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 casey (somewhere, united states) on 08/18/2007
I have had 2 of my dogs have reactions to vaccines, the 1st was my chihuaha, she had a rabies shot and it almost killed her, had to take her back to the vet to have it reversed, the second on was my miniature dachshund, he was 6 months old he swelled up like he had been stung, we had to give him childrens benedryl 4 times a day for 4 days . No more shots for the chihuaha, it could kill her next time. The dachshund is due this month and I am afraid to have it done. Are the vaccines safe or not.
Rabies Vaccine Side Effects
Posted by Melissa (Alexandria, Virginia) on 08/29/2007
to Denise: There is a homeopathy antidote to the rabies vaccination. It is called a nosode. You can order the pills and they may help to undo some of the damage from the shot. They can also be given to the pet prior to a vaccination to lessen the side effects. A doctor out of North Carolina can ship it to you. Google it.
Rabies Vaccine Side Effects
Posted by Gina Quintana (Sun City, Arizona) on 09/08/2007
Hi there, I recently received a letter from the county I live in stating Bowser, my 2 1/2 year old Chihuahua/rat terrier mix was due for the rabies vaccination. The process was quick and seemed painless as it only took less than a minute to administer the rabies and I also had a "5-in-1" shot which I'm not really sure which 5 they were. This vet visit was on August the 17th but within the last few days, I have noticed his usual eating habits of scarfing-down his-food-in-the-blink-of an-eye has changed dramatically. His food I put in his inside dish is still there from 3 days ago, and he has devolped a large lump above his right "thigh" which if I remember correctly is right where the vaccinations were administered. I do recall th vet mentioning a small bump may form. My question is, will it go away? And if so, when? Should I be alarmed? Thanks
Rabies Vaccine Side Effects
Posted by Nelscine (East Point, GA) on 09/17/2007
My 4 lb yorkie, Roxie got her state required rabies shot on Wednesday. She experienced serious lethargy Thursday and Friday, but was back to her old self by Saturday with minimal swelling of the leg that was injected. By Sunday she had what the vet termed a "Tissue Reaction" a large red mass appeared on her leg and looked as if it would burst any second. Roxie continued to walk okay and only whimpered when the spot was touched with excessive pressure. The vet lanced the spot and expressed the liquid (mixed with blood) that had accumulated. The vet then applied a topical anti inflammatory swelling reducer and advised us to keep the spot open so that it would heal from within. He also stated the remaining fluid should be reabosorbed by the dog's body, however, express it again a couple of times. Roxie is okay right now except the spot on her leg. When she got her first shots in July, she was just a little lethargic. If I am being misled or anyone else has had this experience please respond, this is my first dog in ages, long before vaccines and Pet Supermarkets etc. I love Roxie and do not know what I would do if anything worse happened.
Rabies Vaccine Side Effects
Posted by Troy Brown (New Carrollton, Maryland) on 09/19/2007
We took our Chow Chow to the vet on Saturday to get her rabies shot, and on Sunday she started acting strange, she is drinking a lot, and laying around sleeping a lot, she is not the usual active dog that she was before the shot. She also looks like she is swollen, and her head is tilted to one side when she looks at us. I think something is going on with her vision, and hearing, but we are taking her to another vet today, so I will know more then. My dog was perfectly healthy with not problems, before this.
Rabies Vaccine Side Effects
Posted by Sheila (Roanoke, Texas) on 09/30/2007
I had my 1 year old kitten vaccinated for Rabies yesterday. Since we brought her home, she won't eat or drink anything and when touched she hisses at you. She has fever in the spot of the rabies vaccine and tries to bite if you touch the vaccination spot. I have three other cats and none have ever acted like this after their rabies vacc. She acts like she HAS rabies now! My vet told me nothing about what side effects to expect. I have been told in the past to massage the area after the vaccine to keep the medicine from pooling and causing problems but she won't let me touch her. Any ideas?
Rabies Vaccine Side Effects
Posted by emily shepard (boise, idaho) on 10/04/2007
our 9 month old heeler received her vaccination for rabies @ the Humane Society. Later that day, she started acting lethargic and vomiting. She had eaten grass to make herself sick. Is vomiting a normal side affect of rabies shot?
Rabies Vaccine Side Effects
Posted by Catherine (Waveland, Mississippi) on 10/17/2007
I took my 4.5 month old pit bull mix (Ollie) in to get its 1st rabies shot yesterday evening, he had already been given his series of distemper shots (last shot 2 weeks prior) and this was the last thing I had to take care of with vaccinations. I took him in at 3:30pm and all night he seemed perfectly fine. At 2:30 am I was woken up by Ollie crying, as if he needed to go outside, so I took him out of his kennel and realized that he felt really hot to the touch, so me felling warm myelf I kicked the AC on and took him out to potty. I brought him back inside and put him in his bed and he immediately started crying again. So I took him back out and put him in the bed with my husband and I to cool off. Ollie just could not sit still. He kept moving around restlessly and scratching himself. So I brought him into the bathroom and turned the light on and realized he was covered in hives. He looked so bad it brought me to tears. I immediately put him in the bathtub and started to rinse him with warm water to try to realive some of the itching. I then ran to walmart and bought him some childrens benadryl and I have been up with him ever since. The swelling is going down a little but he looks horrible. My vet doesn't open til 9am but after reasearching more on the internet I have come to the conclusion that after this he is not getting another shot. This was so not worth it. I just hope this doesn't cause anymore complications.
Rabies Vaccine Side Effects
Posted by Connie (San Diego, CA) on 11/02/2007
I got a Dachshund/Chihuahua mix from a pet rescue last September 2006. Kona was twelve weeks old. Last month I took Kona to have her routine vaccinations. The vet gave Kona all her vaccines, with exception of the rabies as she said they don't want to mix the vaccines as it is common for "this breed" to have a reaction to the rabies vaccine. Kona returned a week later to get her rabies vaccine and was fine. Two weeks later, my husband noticed a "lump" in her neck. Kona was also lethargic. She usually likes to play catch and dart through the house back and forth as fast as she could. I also noticed Kona's ears were red and had scabs in them. She is constantly licking her paws and scratching her ears and muzzle. I took Kona to the vet and was told she had a reaction to the rabies vaccine. (Kona was fine when she had the rabies vaccines at 4-months-old.) Kona is now on Medrol 4mg. The vet is treating her aggressively. The vet also told me that she can no longer have the rabies shot as the next time could be worse. The vet will now need to write an exemption letter to the Dept. of Animal Control. The great thing is Kona's appetite never changed. I hope she gets better soon as the family, especially the kids, miss the playful Kona.
Rabies Vaccine Side Effects
Posted by Barb (Ohio, USA) on 11/04/2007
After receiving a rabies vaccine my dog started having reverse sneezing. She is 3-1/2 yrs old and has never had this before getting the vaccination. This was her first rabies vaccination.
Rabies Vaccine Side Effects
Posted by jane (pittsburgh, pa) on 11/08/2007
i took my 16 week old dashound to the vet for his rabies booster. immediately after the shot my puppy became limp. the vet said come back in a couple hours because they had to treat him for a reaction from the rabies shot. when i returned they handed me my puppy in a blanket, dead. i have never been so shocked in my life. if anyone has any information on deadly reactions to vaccines i would appreciate the feedback. thank-you
Rabies Vaccine Side Effects
Posted by Edith (Palmerston, Canada) on 11/13/2007
I was given a year old pure bred shihtzu. A few weeks before she came to me she had been given her rabies shot. She was bald in places from the intense itching all over. Her skin was hot to the touch. I started with Apis mellifica a homeopathy remedy which is very good for itching. When that seemed to give her some relief I quit the remedy for a few days then started with Arsenicum Albumen. This is another remedy for itchy skin but it has different action. I also used Thuja to clean the liver. The scratching continued for a few months she lost tufts of hair but rather than take her to a vet who in turn would prescribe more drugs which have side effects I chose to tackle this on my own. It did clear up and there were reoccurances but mild. Her hair were like starw, and she should have silky hair. Her eyes were always dull looking as was her coat. She was quite lifeless and lethargic. That was a year ago and she is finally getting on her feet and running around and being full of energy. Yes it took a long time but at least this way nothing more damaging was added to stress her system I do not have shots for my dogs. I have 3 and none of them will get shots.
Rabies Vaccine Side Effects
Posted by Teri (Sparrowbush, NY) on 11/13/2007
I've had a dog seizer after getting her 2nd Rabies vaccine. I've seen puppies start chewing on themselves after getting the parvo vaccine. I had a puppy buyer tell me that she took her 3 yr old dog to the vet where they said he was in excellent health and they gave Dhpp and Rabies. The next morning he was dead.
Rabies Vaccine Side Effects
Posted by Stacie (Miami, Florid) on 11/24/2007
My healthy three-year old cat had a rabies shot two weeks ago. She has since developed a lump in her leg. She will be going into surgery on Friday. I am waiting on the results of the small biopsy that was taken today. The doctor told me that it may be benign or cancerous, but whatever it is, it was caused by the rabies shot. I am never giving my cats a rabies shot again. They are indoor cats, and I have asked in the past if it was necessary because I was worried about the side effects. Now I am angry that I didn't insist that she not get the shot.
Rabies Vaccine Side Effects
Posted by Tamara (Keystone Heights, Florida) on 11/26/2007
I have a 15 year old Siamese mix neutered male cat. Last rabies vaccine he had about 3 years ago caused a lump to form after his shot, it grew fast and burst. No home remedies worked to close the gaping sore. I took him to two different vets who both diagnosed a carcinoma from the vaccine. I had to have it surgical removed and closed up. So his 3 year rabies shot cost me over $300 and he is an inside cat. I will never again give him any shots.
