receive benedral, and steroids, to help her recover. I almost lost her. Since then I have been hesitant to get the vaccines. The last time she got it, they had to keep her overnight and give in very small doses along with several other medicines to try and help her not to have reactions to it. The vet's office said they have to do this with several of their pet patients, because of reactions. I've been hesitant to get my pets vaccinated. They are totally INDOOR cats but the vet's office insists that ITS THE LAW in VA. Apparently vets aren't allowed to treat pets for sickness, etc. unless they are up on their rabies shots in Virginia. I am highly concerned. Why should pets that are allergic be put through this trauma? (especially after reading it can cause complications after the shots years later). How can this law be changed?"

[SIDE EFFECTS]  02/09/2009: Marybeth from Coopersburg, Pa writes: "My cat was vaccinated for Rabies a few days ago. He has been limping on his left front leg and lethargic ever since. He was a perfectly happy, healthy cat before his vaccine. There is no sign of a break, no swelling, and no fever. However, he is miserable."

[SIDE EFFECTS]  02/09/2009: Deniece from Middletown, NY writes: "my 10 year old female pomeranian had her rabies shot yesterday. Today she is lifeless and has just layed around with no energy. Her leg is extremely sore to the point she can not walk up or down the stairs. I am not used to seeing her like this. She jumps and spins in circles when I get home and today, she just layed there and looked up at me with very sad eyes. That is what made me start to do research on the vacine and I found this site. I hope she starts to feel better soon. Please keep me posted with any results you may find regarding this vaccine."

[SIDE EFFECTS]  02/08/2009: lori from Castlegar, B.C. writes: "Sickness after shots: This is just to ask what is happening to my kitten. He is 6 months old. I had his first booster shots done 5 days ago and he has not been "right" since,. He is listless, unhappy, has a tiny mew, meows loudy before he vomits, which he didn't vomit before, sits with a sad look on his face... a distant look in his eyes. He has not eaten in two days and seems to be interested when I ask him but he won't eat it. I thought maybe the food was "off" a bit.. so opened another can... but no way. He didn't even want to have his "cookies" which I purchase from my vet. He is a ragdoll, lynx points cross and has come from a reputable breeder in our area. Thank you"

[SIDE EFFECTS]  02/07/2009: Boryana from Prague, Czech Republic writes: "Side effects of rabies vaccine: I have a six and a half month old female beagle who was vaccinated against rabies three weeks ago. Since then she has constant health issues. First, she lost appetite and developed kennel cough. The vet treated the kennel cough with a medicine called Metacam (used in Europe, the Czech Republic), which caused terrible diarrhea that goes on for more than two weeks now. On top of everything else, one day ago, my beagle could not hold her urine and had very frequent leaks, obviously not accidents because she was surprised herself. Basically, because of this vaccination I have turned my healthy cheerful dog into one very sick dog. And all this, because I wanted to travel with her.

The rabies vaccine she was given is Nobivac Rabies A034B01."

[SIDE EFFECTS]  02/05/2009: Debbie from Surrey, BC, Canada writes: "i have a poodle/havenesse mix and 8 months ago i took him in for his booster, and that will be the last time i do that, we thought we were going to lose him. i wont do it. he is 6 years old and there is alot of contervsory over vaccines and how often it is needed. we as humans only get one, not every year so why in animals,, is to make the vets richer? we must remember that it is a business."

[SIDE EFFECTS]  02/04/2009: Alicia from Burley, Idaho writes: "We have a 4 1/2 year old miniature roughcoat chihuahua. We took her to the vet yesterday morning for her rabies shot. We picked her up from the vet last night. When we got her home, she wouldn't eat or drink. She seemed very tired, and although I was concerned at the time, I assumed she had been awake most the day at the vet and had eaten and drank plenty there. This morning when I got up to let her out, she wouldn't get up without help. She could hardly walk, she wouldn't eat, drink, go outside without help, she couldn't walk the steps and had to be picked up and carried down and then back up. After she pottied, she just sat down and wouldn't walk to come back into the house. I had to pick her up and carry her. I took her back into the vet insisting she had reacted to the shot, and he concurred with that. He gave her an anti serum, and is keeping her to observe her throughout the day. He will let us know at the end of the day if she is well enough to go home. I do not immunize my children and I have always been reluctant to immunize my dogs for the very same reasons...now my concerns have been confirmed! This is the last vaccination she will ever get, if she lives, as I am now researching pet shots as I should have researched BEFORE shots! I feel it's a no brainer that the shots can have the same effects on animals because they contain the same toxic ingredients!! K, now I have vented my personal feelings and opinion! I sure hope she survives this reaction!!"

[SIDE EFFECTS]  02/03/2009: Kim from Gadsden, AL writes: "My 3 year old Chihuahua had an allergic reaction when he received his first rabies shot. Since then when he gets his booster each year he is given an antihistamine before receiving the shots. This year he started having a reaction 3 days after he had received the vaccines and the vet said it was probably after the antihistamine had worn off. I took him back for another shot of antihistamine and have given him childrens benadryl for about a week now. He still is not acting like himself and has been aggressive towards our other chihuahua. He just mopes around and acts as if he's in a daze most of the time. I'm about to the point of deciding not to have him vaccinated again in the future. He stays in doors, and is never around other animals besides our other dog who has never had any problems with his vaccines."

[SIDE EFFECTS]  02/02/2009: Boaz from Tampa, FL writes: "Normal side effects? I have an adorable 4 year old 1 pound female Shitzu name Tosh,she got her annual shots as well as rabies shot this past Sunday, ever since then (almost 2 days) she has been laying there not moving, she would not eat or drink or move by herself. Her body in aching because whenever I try to pick her up she would cry. The vet told me this is normal and to give her baby aspirin every 8 hours... this morning she started to breath heavily, not sure what to do, I paged my vet and waiting for a call back... was wondering if anyone experience similar issues with their pets. I might just take her in to be checked just in case... thanks in advance for any reply!"

[SIDE EFFECTS]  02/02/2009: Janet from Holliday, Texas writes: "I took my 5 year old pekingese in for her annual vacination booster which included her rabies and canine 7 way. After receiving her shots on that Friday, she vomited and was unable to walk. She also had a moderate fever. After contacting her vet for a weekend emergency consultation, her vet advised to simply give her an asprine a day until she was better. It took her over five days until she was able to walk and over two weeks for her to walk without falling over. This was a terrifying experience as I was unsure if she was going to pull through or not. Although her vet advised this was a common reaction, I disagree and I am uncertain of having her receive the boosters next year.

I am concerned if it was a problem with the vaccines or in how they were administered.

I did note that the vet used the exact same injection site and gave the injections back to back. Allowing the vacines to be contained together under the skin. I am not sure if this made any difference but it did concern me at the time of being too hurried."

[SIDE EFFECTS]  02/01/2009: BB from K.L, Malaysia writes: "I own 2 e.bulldogs which they are very happy and healthy all the while till the day i send them to take their vaccination shot. The female is 14mths old and after the vaccination she has seizure and till now im still controlling the and she is more easily allergy to foods. The male which is about 3.5 yrs old only had his vaccination at his puppy hood so im thinking to give him a shot as i was told many dogs around my area has parvo but now he is more allergic to food even the same thing he takes daily. He is the best e.bulldog even if he has allergy it will take only 1 pill to clear it off but now i have to give allergy pill plus antibiotics and go on for about 1 week anly i could see the result. I will never give my dogs yearly shot"

[SIDE EFFECTS]  01/25/2009: Danielle from Auburn, MA writes: "My cat had a rabies and FVRCP vaccination 0n 1/23/09. The next day he was lethargic, not eating, but is drinking, walking slowly and with some difficulty. He is 12 years old. I believe the rabies vaccine makes him ill. He is an outdoor cat so I believe the risk outweighs the possibility of the disease. This is not the first time he has been ill after a vaccination. However, he seems very ill this time. I will watch him closely for the next couple of days before calling the vet."

01/21/2009: Mary from Salem, OR writes: "Do you know someone in the Portland, Oregon area who does homeopathic vaccinations?"

[SIDE EFFECTS]  01/19/2009: Walter from Bethesda, Maryland writes: "On Saturday, 1/17/2009, we took our 15-month old ragdoll cat for her annual rabies booster shot. (Rabies virus vaccine (type: killed), producer Fort Dodge, Lot# 873171A). Approximately 45 minutes later she began vomiting. Within the next hour she had vomited 4-5 times and had several bowel movements, which appeared normal. She became lethargic. An hour later she had a few sips of water. Within 30 minutes she began vomiting and moaning. She used the litter box again, only this time she passed blood and mucus. We phoned the vet at the 24-hour clinic who said this was normal (!) and that we didn't have to bring her in unless the symptoms continued and/or we wanted to. We decided to wait another day. The next day she remained lethargic and refused to eat or drink. It is now about 60 hours after the vaccination. Since she refuses to go near her feeding bowl, we've brought the water bowl to her and she will take 1-2 sips. She is not quite so lethargic and is walking around, but clearly is not fully recovered."

[SIDE EFFECTS]  01/14/2009: Cara from Santa Monica, California writes: "My kitty Elmo is seven years old and like a dutiful mother I vaccinated him yearly until the fateful day after his sixth year of the shots he went into a breathing/asthma attack, spit dripping from his mouth, an actual moan from his lips, and when I went to pick him up he went limp. We rushed him to the emergency room, 1000 dollars later they tell me he had an "allergy" attack and tried to claim that the shots had nothing to do with it. yeah, right. Had I not been witness we probably would have lost him. So needless to say I started checking into this and do not plan to vaccinate him every year. Thank God for this site, for all of you angels, for Ted, and for our higher power. xoxo Cara"