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 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 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 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 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 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 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 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 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 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 Bartek (Brampton, On, Canada) on 07/30/2007
My dog is a german shepard and after she had taken the rabies shot, whenever she went to sleep or lay or even sat down she let out a little urine and drank far more than she ever has. could this be a side effect or what could this be? please you guys are my only hope if you do know what it could be please e-mail me at
[email protected] thank you sincerly
Rabies Vaccine Side Effects
Posted by Claudia (Chicago, Illinois USA) on 07/30/2007
My 15 year old indoor cat was vaccinated on May 25th for a Rabies vaccine. She was only vaccinated 13 years before and never again since she was healthy and I did not think she would need any vaccines since she never went outdoors. Well, she died today. I took her to the vet on Friday June 27th because she had not been eating for a week and was only drinking and would just lay and not move much. The vet found 2 lumps on her throat, Swollen glands was what he thought, the x-rays showed that her kidneys where enlarged and she was also jaundice. I was informed on Saturday that the lumps where cancerous, and nothing could be done to save her. SHE WAS FINE AND PERFECT HEALTH IN MAY!!!
All of a sudden she has 2 lumps??? CANCER!!
I have heard that vaccines are not required for older indoor cats and I truly wish I did not vaccinate her. THe vet is not offering any information on the matter. PLEASE PLEASE DO NOT VACCINATE your older cats. I know she would still be with me if I never vaccinated her. Here is what I noticed. she stopped playing around and only hung around in the basement. She slowly stopped eating her favorite treats, then dry, then wet food and only drank water. ALOT of water. Her urine was orangy and VERY strong. She sometimes could not make it to her littler box and would urinate in plastic bags or clothing. I noticed her breathing heavy and yellow around her ears and gums and took her to the vet.
She was 15 and was a Tonkinese mix. As she lay having to fight for every breath, her legs where all stiff and she was not blinking. I pet her softly and told her it was OK to go and she managed to let out a painful MEOW and her body started shacking and she passed. I wish no one else has to go thru loosing they pet like I did. I feel that vets hold back on information such as the side affects and dangers. I know some vaccines are harmful to humans. AT 4 years old my daughter received 3 vaccines and 24 hours later I found her not breathing on the bathroom floor. She now uses a breathing machine and has severe Asthma. I no one in my family or her fathers family have asthma, and I never smoked or no one around us smoked ever. I think the government is not being upfront with us.
Rabies Vaccine Side Effects
Posted by Jennie (Soldotna, Alaska) on 07/28/2007
My kitty was only 8 months old when he died yesterday. I tried everything to save him. The vet couldn't figure out what was wrong. The only thing he ever recieved was a rabies vaccination. After that he went down hill. He started with diarrhia, and it was incurable. Then he started throwing up, drooling. He didn't make it. Vaccinations are bad for humans, why would they be ok for our pets?
Rabies Vaccine Side Effects
Posted by Bob (Houston, USA) on 07/18/2007
my 3yr old cat was given a rabies shot on Sunday. Within hours she became lethargic. Then she began to cough a little.The next day a little more. The next day she started throwing up her food a little bit. She's going to the vet tomorrow. No more shots for my pets.
My 8 year old chihuahua had all shots recommended when he was small, his urine turned orange & he threw up. He's fine now but no more shots.
Rabies Vaccine Side Effects
Posted by Laura (West Babylon, New York) on 07/11/2007
re 3-Yr Rabies Vaccine -- My 2 year old Border Collie has changed since receiving the vaccine in May. Calm submissive puppy has become semi-agressive and has had first seizure on July 10. Vet testing to see if he can determine cause of seizure and am afraid that another will happen. I vow not to get any vaccines ever again, desite laws. I just won't take him to places that require it, like agility comp, etc. I pray that I don't lose my best friend.
Rabies Vaccine Side Effects
Posted by Aimee (Reno, Nevada) on 06/30/2007
Pets section, vaccines: "I lost a wonderful kitty that I was graced with for eight years due to a rabies vaccine. All four of my cats were given this same vaccine on the same day at the same place, but Spunky was the one who developed a Feline Fibrosarcoma due to a genetic predisposition among strays in our county. The shot was given in the shoulder, which is the old method for pets (ALWAYS have shots given in the back leg as you can amputate if necessary). Soon after he developed what felt like a small hard knot on his shoulder bone, which quickly grew in size. Biopsy showed it to be a cancerous tumor with tiny tendrils that extended out and into the surrounding tissue. Due to its location it could not be removed. Spunky made it seven more months before passing, but not before suffering like any cancer patient would. He went through chemotherapy and received the best possible veterinary care through a local vet and through the wonderful people at UC Davis School of Veterinary Medicine in Davis, California. His cancer was CAUSED by a vaccine manufactured by the company Fort Dodge, which has a history of this type of vaccine tumor arising in all kinds of pets. Since pets are considered "property" and not as an actual life, there are no grounds to sue this company. What they did was make a pitiful offer of a few hundred dollars for compensation. Spunky's medical bills for this cancer were well over three-thousand dollars. I have since learned that adult cats who are INDOORS ONLY do NOT need to have yearly vaccinations. I have also had several vets tell me this, and that they personally do not have their cats vaccinated because of the risks associated with it. Please heed my warning and do not allow your pet to be vaccinated in the shoulder OR with vaccine manufactured by Fort Dodge. Spunky has been gone for almost four years, and a day does not go by that he is not on my mind somewhere. I miss him terribly and hope to spare his fate for as many others as possible. Thank you!
