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 Missi (Colorado Springs, CO) on 04/21/2008
At 6 months of age my rhodesian ridgeback, now 20 months, received his rabies vaccination (Pfizer). One month later he developed bleeding ulcers on his ear tips. He has finally been diagnosed with small vessel vasculitis caused by the rabies vaccine. His ears have not been without an ulcer for the last year. At 12 weeks, my boxer got his parvo vaccine. He has a congenital birth defect of his eye, which caused a pinpoint cataract. Within 12 hours of the parvo vaccine, his eye became very inflamed, completely dilated and could see that the cataract covered the entire lens. He has been on medication to keep the eye comfortable since this time (3 years). My 12 y/o bulldog presumably has rheumatoid arthritis from her first 5 years of being vaccinated. THis cannot be confirmed to be caused by vaccines though.
Rabies Vaccine Side Effects
Posted by Silvia (Tempe, AZ) on 04/20/2008
My nine year old American Hairless Terrier began going into shock about 7 hours after getting her rabies booster (Ft. Dodge vaccine). Her face and neck began to swell, her breathing became difficult and I had to take off her collar so she could breath due to the swelling. We rushed her to the emergency vet (of course it was after hours by then) to get cortisone and steroid to treat the shock. After about 20 minutes she could breath better and within an hour you could almost recognize her face again.
Rabies Vaccine Side Effects
Posted by Jill (Anoka, Minnesota) on 04/20/2008
I just got my 3 year old tabby her yearly rabies vaccine. She hasn't stopped throwing up since she got home at 2:00pm. It's now 8:00pm and she is sill throwing up. She won't eat and the one time she got a drink of water she threw it up. She cries and cries, hiding behind furniture. My younger cat is as concerned as I am. I questioned even getting her the vaccine because she never goes outside(neither cat goes outside). I didn't give her the distemper/respiratory 3-way because I didn't think it was necessary. I'm glad I didn't. I'm hoping with some rest she will get better.
Rabies Vaccine Side Effects
Posted by Jennifer (Wantagh, NY) on 04/19/2008
Hi, My 4lb. Chihuahua Sprite reacted to Vacc.. I think the Rabies. He is now 8yrs old.. but when he was younger I noticed hard tissue under his skin where shot was given. At first I didn't relate the shots.. I was worried he had a tumor.. so took him to the vet and they actually told me they needed to remove the "mass" to biopsy it. So he had surgery.. well after surgery the mass was found to not be cancer, but only told it was inconclusive to what it was. Then another time given shots he developed the hard tissue again and has permenant hairloss too (at exact shot location). So after this I knew it was from the shots.. this past year I got the basic shot (against parvo, kennel cough & distemper), but no Lepto & Rabies. Which this time he has not developed any hard tissue or hairloss. So scary with these little ones.. and now my friends 5lb Chihuahau CoCo got her shots a few days ago and seems to be having a reaction.. wheezing and tired. I hope she'll be ok!
Replied by Roxana
(Braidwood, Il)
04/09/2009
Rabies Vaccine Side Effects
Posted by Teri (Sparrowbush, NY) on 04/13/2008
I have seen several vaccine reactions in my welsh springer spaniels. One developed fear of people and insecurity after her rabies vaccine at 12 weeks of age. Another had several grand mal seizures within hours of getting her second rabies vaccines. I have noticed in my litters that some of the puppies will chew on themselves for several days after being given DHPP. Another pup was given a distemper vaccine by the owner and the following day a veterinian gave this pups a DHLPP, Lymes and Rabies, within 2 days this dog was biting at nonexistent flies and barking nonstop. Another of my puppy buyers dogs died the day after getting his yearly boosters. The day the vet examed this dog he said he was in excellent health.
Needless to say I no longer let my dogs be vaccinated.
Rabies Vaccine Side Effects
Posted by Lori (Rockford, Illinois) on 03/19/2008
my dog got his rabies shots last week, and now, a week later, he is nauseous, vomiting, he isnt eating, or drinking water, he has a fever, and seems very fatigued. I seem to remember him having this same problem last year about this same time, but I didnt put two and two together until this year. He is 9 years old. He is half Chiuaua and half pomeranian. He also develops skin problems every year about this time as well. severe Itchy skin, redness, he pulls his own hair out.
Rabies Vaccine Side Effects
Posted by Sherry (Hanover Park, IL) on 03/18/2008
I just took my 3 yr old Papillion into the Vet because her hair is falling out and there is a quarter size scaly bald spot on her hind quarter. The Vet says this is a reaction to the rabies vaccination because it disrupts the blood flow to hair. She is on a Rx and Vit E. Two pills a day for three months. Should I take her to another Vet?
Rabies Vaccine Side Effects
Posted by Tom (Tampa, Florida) on 03/16/2008
We have a 3 year old Silky Terrier. We took him to the vet for his annual rabies shot. The Vet suggested the 3 year shot,so we did it. The next day our dog started out limping and got worse to where he could not walk. The question I have.Is this a side effect from the shot? We called the vet and he said no. My wife has taken him to a different vet for a different opinion, and I am home a nervous wreck!
Rabies Vaccine Side Effects
Posted by Jake (Nashville, TN) on 03/09/2008
Yorshire Terrier/Rabbies Shot. My puppy had a rabies shot 3 days ago. It was Serum Imrab 3 18070D 28dec08.. She has been throwing up all night and also has diahrea. Could these symptoms be normal? 3 days later?
Rabies Vaccine Side Effects
Posted by Tonya (King, NC) on 02/26/2008
My Miniature Schnauzer had her first three year rabies shot on Saturday this past week, upon arriving home she vomited and they layed down. She wouldn't come when I called her so I called the vet they said I should bring her back. Upon arriving at the vet they gave her a shot of steroids and a fluid shot and sent her home with pain pills. Upon arriving home the second time we took her out to do her business and on her way back in she was scratching (which was not normal for her), when she came in we noticed quarter sized bumps all down her back and she was still inching. We called the vet back and he wanted to see her again. Upon arrival he said it was a reaction to the shot, proceeded to give her another steroid shot, benedryl shot and fluid shot then sent her home with prednazone. She is still currently on the prednazone for about four more days. She still not 100% but hopefully when we complete the treatment she'll feel better.
Replied by Melanie
(King, NC)
04/08/2009
Rabies Vaccine Side Effects
Posted by Stella (Cleveland, Ohio) on 02/24/2008
My cat had never been ill for the first 11 years of her life she has always been an inside cat and I never saw a need for vaccinations. Then one day she came down with a bacterial/urinary infection I had to take her to the vet they gave her antibiotics and also suggested that I have her teeth cleaned. When her infection was cleared up I took her in to have her teeth cleaned they also pulled a few teeth. When I went to pick her up the vet informed me that she gave her a rabies shot. I was very upset because she did it without my consent and I would have never agreed to it. She is 14 yrs old now and has Not been healthy since. For the past three years we have been struggling with bacterial infections, she has been on many antibiotics and was diagnosed with kidney failure last year. I have been giving her Sub Q fluids at home two times a week and she is on an antibiotic maintenance program. We have spent so much money on vet bills. She is strong willed and is hanging in there but it breaks my heart that she has had to go through so many issues. I am absolutely convinced that it was the rabies shot that taxed her kidneys. I have spent many sleepless nights sad & angry. I don't know what the answer is but I hate that rabies shots are a law, I wish someone would come up with a better option.
Rabies Vaccine Side Effects
Posted by tracy (bossier city, la) on 02/18/2008
i have a 7 year old pug who has not had a rabbies shot in 3 years because of the severe reactions he has had to it, he gets very bad hives, as well as swelling in the throat and face, he seems to get dizzy and can not walk straight, how ever i am going to the vet tomarrow to get him updated on the shot because i am being forced to by law, i love to take him to the groomers and have him shaved and bathed and have his nails clipped but i can not find a place to do this anymore unless i can bring in proof of the vac. i am so scared for him and angry at the same time, i even told the groomers that he could not take the rabies shot and they started treating my dog like he must have had it,i will take all the procautions and have him watched heavley for several hours after but i am scared to death.
Rabies Vaccine Side Effects
Posted by Rhonda (Glendale, Arizona) on 02/09/2008
My nine year old Shin Tzu had the rabies shot yesterday, and today is shackey and he doesn't even want to lay down. He has alot of anxiety too! I think the shot is affecting him more since he's older. I do remember his hip and leg being sore before with the shot. Now I'm worried that maybe if there is arthitis that could be to much for him. I just think the symptons seem to be extreme and there just has to be a better alternative.
Rabies Vaccine Side Effects
Posted by Roxanne (Minneapolis, MN) on 02/09/2008
I think I have tied my 18 month old Whippet's poor behavior and psychosis to the rabies vaccine.
She got her first rabies shot at 7 months of age, which was December 2006. About a week after, she started acting up in the crate, the current buzz word "separation anxiety" was used. She drooled, so much so that her bedding was drenched. She chewed the crate. She stopped eating and I had to stuff her or she was literally starving herself to death. This went on until I couldn't take anymore and I sent her back with her breeder for a month.
I got her back, and all the problems were gone. I thought a month at "boot camp" which was basically crated most of the time, did the trick. We were good from April 07 until January '08.
She got her 3 year rabies shot on 1/26. A week later, to the day, the same drooling behavior returned along with the refusal to eat. Nothing in my routine has changed, nothing has changed with the 2 older Whippets. No new crates, schedules, etc. I really was thinking the dog was looney toons and needed a "single dog home" I looked at my records and it popped out at me that these episodes have coincided with the rabies shot. The added behavior this time around is aggression toward the older dogs, which has earned this dog a few battle scars.
I called my vet and asked about this and of course they basically told me I was stupid, that no way would a rabies reaction take over a week, and it wouldn't be psychological. I was told to take my dog to a behaviorist or to get some "diffusing rods" of a certain scent to calm her. I don't buy it. Rabies is a STRONG vaccine, and I think my dog has a problem with it. I am hoping these issues will just go away overnight like they did before. If they do, she won't be getting any more rabies vaccinations.
Rabies Vaccine Side Effects
Posted by June (Poughkeepsie, New York) on 02/05/2008
Hi, As soon as I got a rabies shot for my doxie who is 11 years old. She had problemns walking.Her back legs she couldnt walk. Now I notice she has trouble picking up her back left leg. She falls down,I had her to the vet. They didnt say anything if it was a reaction. Pills and doctors visits for 1 month now. She didnt have a problem before the shot, She was running around with the other 2 dogs in the house. Thank you
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