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 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.
Rabies Vaccine Side Effects
Posted by Lisa (Wichita falls, US) on 08/25/2008
I have pets and I do not do the rabies shot. One of my cats got sick for a week and did not eat or drink anything. He is great now. I have a small dog and I have not given him a rabies shot since he was a puppy. He is now almost 10 years old and doing great! My cats are inside cats so I do not give any of them the rabies shot or my dog. I think that all the shots that are given to pets over and over is doing nothing more than ending their lives too soon. Thank you!
Rabies Vaccine Side Effects
Posted by Cynthia (Mandeville, Louisiana) on 08/16/2008
I would recommend doing a websearch with "vaccinosis". My dogs recently had rabie shots and it nearly killed one of them! I am using a homeopathic vet out of Arizona who is terrific. We put him on a homeopathic remedy and he is doing terrific! Another thing I did was to add ACV mixed with raw honey to his food. The change in this dog is amazing! All the best re your little companion.
Rabies Vaccine Side Effects
Posted by Joyce (Joelton, Tn) on 08/15/2008 490 posts
Hi Jackie, Don't know if it would help, but if Dr. Simoncini (Dr. Mercola site) is right, you might try mixing a strong baking soda & water solution and applying it several times a day to your Boo's fibrosarcoma at the rabies injection site. It certainly shouldn't hurt Boo. Be sure and let us all know (via EC) if it works.
Rabies Vaccine Side Effects
Posted by Jackie (San Antonio, TX) on 08/14/2008
Feline Vaccine Associated Fibrosarcoma:
I want to report that my 6-year old feline, Boo, has developed a fibrosarcoma at the shoulder where she was injected with rabies vaccine (Fort Dodge) in March of this year. I know there is no remedy or cure. I just pray that the manufacturers make improvements in the preparation of this vaccine and that vets educate themselves and their pet owners on the risks/preventive measures associated with its administeration. So much is at stake for our beloved pets subject to this required vaccination.
Rabies Vaccine Side Effects
Posted by Nicole (Richards Bay, South Africa) on 08/10/2008
I have a 4 year old Daschund, which I adopted a year ago form the SPCA. He received his first rabies vaccine on the 25 July 2007 almost 4 weeks later he started with the symptoms of a slip disc in his neck (he could not move his neck from left to right and was limping badly on his front right leg, yet there appeared to be no pain in the leg just severe pain in the neck), he was referred form his normal vet to a specialist and more than 30 X-rays later they wanted to operate but could not find the exact location of the slip disc they then wanted to do a CAT scan which I could not afford to do. I decided to try a different vet which a friend had recommended to me. The last vet that I went to gave my dog a quarterzone injection which cleared the symptoms within a week (with allot of rest). I had had no problems with the slip disc or joint pain at all for the past year until 4 weeks ago he went for another rabies shot (Schering-Plough Rabisin) and in this past week the exact same symptoms have started again. I don't know for sure but i assume it is due to the rabies injection.
Rabies Vaccine Side Effects
Posted by Lynda (Merrimack, NH, USA) on 06/30/2008
I have a nice year old border collie who received the rabies vaccine three years ago. Four weeks later she was throwing up yellow bile, her eyes had blood spots, she became lethargic. I took her to the vet and they said she had Thrombocytopenia and she required a transfusion. I was not sure I could afford the 4-5 K to have this done on an emergency basis and called my husband to discuss. He said that he didn't think we could afford it, as they said she might not make it anyhow. After not agreeing to do this I wanted to take her home so she could be comfortable, the other option presented to us that she might have ingested some toxins and we could treat with Doxycline and vitamin K....we opted to treat her with oral medication. Within two days she was her old self again, her eye cleared up, her appetite came back. She finished the medication and didn't have any problems.
She was due this year for her Rabies Vaccine again, my husband took her a little over a month ago, she began throwing up yellow bile, and a huge amount of blood, her eyes are red again, she is very lethargic, eating only small amounts and has to be carried downstairs to go out to do her business. We took her to a different vet and again her platelet count is down, she now has some doxycycline and some steroids. I have give her the medication an hour ago and hopefully she will make another miraculous recovery.
I will never ever give her another vaccine, this stuff is dangerous.
Rabies Vaccine Side Effects
Posted by Joann (Dracut, MA) on 06/16/2008
just to let everyone know my dog died from his rabies vaccine not even 12 hours after i got him home. check out this link and see if for yourself on chnl 5 boston.
www.thebostonchannel.com/mostpopular/16410586/detail.html
I rushed him back to the vets and they told me he had an upset stomach bring him home and he will be fine getting him home he died 45 min later in my arms.
Rabies Vaccine Side Effects
Posted by Joyce (Joelton, Tn) on 06/10/2008 490 posts
I have read that the rabies shot actually protects against rabies for 2 - 3 years. Maybe the tack you need to take is to ask your county politicians if they would consider selling that dog/cat license for the same period of time instead of yearly, because they are definitely not likely to give up this source of (Hidden Tax) revenue coming in!
Rabies Vaccine Side Effects
Posted by Pam (Norwalk, CT USA) on 06/09/2008
I am so sorry for your loss. (And for the others that have posted similar devastating losses.) We too have a beautiful black lab and I thank God I read your post, because it opened my eyes to this terrible problem of over vaccination. Thank you and I am sure you have helped many people with this information.
Rabies Vaccine Side Effects
Posted by Lynda (Goodyear, Arizona) on 06/07/2008
We lost our beautiful Black Lab (Sadie) after getting her rabies shot. It's been 10 days since we had to put her to sleep and we are hurting so much. She was so anemic and weak. We all need to call the Dept. of Agriculture for Veterinary Biologics (515)232-5785 and insist that our pets get Titer Tested before given anymore shots. They are over vaccinating our pets! People get Tetnus Shots every 10 years. Why do our animals need rabies shots every 3 years? I am so full of Guilt for letting her get this shot. I can not sleep in the bedroom because she slept next to the bed and now her spot is empty.
Rabies Vaccine Side Effects
Posted by Stella (OH) on 06/07/2008
Ugg I am so disgusted with these vets, they know damn well what they are doing. It's not possible to be a veterinarian and NOT know the truth about what these vaccines are doing. How Stupid of them to lose our trust. You would think in a bad economy especially that they would want to keep our business. I'll tell you one thing for sure they lost mine a long time ago when they vaccinated my cat without my consent. My cat was healthy for 11 yrs without any vaccinations and without any Vets. I took her to a vet at 11 yrs old and they vaccinated her and it's been all down hill from there. If they thought they were pulling a fast one on me by causing my cat to need long term veterinary care they were sure wrong. I Now Take Care of her myself and with a promise that for the remainder of her life no matter how short or long that may be it will be spent in the BEST CARE in the comfort of her own home and she will NEVER have to be in the presence of those monsters again!!!! (I never planned to be a vet but, hey I will learn whatever it freakin' takes to care for my animals myself, I am the only person who can be trusted to do so) It's a damn Shame!!!!
P.S. This is what can happen if you go to an emergency clinic in Ohio or in any state or country for that matter. It is sick. I am telling everyone Do your homework as best as you can before hand in case you do ever need to go to a vet. To think I went to this emergency clinic once.
Rabies Vaccine Side Effects
Posted by Linda J (Egg Harbor Township, NJ USA) on 06/07/2008
I brought my cat to a vet I had never used before. My wish was that she not be given a rabies booster shot because she was failing. The vet gave her one anyway. When I questioned why, she said it was "the law." Five days later, she died an agonizing death. I am a nurse. She had all the symtoms of active rabies, including being repulsed by water given by syringe. Read my blog
http://lindajosevert.blogspot.com/
Rabies Vaccine Side Effects
Posted by Bret (Phoenix, Arizona) on 06/05/2008
Yes, this is quite normal. Many vaccines cause immune response, (that's why we give them.) Should not be a problem. Yet, there is a very small chance that the needle site gets infected. The thickened mass will take a few days to appear and will usually progress to look just like an infection. If the swelling occurred within 24 hours of the injection,....it's quite typical. Bret
Rabies Vaccine Side Effects
Posted by Aileen (Pittsburg, California) on 06/04/2008
My 1 year old Chihuahua/MinPin (who is about 5-7 lbs) received his rabies vaccinations on 5/25/08. He has a big kind of hard lump on his back now. I called and they said to wait 2 months and it will go away.
Rabies Vaccine Side Effects
Posted by Cherri (Henderson, Ky) on 05/17/2008
I took my 18 year old cat to the vet to be boarded up for 3 days. I did not ask for her to receive a rabies shot. She stays indoors always. They gave her a rabies shot. Before we took her there, she was eating 2 cans of soft cat food (Fancy Feast) a day and now I am lucky if she will eat 1/2 can a day. She walks around like a zombie now and her walking is horrible. A totally different cat since she had the rabies shot.
Rabies Vaccine Side Effects
Posted by Cesar Montoya (Los Angeles, California) on 05/11/2008
My dog Ronnie, a Dachshund, fell ill after receiving the rabies vaccination. He started shaking and was very sore at and around the injection spot. We tried a small amount of baby Tylenol,it stopped the chills, but the the soreness.
Rabies Vaccine Side Effects
Posted by Cathy (Richmond, Va) on 05/04/2008
On Wednesday both of my dogs, Pitt Bulls, got their rabies vaccinations. One is fine, so far. However the other one died last night, Saturday. After her shot she became very lethargic and would not eat. By Saturday she did not have the strength to stand on her own, her gums, tounge, and nipples where white from being anemic, and her skin started to turn yellow. Her breathing was also very labored. After being admitted to the vets office and being givin IV's and some other treatments, she had a bloody urine and what the Vets thought was a seizure. At that time they decided that it would be best to put her to sleep. Me and my family are very devastated and are wondering if there is anything we can do.
Rabies Vaccine Side Effects
Posted by Telyaka (Katy, Texas) on 04/27/2008
On the 4/25/2008 my rott weiler received a rabies shot after the shot he started making a funny noise like a gasp for air. Now his hair is sheding really bad and he is not himself. I need to know how to reverse the side affects because i do not want my dog to die. I just got him back from the Harris County Pet Shelter because he ran away from home and they told me it was mandatory for him to receive a rabie shot. He is 3 years old and my dog has never been sick... I need to know what to do.
Rabies Vaccine Side Effects
Posted by Sandy (Union, KY) on 04/22/2008
My kitten Cornish Rex at 6 months had his first rabies shot (3 year) and developed a 1 1/2" lump on his upper rear right thigh. I was horrified. It took 8 weeks for it to go away. He also received the 3 in 1 vax at the same time. It caused all kinds of problems with foods i.e. diarrhea. I finally went with raw feeding and that has worked within limitations.
