The comments below reflect the personal experiences and opinions of readers and do not represent medical advice or the views of this website. The information shared has not been evaluated by the FDA and is not intended to diagnose, treat, or prevent any disease or health condition. Always consult a qualified healthcare professional for medical concerns.
Rabies Vaccine Side Effects
Posted by Lara (Springfield, MO) on 10/22/2008
Dog Epilepsy
I found out from my vet that any kind of pork product can induce seizures, even in dogs that aren't epileptic. I stopped giving my dog ham bones (he used to get a lot) and pork and he has not had near as many seizures. Also, I only give him spring water because tap water has chlorine, which is another seizure trigger.
Another trigger that some people may not think of is exposure to fertilizers, herbicides, and pesticides. Even if you do not use these products in your own yard, your neighbors could be spraying them.
As far as the vaccination issue goes, my dog also had his first seizure about one week after his rabies booster.
Rabies Vaccine Side Effects
Posted by Jean (Newark, Nottionghamshire ENGLAND ) on 10/07/2008
Thanks to your wonderful web site I have now decided to not give my ten year dog any rabies shots . We will have to wait for a trip abroad because we won't go away without him but I at least know the risks to him THANKS TO YOUR WEB SITE.
Rabies Vaccine Side Effects
Posted by Leigh Irvin (Farmington, NM) on 10/07/2008
We had our two cats and dog vaccinated at a rabies clinic three days ago. All animals had the 3-year rabies vaccines (which I didn't previously know existed), and the cats had feline leukemia, panleukopenia, rhinotracheitis, and calicivirus vaccines. The dog also had distemper, parainfluenza, adenovirus 2, parovirus, and bordetella. That evening, all animals seemed rather weak - our dog threw up in the evening. The next day, the older cat (a calico long-haired 10 year old) was limping and acting sick - we figured the vet had hit a nerve when vaccinating her. But she's still acting weak and sick today - no vomiting, but weak and just seems not herself. The other two animals seem to have recovered, but I don't think I'll go for the 3-year vaccine again...I just think it was all too much at one time.
Rabies Vaccine Side Effects
Posted by Barbara (Lighthouse Point, FL USA) on 10/05/2008
My beagle puppy had reactions to every vaccine that was given. It started with a rash, then hair loss and finally seizures after the rabies booster. He has them about once a month. I am working with a holistic vet to try and get them under control. I have put him on a raw diet and supplement his food with Taurine 1000mg 2x a day and 250mg 2x a day of Carnosine, plus herbal drops that the doctor put together. We also use supplements of minerals, probotics and flora enzymes. His seizures are not as violent and seem to be happening less often. It has only been 2 months but I will continue with this protocol and hope to see continued improvement. I will no longer vaccinate him and don't even use a heartworm medication. I am making my own spray for mosquitoes with essential oils.
Rabies Vaccine Side Effects
Posted by Lynn Frye (Carthage, North Carolina) on 10/03/2008
My Schnoodle received his booster rabies vaccine 2 days ago. Several hours after receiving the vaccine I noted he was very lethargic but arousable. He started panting and drooling late in the night and when I tried to pick him up he yelped. He refused to walk or lift his leg.
I took him back to the vet the next morning. She gave him a muscle relaxer that seemed to work some as he was now lifting his leg up to go to the bathroom and would allow me to hold him.
The following morning he is exhibiting the same effects as of the past night. He is not the spunky run around dog and he cries when I try to lift him up. I am on my way back to the vet as she (who is a Banfield Vet) in Petsmart states she will give Austin medications to reduce the inflammation.
Rabies Vaccine Side Effects
Posted by Julie (Nanaimo, British Columbia) on 10/02/2008
My 1 1/2 year old Shiba inu, Tierce, got his 3 yr rabies shot on July 7th, 2008. It was given under the skin between the shoulder blades instead of in the muscle. Within 3-4 days, I was noticing hair missing around his eyes. He scratched them raw. Then it was his chest that he scratched bloody. Then it was his forelegs he chewed hairless. We tried putting him on a raw diet with fatty acid supplements and immune boosters. It didn't make a difference. He is now on a fatty acid pill supplement, antihistamine pills and Cyclosporine, an immunodepressant, which seems to be suppressing his immune response. He hasn't scratched in the last few days and we are hoping that it does the trick.
He is also on Purina Hypoallergenic food - hideous stuff; the first ingredient is starch. STARCH! But the damn dog LOVES it. Not that I blame him - Corn Pops are a nutritionists nightmare, but I'd be happy to eat them every day. However that Purina food makes me gag everytime I feed him.
I just wish there was something else that could help him. I've been looking at thuja, but I am not planning on mixing medications - any natural cures I give him could possibly react with the medication he is on and there isn't enough research done for me to know if its reasonably safe to combine.
Rabies Vaccine Side Effects
Posted by Alina (Monroe , NC) on 09/30/2008
i got my pom. pup when he was 2month , my neighbor told me i have to get him vac. so i did. he got his shot we he was about 4month old got his rabies shot. after i notice a little bump so i thought its ok thats probbly where he got it at now he is 6 month and theres a patch or fur missing on that spot and a bump grew . so i dont know whats wrong with him but i was allways againts shots and still is only did it cuz she state req. it DONT MAKE THE SAME MISTAKE
Rabies Vaccine Side Effects
Posted by Rose (Nashville, TN) on 09/27/2008
At the age of 2 my little 6 pound pure breed white poodle had his first seizure. Then approx every 6m-1yr there fter he would have another. I refused allopathic medications bc I knew in my heart they would only cause more problems. I was reading an article about swelling of the brain in dogs and increased intracranial pressure after receiving rabies vaccine. It appears to only occur in some breeds. I am a primary care provider. I have gotten into huge arguments with vets who insist on giving my little dog a rabies vaccine. I stopped his vaccines in 2004. The seizures stopped completely and he hasn't had another one. His last seizure was about 1 week after his last rabies vaccine. In humans we do not vaccinate every single year. We draw blood to look for antibiodies to insure we are protected. This can be done for our pets too. Please note: most counties will not accept the lab result. I suggest teaming up with a naturalpathic vet who are less likely to pressure you on this subject.
Rabies Vaccine Side Effects
Posted by Paul (Spring Hill, FL.) on 09/27/2008
Adverse reactions to rabies vac: My doc talked me into a 3yr vac for a 15yr. dog. Stupid me. But he did it and 10 hours later my dog lost all control of bowels and was paralized at the hips. Mind you his hip aren't good, but he can't walk now. Have talked to vet. and they say oh nothing wrong, nothing wrong my butt. One day my old man could walk 10 hrs. later after the vac. he could not.
Rabies Vaccine Side Effects
Posted by Carol (Oakdale, Pa) on 09/26/2008
I have 2 Old English Sheepdogs. They are 8 &9 years old and are not vaccinated since puppy shots. My 9 year old had 1 rabies vac. at 3. I took him to a vet for a moaning problem which ended up to be a hernia. Without consulting me, they gave a rabies shot which is the second in his lifetime, however, I was told that he couldn't get surgery without the vaccination. I was appalled. My dogs are raw fed, no heartworm or flea meds., and no vaccinations so he was healthy. Within 3 months, he developed sebaceous cysts all over his body and always wants to sleep. Before the shot he was so active. I got rid of the cysts with Colloidal Silver but because of that shot he is not the same. My other sheepdog has had no shots since puppy and will not get any. I hope this forum is seen by everyone.
Rabies Vaccine Side Effects
Posted by Dianne (Windsor, On Canada) on 09/22/2008
I am writing concerning the rabies vaccine. It has been only a few hours and my 5lb toy poodle was lethargic to the point that I thought he might die, he was cool to touch and cried when I touched him. I will be very reluctant to bring him again for this vaccine. I did call my vet and he was good enough to meet me at the clinic to give him a cortozone shot and a shot of benedryl.
Rabies Vaccine Side Effects
Posted by Barbara (Los Angeles, CA) on 09/07/2008
I have a Coton de Tulear and he had a horrible reaction to a rabies shot. The vet gave him his shot in his back near his neck area. I hear that is odd. He was very lethargic, would not eat, would whimper if we touched him at all, he could not move his neck to the left or right, he was very ill. We took him to the hospital and we discovered that he had a high temp and was dehydrated. After staying over night and blood tests,x-rays, and five days of antibiotics, he is hopefully going to be okay. He still won't eat and is just sleeping a lot right now. I don't know what to do in another 3 years when he is suppose to get his next shot. But we are not going to go through this again!
Replied by Diane
(Flanders, NJ)
04/01/2009
Rabies Vaccine Side Effects
Posted by Joyce (Williamstown, New Jersey) on 09/02/2008
reaction to rabies vaccine: I have a 13 year old pit bull. She was vaccinated about four weeks ago for rabies. About a day and a half later she began exhibiting strange reactions. She was extremely restless. she paced all night. She became nervous around large groups of people and she was having tremors. I relate this all to the vaccine as she was fine before this. I feel terrible that I inflicted this on her.
Rabies Vaccine Side Effects
Posted by Lisa (mesa, AZ) on 09/01/2008
Our 1 and half yr old beagle got his 2nd rabies vaccine 2 months ago, and had a severe reaction which caused a large mass at the injection site and almost killed him. Now he is suffering from severe Anemia, with no identifiable cause. He has been on several meds for 4 weeks, with no improvement..And I fear or sweet little pup is going to die as aresult of the vaccine....Any helpful info would be greatly appreciated..
We are in AZ....
Rabies Vaccine Side Effects
Posted by Kelly (Atlanta, GA) on 08/26/2008
I had my ten-year old terrier mixed breed vaccinated against rabies and within 24 hours she suffered hind-end paralysis, unable to stand or support her own weight. Because she is older and had a chronic disease (liver failure), we chose not to have her vaccinated against parvo/distemper but did go ahead with the rabies. I almost had her put down as I believed it to be end-stage liver failure. Thank goodness the home euthanasia vet was unavailable as 36 hours later she showed some signs of improvement but still had hind-end weakness. After much research and talking to specialist from the University of Georgia Vet Hospital, the recommendation is not to do vaccinations on dogs that are chronically ill or older. There are cases were the paralysis persists and the animal has to be put to sleep. Don't go through what I did. If you have an older pet or one that is chronically ill or immunocompromised, forego the vaccinations.
Replied by Leanne
(Kamloops, BC Canada)
11/27/2008
(19) 
