Rabies Vaccine Side Effects in Dogs

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Rabies Vaccine Side Effects

207 User Reviews
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Posted by Jane (Yucca Valley, Ca) on 12/29/2011

Our seven year old GSD had his three-year rabies vaccination (Pfizer Animal Health) and within four days started vomitting, having diarrhea throughout the night, and stopped eating. This lasted for three days (over Christmas unfortunately) until we were able to see the vet who prescribed Metociopramide and Metronidazole. He is now eating again and the symptoms have subsided.

Also since the vaccination he has been lame in his hind leg where he was injected and his energy has been low, partly due no doubt to being sick.


Rabies Vaccine Side Effects
Posted by Cindy (Las Vegas, Nevada) on 11/23/2011

Our 7 year old healthy Papillion was vaccinated and died in one week after a rabies vaccine given to him by our Vet who gave him a clean bill of health prior to administering the vaccine last Tuesday. He was not eating by Sunday night, and was no longer his bouncing, bubbly self. So Monday when we took him to the vet to have the lack of appetite, and energy noted in his file, we were shocked to hear that his system was shutting down, and he was on deaths door. His gums were yellow and he began to urinate blood! The vet gave him steroids to boost his immune system, and a blood transfusion to hold him overnight in hopes that he might improve. He said with the transfusion you will generally see an increase in red blood cells, but there was no response.

So on Tuesday morning he was given another blood transfusion and again continued to fail! The vet said our dog was totally unresponsive and if he should improve at that point (to which he said was slim to none) he would never be the same. It gave us no choice but to put him down. He never leaves our sight, our fenced yard, or the connection with our female Papillion. (Except for his shots) He eats home made organic food, His white blood cell count was good, and the vet said there was no internal bleeding. We cannot come up with any other explanation for his sudden death other than the rabies vaccine last Tuesday! Our female Papillion did not get the shot and she is fine! Thank GOD!

Replied by Bolingbrook33
(Las Vegas, Nv, Usa)
01/30/2012

Hello, This message is for Cindy from Las Vegas... Please accept my sincere sympathy for your loss. I also have a Papillon, 7 years old named Lola. She was just shipped back to me from Manila, Philippines and survived the ordeal with no problem. Then 2 weeks later she was attacked in front of the house by 2 large dogs. She suffered several puncture wounds and excessive trauma and her disposition has changed, but she is improving daily.

I share your feeling re vaccinations. I feel it is another way for Vets to make more money. I did take Lola into a hospital when she was attacked. Then when I took her back to have a bath -- they told me that according to their records, Lola needs every shot! I told her you have no record of Lola, she was brought in as an emergency. Lola had received her shots in Manila in December and had I listened to the Vet's front desk girl, Lola would have gotten another range of shots.

Carol and Lola


Rabies Vaccine Side Effects
Posted by Roman (Benson, Az) on 11/22/2011

Grace our Jack Russell got her rabies booster vacine yesterday (11/21/11). Today she attacked and killed my older dog Rocky that was a Chihuahua. They have been in the same household since December 2010 I reported it to the vet. Was never warned about side effects.

Replied by Cindy
(Las Vegas, Nevada)
11/23/2011

Wow, I am so sorry to hear that! I wish I had read about the rabies vaccination a week ago! Our 7 year old Papillion was vaccinated and died in one week after a rabies vaccine given to him by our Vet who gave him a clean bill of health prior to administering the vaccine last Tuesday. Watch for yellowing gums! Our dog was not eating by Sunday night, and was no longer his bouncing, bubbly self. So Monday when we took him to the vet to have the lack of appetite, and energy noted in his file, we were shocked to hear that his system was shutting down, and he was on deaths door. His gums were yellow and he began to urinate blood! The vet gave him steroids to boost his immune system, and a blood transfusion to hold him over night in hopes that he might improve. He said with the transfusion you will generally see an increase in red blood cells, but there was no response. So on Tuesday morning he was given another blood transfusion and again continued to fail! The vet said our dog was totally unresponsive and if he should improve at that point (to which he said was slim to none) he would never be the same. It gave us no choice but to put him down. He never leaves our sight, our fenced yard, or the connection with our female Papillion. (Except for his shots) He eats home made organic food. His white blood cell count was good, and the vet said there was no internal bleeding. We can not come up with any other explanation for his sudden death other then the rabies vaccine last Tuesday! Our female Papillion did not get the shot and she is fine! Thank GOD! She will not get any more shots...ever!


Rabies Vaccine Side Effects
Posted by Marla (Monticello, Indiana) on 09/01/2011

With my first puppy; Chihuahua male, intact, born January 26, 2011; rabies vaccinated on 6-8-2011; he started 'reverse sneezing' within a few days of being vaccinated.

With my second puppy; Chihuahua male, intact, born 4-14-2011; rabies vaccinated on 8-22-2011; he had a small swelling at injection site that went away in 2 days, and a larger swelling has occurred 6 days after injection- his right trap muscle is swollen. (Injection site swelling was approx. Half an inch from current swelling. ) However, there is a possibility that this is an injury as a result of puppy 'rough-housing'. The exact cause is undetermined.


Rabies Vaccine Side Effects
Posted by Diana (Reading, Pa) on 08/23/2011

I had always followed the "rules" and allowed my Papillon to receive his prescribed rabies shot. About four years ago, after receiving the shot, we had just arrived home about 20 minutes from the vet's office, when I noticed his behavior was becoming a bit frantic, he was drooling and his little face was beginning to swell. I became hysterical, phoned the vet's office and told them we would be returning pronto... Upon arrival, they whisked him back and gave a shot of epinephrine and steroids. Since that time, whenever he gets his rabies shot, he must always get a steroid shot first.

This year my Papillon is 11 years old and he went for his rabies shot, as usual, he received his steroids first. But this year was different. It's been several weeks now and he seems withdrawn, cautious and something all family members have niticed is that his hearing seems to have significantly deteriorated since receiving the shot. I had been suspicous of the shot all along, however now even more so. After reading other posts, I will do more research and decide what to do from this point forward.

Thank you, Diana


Rabies Vaccine Side Effects
Posted by David Schlack (Perry, Ga. 31069) on 08/10/2011

I GOT BOTH DOGS RABIES SHOTS ON 8/05/2011 FRI.

THE 12.5LB. DOG VOMITED SAT NIGHT LIKE COFFEE GROUNDS AFTER ALL FOOD. OK SUNDAY NIGHT. ON MONDAY NIGHT THE 5LB. DOG VOMITED AND CONTINUES TO VOMIT COFFEE GROUND TYPE. DRINKS WATER VOMITS FOOD. WED AM SMALL DOG STILL SICK. WHAT CAN I DO VET CLOSED TODAY....DAVID


Rabies Vaccine Side Effects
Posted by Gabby (Mandeville, La) on 07/25/2011

My black lab of 6 years developed a lump the size of a golf ball about 1 month after she had her rabies and other shots given at the same time. This was the first time I allowed them to give them all at the same time. I took her back to the vet. They did a gram stain and said they found staph or step. They gave me an antibiotic for less than 1 week. The lump went down, but has come back up. I repeated the gram stain. There is staph or strep, but no white cells.

Replied by Joan
(Niskayuna, Ny)
08/21/2011

I have a toy poodle who weighs 6 lbs. When he got his first rabies 1 year vaccine he only weighed 2 lbs. He had a reaction that involved his skin getting bright red after the shot which travelled down his hind quarters. Then the tips of both his ears became irritated and a week or so later looked like someone had tried to embroider the edges. I had to soak off all the scabs in warm bath water. A month later he lost all the hair in the area of his injection site. I went ahead a year later to give him his 3 year vaccine only this time he was given some medication prior to the injection to help with the inflammation I believe it was benedryl. He had the same reaction as before but it was not as severe as before. My vet and I decided after both reactions that he would no longer receive this vaccine.

My dog also reacted to the Lyme Disease vaccine by having a fever the day after that injection. I no longer give him this vaccine.

He is currently titered in between his vaccines and they are spread out during the year (Bordetallo is given at different times)


Rabies Vaccine Side Effects
Posted by Angela (Boca Raton, Florida) on 07/21/2011

I just had my 12 year old dog vaccinated with her rabies shot. She has been up for two nights with severe diarreha. Every single hour last night she had to run to the door to go out. I am thinking because of her age, I should just skip the vaccines from this point on. Any opinions.


Rabies Vaccine Side Effects
Posted by Maxine (Houston, Texas) on 07/09/2011

In April of 2011 I took two 7 month old littermate boston terriers to the vet for a rabies shot. They were both given a (half dose) Fort Dodge rabies vaccine. The male started screaming as the needle was pulled out from his shoulder area and continued for nearly a minute. Needless to say, that was upsetting. The next evening, about 29 hours after the vaccination, the male puppy did not come in from the yard after being let out upon coming home from work. We called and called, looking thru the bushes and even for holes in the fence (there were none). Nearly 10 minutes later the dog appeared from under a bush, staggering and barely able to walk, his gums were as white as paper. I rushed him to the emergancy room where he spent the nxt 24 hours on IV, "for an allergic reaction". I KNOW this was vaccine induced and never intend to vaccinate this dog again. Following his return home from the vet ($800) I gave him the homeopathic lyssin and detox vaccine tonic that I had forgotten to give him at the time he was vaccinated.

I am now truly convinced that our (mis) trusted vets turn a blind eye to the fact that vaccinations compromise our dogs' health, they have too much interest in their monetary gain from annual vaccinations, just as they think feeding raw food is not the most natural & best healthy diet and promote their Science Diet death kibble. Its so terribly sad to see that this country really is propelled by corporate greed (drug companies) and not likely to change. Sad for us, sad for our pets.

Please everyone, google and support the Rabies Challenge fund, its only through projects like theirs that the truth will ever come out and maybe one day, for the sake of our pets (and children) things can change.

Amen!


Rabies Vaccine Side Effects
Posted by Mrs D (Simpsonville, Sc) on 07/08/2011

My 3 yr. old dog just receive a rabies shot on yesterday and now she can't walk and she is not eating what did you do for your pet, the vet says it had nothing to do with the shot but I think different.


Rabies Vaccine Side Effects
Posted by Kasino (Oshkosh, Ne, Usa) on 05/29/2011

Does anyone know if I can get an exemption for the rabies shot for my Maltese? I live in Nebraska. My dog had a reaction and has lost a big patch of hair around the injection site.


Rabies Vaccine Side Effects
Posted by Holly (Peoria, Il) on 05/04/2011

I agree that pet vaccines, especially the rabies vaccine is highly dangerous to dogs. The first year I had my springer mix, Starsky, not too long after his vaccines, he developed a nail disorder called lupoid onychodystrophy, where his nails fell out or he would chew them off until they bled and caused him pain. Then, I did not return for his other 'annual' vaccinations. I used the excuse I did not have the money, which was partly true, but I'm a firm believer in that NATURAL is always the way to go with both humans and animals. So after being late (several months late) on getting his rabies shots and after getting $100 fines by the county because I had stopped getting him vaccinated I was forced and not too long after he developed an "auto-immune" disease where his red blood cell count dropped severely and he stopped eating and lost so much weight his sides almost touched in the middle of his body. I was in tears constantly... My vet was awesome at this point though.... He did all he could by getting Starsky on some fatty acids and some steroids, and with those and lots of prayer, Starsky came through (though that lasted about two months). I thought I was going to lose him. But thank God, he is still here and is 7 years old now!!

Well the County did a sweep through our city last year and guess what, I got a warning that my dogs were not vaccinated...... Of course they weren't! I believe it is killing animals all over the place and it's criminal! How many dogs are causing rabies infestations to humans that you know of? That pales in comparison to the amount of dogs developing 'auto-immune' issues because of these horrific vaccinations!

So, I tried to fight it and lost.... my vet wrote me a waiver for Starsky because he did believe Starsky had been through too much to get vaccinated and risk getting ill again.

But, Maggey, my 4 year old black lab mix had to get the vaccination (rabies). So I tried fighting it, but I would have had to take this to court if I didn't pay the $100 and get her vaccinated. So Maggey got vaccinated and less than 3 days later, she developed a rash, hair loss, redness, and swelling at the injections site, and here we are a year later, and she still is itching and losing hair just above her tail where the shot was injected! It makes me so mad that I am forced against my will to do this.

I'm battling what to do now that they are due again for their rabies vaccinations....

Replied by Jr
(Coloma, Mi)
05/04/2011

Holly, I'm sorry to hear that your dog had such a bad reaction and I feel for you because I'm in the same boat! My dog has had so many anti-biotics and vaccines because I just didn't know better at the time. She has suffered for the past four years with an auto-immune problem and the homeopathic vet that I'm working with tells me if my dog ever gets another vaccination it will finish her off. Well, her rabies vaccine is overdue and I don't know what to do now. I wish someone knew a legal way around this mess!!

Replied by Kat
(Richmond, Va)
07/26/2012

Sorry to hear of your battles with the County over forced rabies vaccinations. Perhaps you can get a waiver for next time around. The rabieschallengefund. org website can probably be of help.


Rabies Vaccine Side Effects
Posted by Summer (Northern, Nm) on 03/27/2011

We have a one year old toy fox terrier that developed a bald spot on the right shoulder just above the leg from the rabies vaccination injection. The hair has not grown back after several months and the spot is completely bare. Our vet does not seem concerned about it and gave the next injections under the front right leg. He has since developed a small bump under the skin at the second injection site. This is a show-quality TFT and we are highly frustrated with our careless vet, feeling like we've been duped. Any help, suggestions or treatment would be highly appreciated!

Replied by 5 Pooches Home
(Houston, Tx)
03/28/2011

Go to a health food store and homopathic medicince - Thuja 30c. Start giving your dog asap 3-4 times a day 4-5 pellets.

hpathy.com/veterinary-homeopathy/articles/homeopathy-for-animals-ii/

Stop everything else. Feed light natural home cooked meals and also Apple Cider Vinegar and coconut oil as it helps the body detox.

Replied by The Krazy Kat Lady
(Summerville, Sc)
10/05/2011

I have 6 cats and a dog, 3 of the cats are from the same litter and are 2 years old. A few months ago near their 2 year mark, they were given their rabies and distemper shots. Before we were even in our car, one of them (Spidey) started convulsing, this triggered foaming of the mouth, loss of urine. We immediately rushed him into the vet's office again, where he was given a corticosteroid injection, I believe, for the reaction. Spidey had never had a single medical issue before this day. Of the 3 rescues he was always the strongest and biggest. Since this day, Spidey has had 3 more seizures that we know of. They cause him severe distress and wiped him out for over 24 hours. One time I did not think he would make it through. We of course took him to the vet who stated that they did not think the seizure was related to the shot (same vets who treated him the first time). Also they keep telling us that it would not benefit Spidey to treat him unless his seizures occur more frequently.

I am very scared for him, I want to make sure he has a healthy long life. When we found them as 1 month old kittens, they were half the weight they were supposed to be and nearly starved and dehydrated to death. Their mother we assumed was killed or picked up.

I hate to see him so wiped out. And my heart stops each time I see him suffering. I will never ever have him vaccinated again. The other cats do not seem to have any issues with the exceptions of dry long drawn out coughs. Again the vets dismiss this.

Not sure what has to happen to get the attention of the powers to be to investigate this phenomenon and determine to what extent these reactions occur.


Rabies Vaccine Side Effects
Posted by Mary (Worcester, Ma) on 03/04/2011

Why my dog reacted to a distemper shot w/ black pigment and loss of hair on the injection spot, and also on the other side were he had the rabies shot 2 months prior?


Rabies Vaccine Side Effects
Posted by Lisa (Charlotte, Nc, Usa) on 01/31/2011

Two of my male cats developed a bad skin rash after they were neutered (and given a rabies vacc). The rash is in the form of scabs all over the back half of their bodies.



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