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 Shelly (Clemmons, Nc) on 08/25/2017
We adopted sibling cats from AARF about 3 weeks ago. One of them had the rabies shot and the other did not. I was told that the female cat didn't have her shot but they somehow had the paper work mixed up because she had a rabies form and tag but the male cat did not. I had to take them back in to AARF yesterday for the shot. They have veterinarians that come in every Thursday to give shots. They looked at all the paperwork we were given and determined that the female had her shot and the male did not. They gave him his rabies shot and not long after getting home, maybe 2 hours, he started vomiting everywhere then itching to the point where he was scratching his skin above his eyes raw, his face and eyes also got swollen.
I called the emergency vet, actually 2 different ones, and was told by one that this was an emergency and I should bring him in. I called a 2nd one and they said it sounded like a normal reaction as long as he was not having trouble breathing. They did say I could give him benedryl but we did not have any and it was 11:00 pm. We kept an eye on him all night and he seems to be feeling better today bu still not back to his playful self. His sister sure does miss him playing with her.
Rabies Vaccine Side Effects
Posted by Carol M. (Nex Millington, Tn) on 08/24/2017
The same thing happened to my little kitten after both his vacations. The booster has been worse than the others. He is lertharic, sleepy, and just acting mad at us.
Rabies Vaccine Side Effects
Posted by Darleen (Buffalo, Ny) on 08/18/2017
My cat is 17 years old. He was in perfect health until he got a rabies vaccine. 45 days later he started having seizures. I would like to know if they is anything that could help repair damage from this vaccine and if anything can cure the seizures.
Rabies Vaccine Side Effects
Posted by Paula (Ga) on 08/02/2017
Took 6 yr old very healthy, Happy kitty to vet for slight twitch in ear. She got a clean bill of health however. They insisted she have Rabies shot which I did not want. When we got home she threw up and has been very lethargic for a week. I have of course taken her back to Vet 2 more times for steroid and annahestimine, no change. Full lab results taken, Vet says all is normal except white blood cells are 3.1 low. They are denying that the shot caused this and saying she must have had something already. How can we treat it if they don't acknowledge it. They even suggested that I asked for Shot, they don't are not the law. All false which makes getting proper care impossible if Vet is not trustworthy. 7 days later small change in her but she is not the same fun loving, very affectionate kitty. I am beyond heartbroken and worried. Can someone please advise me?
Rabies Vaccine Side Effects
Posted by Wendy (West Burlington, Iowa ) on 07/15/2017
My 16 week old kitten had gotten her rabies shot and was lathargic, confused loss of appetite and threw up. She received her shots on Monday and today is Saturday and her appetite has increased a little but she has no energy. We just got her at the humane society she was a little terror running everywhere playing with my other cat and now all she wants to do is sleep, eat a little, and go to the bathroom then back to sleeping. In order to adopt her they made an appointment for us to get her checked out and get her shots. I have been in contact with the veterinary and they gave her an antibiotic. If I had to do it all over again I would not have taken her back for her rabie shot. We miss her energy and her attitude now she only wants to sleep.
Rabies Vaccine Side Effects
Posted by Lawrence J. (Rotonda West Florida) on 06/03/2017
In mid-May of 2017, I had to agree to vaccinate my 12 year old cat William prior to grooming for Rabies and FVRCP. Following that time, William has developed highly elevated lethargy, sleepiness, appetite depression, loss of motor skills ( limping on all four legs) that is definitely appearing to be progressive. He now cannot jump up on the table. I've read in another article that Rabies facilitated nervous system side effects can appear up to 45-days after administering the Rabies vaccine. (By the way, William had lethargic effects and swelling in 2016 with the vaccine for weeks.) I need your recommendations before I lose my cat.
Best regards,
Lawrence
Rabies Vaccine Side Effects
Posted by Dee (Burke, Va) on 05/17/2017
I took my 8 year old cat in for her rabies and distemper shot. A week later, she is moving very slowly. Seems to want to sleep a lot, is hiding from me. I'm worried. I found this site, thought I would add my story.
I am so sorry for the death of your pets. Has something changed with the rabies distemper shots? 3 years ago she had no problem that I can remember.
Rabies Vaccine Side Effects
Posted by Alyanna Ocampo (Las Piñas City, Philippines) on 04/28/2017
My 1 year old cat just got his very first anti rabies shot 3 days ago. Since then she has been meowing loud and lying down all day more than usual. Im not sure if its the side effects or she's sick.
Rabies Vaccine Side Effects
Posted by Bonnie (Erie Pa) on 04/24/2017
Adopted our 5 year old Maine Coon from a shelter. He was very healthy for the year we have had him. Took him in for his yearly where he was given Rabie/Distemper Combo and then Distemper Booster 3 weeks after. This was two months ago and all he does is sleep, has a limp after laying a long time, doesn't want to play anymore, losing patches of hair. We took him back. They did blood work twice. No Virus present, No Leukemia but Kidney numbers are up so Vet prescribed special food for Kidney problems. You can't tell me the vaccines didn't do this to our cat. We are more than upset and feel like we took him to be poisoned. I am going to get the Milk Thistle and give it a try as mentioned in one of the posts. Someone needs to look into the poisoning of our pets with these vaccines!! Then after that they can look at why so many of our children have AUSTISM....HMMMM could it be all the vaccines they get??
Rabies Vaccine Side Effects
Posted by Butternut (Nj) on 04/20/2017
Took my 7 year old indoor cat for her routine check up/vaccines. After receiving her 3 year rabies vaccine and distemper she starting vomiting for over an hour. Then she had a bowel movement on the sofa and became very sleepy. Poor thing. The next morning she came up to me and just peed right in front of me. Took her back to the vet that very next day( within 15 hours of her vaccine) and they gave her a cortisone shot. I had to keep her n the laundry room when I wasn't home and at night. She would hide behind the washer. It has been 3 days now and all she does is sleep. She is back in the main part of the house. She has been eating thankfully, but is not herself at all. I thought I was being a responsible pet owner by getting her vaccinated. I questioned if she needed them being an indoor cat and of course they said yes. I will never vaccinate an indoor pet ever again.
Rabies Vaccine Side Effects
Posted by Angelina (New York ) on 03/14/2017
I had to give the rabies vaccine to my 7-month old Ragdoll kitten in order to travel with him. He is normally a very calm kitty who plays enough to stay active and hardly ever causes mischief. An hour after the vaccine he started acting completely crazy. He would go from sitting calmly to dashing up and down the house. It was like he was seeing things. He would attack and pounce on the empty air and then try to find whatever it was that he thought he had seen. He never used to be aggressive with me and now he is more prone to scratching me. Lastly he never used to meow unless he needed food and now he meows all the time for no reason. This has been going on for a week and he threw up which has never done before. Vomiting is a common effect of the rabies vaccine but I haven't seen anyone else mention or notice their cat's active ness or aggressive behaviour to have increased.
Please research carefully before doing this vaccine, there are clearly too many cases of unusual and even fatal side effects.
Rabies Vaccine Side Effects
Posted by Candice (Virginia) on 02/28/2017
My 8 yr old Cat, I adopted, from the Animal Shelter, was seen by a Vet 2 days before I adopted her, I brought her home and she seemed fine, except the pupils of her eyes were dialated, and it seemed strange to me, then I connected the dots and realized this was all from her rabies shot, she received 2 days before I took her home, she was fine, and then in about 2 days she became sleepy, sneezing and coughing alot, walks very slow, and all she wants to do is sleep all day, she is eating and drinking a little, but she has a hard time breathing. kinda worried about that, it's been 12 days since her rabies shot.
Rabies Vaccine Side Effects
Posted by Hilary (Philadelphia, Pa) on 12/12/2016
My cat also had a similar reaction. The vaccine company, after multiple contacts, admitted that this was a "rare" but known side effect. My cat recovered, but now a year later, she has complete heart block secondary to scarring on the heart. I question whether this is related to the combo vaccination.
Rabies Vaccine Side Effects
Posted by Becky (Lincoln, Il) on 12/07/2016
I took my 8 year old cat in last Friday to get his yearly shots, since then, he has been vomiting his food up, everything and everytime. I Know the vet will never agree that there is a reaction to the shots, but if an animal doesn't do this regularly and then they do it after a shot or medication, duh, that is the cause. What can we do????
Rabies Vaccine Side Effects
Posted by Pam (Brooklyn, Ny) on 11/24/2016
After my kitten received rabies vaccine he became paralyzed in his back legs. A week later he still can't move lower body.
