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 Meowmeow (Franklin, Ma) on 12/14/2011
My 17 year old male cat had a bad reaction to the rabies shot. A little history about him: He is an indoor domestic short hair cat. He has generally been healthy his whole life, until he was 14. At 14 he was treated for hyperthyroidism with radio-iodine therapy. Last January he was diagnosed with 3rd degree AV block. He was started on Theophylline, but within a month began to have a really bad reaction to it. His medication was changed to Turbutaline (one-quarter of a pill every other day) and he has been doing okay on that for the past 10 months (he has had no pass-outs or dizziness).
He was given his rabies shot yesterday and within 15 minutes, he was unable to walk straight, falling over and began panting. The panting only lasted for about a minute and the dizziness has seemed to subside, but since yesterday, he will not come out of his cat cube house bed (he stays in there when he is not feeling well). After he had the reaction yesterday, I thought back and it was last December when he had his rabies shot too. I don't remember him having a reaction last year to it, but within 2 weeks of his shot, he began to show the signs of 3rd degree AV block. I don't believe that the rabies shot caused the AV block, but I don't think that it has helped either. He is still not feeling well and if he survives this episode, he will NEVER be getting another rabies or distemper shot.
Rabies Vaccine Side Effects
Posted by Diana (West Newbury, Ma) on 10/20/2011
I am so happy to have found this website to try and figure out what has happened to our 20 yr old cat after having a rabies shot one week ago... Flower had lost a pound since her last checkup 6 mo ago. We had her ears treated for allergies and had her nails clipped. The vet told us that she was overdue for her rabies vaccine so we had it done. That night I noticed that she was very weak and acting strangely, distant and quiet, sleeping all the time... Now a week and a half later she is staggering and walking with her front legs crossing and rear end tipping to one side.
For the last 24 hrs we have thought that she is ready to pass away maybe from a stroke or some illness not identified but having just read everything I can about vaccines, I think that the rabies shot has caused this terrible thing to happen to this sweet animal! She's dazed, confused, crying which she seldom does, vomiting but nothing in her belly. I'm not sure if she is seeing clearly... She is dropping her head into her water bowl and not eating a thing... I am calling the vet as soon as it opens today... But I am afraid it has permanently harmed her. Thank you everyone for sharing your experiences with me... I pray there is something the vet can do to turn this around... Her age is against her... it's a shame and never had to happen.
Rabies Vaccine Side Effects
Posted by Mike (Bourbonnais, Il/usa) on 10/04/2011
My cat has a Rabies Vaccine Injury. She is now over 50% paralyzed and can barely walk. She stumbles around and is uncoordinated. She developed a neuro-muscular/ neurological disease from the Rabies Vaccine. She is very Lethargic, has an 'autistic blank looking stare' and has major behavior changes such as being very fearful & agression at times. They analyzed her and found she has partial blindness. So far my vet just started giving her Steroid Injections and liquid Benadryl for treatment. This is only a starting therapy and won't fix the problem, but is better than nothing. The vet won't officially admit that it is a 'Vaccine Related Injury' but I know it is.
What is a homeopathic/ herbal / vitamin / misc. Remedy that you can recommend for my cat. I need to know what herbs are SAFE to feed my cat and which are TOXIC to feed my cat, and what symptoms they may help with. I've heard about possible acupunture, to help with the neurological problems that the vaccine caused, but what other treatments are out there?? I have searched the net but couldn't find anything specific....[Mike]
Rabies Vaccine Side Effects
Posted by Sandy (Kenosha, Wi) on 09/14/2011
My cat - a female Tonkinese just developed a tumor on her side. I took her to the vet and they removed it. The report came back as vaccine related fibro carcinoma. I have done some reading and found this is actually not that rare. She only received one vaccine in 1993, the year she was born. I discontinued giving my two cats the vaccine because her brother - a male Tonkinese, had a bad reaction from the shot and he layed like a zombie on the bed for a week. He died of cancer at 16.
Now here we are 2 years later and she comes up with this cancer. I will never give another of my cats a rabies vaccine again. They never leave the house and are always kept inside. I dont understand the vet community and how they are always pushing this shot on animals. Its just not fair!
Rabies Vaccine Side Effects
Posted by Melody Q. (Ohio) on 03/25/2017
My 3 year old kitty named Tomas was given a 3 year rabies in his right rear leg and 2 months later has a firm lump in his leg. Taking him on Monday to have it looked at. You said in your post in 2011 that his lump was removed and came back vaccine related fibro carcinoma. How long did he live after that? Just curious if it came back somewhere else? Thank you!
Rabies Vaccine Side Effects
Posted by Jp (Escondido, Ca. Usa) on 08/30/2011
large cat started haveing lose stools with blood & musis other than that happy & fine took to vet had him checked out vet said he was healthy & ok than they gave him a rabies shot about two days after that he started down hill within 20 days he could not eat or drink with in that peroid. I took him to see another vet I was told that it was too late he could not be a hero today. Cat could not eat drink or breath. Swollen limpnods and thyroid, throut, water sounding lungs could not even hear cat breathing-had to put him down to stop the pain.
Rabies Vaccine Side Effects
Posted by Catera (Midwest City, Ok/united States) on 10/13/2011
I am sorry, I now know what I thought was impossible. Two siblings, a boy and a girl got their shots. The girl vomited for a week then starting losing weight fast and stopped eating. Her gums and ears turned yellow (liver problem). Shortly after, her brother started having the same symptoms. He was put on anti-biotics. He hasn't gotten better, won't eat, won't defecate, won't move, won't pee, nothing. We are saddened that tomorrow we take him to be euthanized because his liver is failing. His sister, however, is finally eating small amounts and getting slowly better. This is atrocious!
Rabies Vaccine Side Effects
Posted by Laprincessa86 (St. Paul, Minnesota) on 10/07/2012
My 6 month old female kitten just got her second set of shots. The vet told me she needed a rabies shot so I paid for her to get it. The had to give her it 3 times in her leg because she was moving so much.
Two days after the shot she's been like a zombie. She walks like her legs are in pain. You pick her up and she meows in pain. She won't eat or drink anything the past 2 days. She just sleeps all day and moves super slow. She can barely even hold herself up, she'll just fall to the side and sleep. Her breathing is super heavy. I'm so nervous because she's so small. I'm going to take her to the vet tomorrow.
The vet told me she'll need one next year too, I doubt I'll take her, she's a 100% indoor cat and these symptoms are scaring me.
Rabies Vaccine Side Effects
Posted by Nancy (Sebastopol, Ca) on 08/01/2011
I took my two cats (8 years and 10 years) to the Sonoma County Humane Society Hospital for their rabies shot. My healthy 10-year old cat died within an hour. She appeared to be in wretched pain, vomiting, crying, unable to hold her head up..... She was poisoned by the bad vaccine. If I'd know that it is not necessary to give an indoor-outdoor cat the rabies vaccine (very low risk of rabies in this area), I would not have done so. I feel horribly guilty for my uninformed decision. My other cat was fine (different vial of vaccine) It's been heartbreaking. My regular vet said that in his 28 years of practice, he's never known an animal to die from a rabies shot.
Rabies Vaccine Side Effects
Posted by Denise (Griffin, Ga/ Usa) on 06/12/2011
My himalayn was vaccinated for rabies yesterday. She has been lethargic won't eat or drink I had not taken her to the vet for over 5 years because of this. She had a very bad reaction the first time. I don't know what to do. I'm afraid to take her back for fear of further damage.
Rabies Vaccine Side Effects
Posted by Denese (Cumming, Georgia, Usa) on 05/05/2011
Hello. I adopted a 3 yr old Himalayan/persian mix cat from animal control and she was fine when I brought her home. Two weeks after I first adopted her I took her in for a rabies shot. Within 4 days after the rabies vaccination she began vomiting pretty chronically.
Dr's were never able to link the vomiting to the rabies shot, but thought she may have IBD or some type of unknown lymphoma? At any rate, she just passed away the other day and had gone into severe renal failure.
I took her over to UGA where a Dr. has performed a complete necropsy, and we are waiting on some more definitive answers as to what Apple's problems were..
The brand name of the vaccine I remember was called "Fort Dodge".
Rabies Vaccine Side Effects
Posted by Sylvie (Santa Cruz, California) on 03/27/2011
Hello, My Nella cat just received a rabies vaccine in order to travel overseas. She is now experiencing several side effects: loss of appetite, vomiting, and she has mucus and blood in her scant and milky stool. Are there any folk remedies to help her with these symptoms? Is there something I should be giving her to prevent further complications?
Thank you kindly, Sylvie
Rabies Vaccine Side Effects
Posted by 5 Pooches Home (Houston, Tx) on 03/28/2011
Try Thuja 30c.
Rabies Vaccine Side Effects
Posted by Jan (South Windsor, Ct) on 10/23/2009
Our beautiful long-haired calico 18yr old cat received her rabies vaccine yesterday at 3pm. At 10pm she suffered a seizure and died in my arms. My vet denies a correlation. I think it was the vaccine. I didn't want her to have it because she was an indoor cat and her advanced age. My 22yr old dtr and I are heartbroken.
Rabies Vaccine Side Effects
Posted by Anonymous (Malibu, California, USA) on 10/18/2009
After having a cat nearly die after his first rabies vaccination, fast forward many years to now -- I have a six-month old male kitten whom I have chosen to not vaccinate. The problem is I have failed in my attempt to find a veterinarian who will neuter him without being vaccinated. Can anybody out there refer me to a veterinarian in southern California who will neuter my unvaccinated kitty? I feel we are being held hostage because we've chosen an altenative, healthier path. Thank you!
Rabies Vaccine Side Effects
Posted by Carmen (Ladysmith, B.C Canada) on 05/31/2009
I am just commenting on the side effects of Feline Vaccines. I believe 2 of my cats have has serious reactions. My cat Willow ( she has now passed ) started having seizures shortly after having a rabies vaccination. She had to be on phenobarb for the rest of her live. I also believe her life was shortened because of the vaccination reaction. And if that wasn't enough I had my kitten Sawyer's first set of shots in December. The next day I heard him growling behind the couch..he had bit off the end of his tail and was attacking it like it wasn't his own. I went back to my vet that day and she kept him for observation and treated him for fleas ( he didn't have any ) I thought this was a bunch of bull and called the homeopathic vet up island. She sent me some tinctures that seemed to help. He goes in spells now....is good for a few weeks then regresses. When he was neuted I asked for the tip of his tail to be removed just incase this would solve the problem. It hasn't. He still growls, attacks his tail and his back crawls like there are bugs crawling on him. I am going to try accupunture next, get him on some more homeopathic, and will never vaccinate him again I work in an animal hospital and this puts me in a tough spot as i do believe our animals are being over vaccinated.
