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.
Distemper (Dogs)
Posted by Michele (Baltimore, Maryland) on 05/17/2009
I started reading this site about all the pets with reactions from their shots because I, like most of you, get my 2 dogs their shots as a responsible pet owner. My vet has went to every 3 years, but I don't think that really matters. Here is what has happened to my Molly. We took both of our dogs for distemper shots. They are Tank and Molly. Tank seems to be fine. Molly, by Sat.(2 days after her shot) couldn't get up,or walk, we had to carry her up and down the steps,then she started throwing up,not wanting to eat she seems very confused. We took her back to the vet Tues. he put her on Rimadyl. I have since taken her off the Rimadyl because of more vomiting and not wanting to eat. She is also diabetic. Her diabetes is controlled. She has developed a hugh lump (that is bigger than what my hand can cover)by her hind leg,on her side coming up on her back. My vet told me that she is carrying alot of weight in her backend, which dogs usually carry the weight in their chest. Well this lump has quadrupled its size in 1 week. So we are going to see a specialist on Mon. After reading this site and even before I am convinced this is all from her Distemper shot. I told my husband that none of our pets will ever receive boosters as long as they live. I will let you know the outcome.Sincerely, Michele
Combination Vaccines
Posted by Mimi (Brooklyn, NY) on 05/13/2009
Side-effects from vaccination
I took my 8 month-old Siamese kitten to get tested for FIV Friday of last week (5/8) and while we were there, she was given both her rabies vaccine and the first of the shots for feline leukemia. When we got home she was acting fairly normal, but the next morning we found her huddled in a corner, shaking and unkempt (her feet were covered in litter). We cleaned her off and tried to comfort her, but she was acting very paranoid and jumpy. It is Wednesday now (5/13) and while she's shown marked improvement, her behavior is still far from normal. I'm fairly beside myself--prior to getting her vaccinated, she was absolutely the most cheerful, engaged, talkative and loving cat I'd ever met. Now she seems distant, lethargic, impatient and when I look in her eyes, I no longer feel like she is looking back at me. I feel just horrible for allowing this to happen.
I started her on Thuja a couple days ago, but haven't seen much of a difference in her behavior--maybe I started it too late? I called the vet, but am hesitant to bring her in as she is still eating and drinking normally, and I don't want to scar her further. She seems to be running a low-grade fever from time-to-time so I think I will make her an appointment. If anyone else has any suggestions or similar stories, I would be eternally grateful if you emailed me, I'm at a loss about what to do.
I should note that one of my two other cats--both of them are American shorthairs--was also vaccinated at the same time and her behavior has been normal. Still, I don't think I'll be getting them any more vaccinations in the future--they are all disease free and only go outside when I'm supervising them. It's just not worth the pain and fear it causes them, or the heartbreak it has caused me.
Combination Vaccines
Posted by Jenniebcmb (Mount Holly, NJ) on 05/07/2009
I was given a tabby kitten almost 3 years ago this fall. She was born outside, so I wasn't sure what she had come in contact with so she was given rabies, FELV, and distemper; maybe something else, but I cannot remember. She was taken back the next year and received the booster for distemper and 3 yr. rabies. She is due this month for distemper, 3rd year. I have been debating on whether I should take her. When she was given all the shots the first time, I thought she was going to die. She laid in bed with me all night. She could barely move, she was burning up and wouldn't eat or drink. This was all the same day. The next day, she was fine. But the shots made her very ill.
Combination Vaccines
Posted by Clover (Sioux Lookout, Ontario Canada) on 05/03/2009
Side effects of vaccination?
Hi, I have a 3-month old white boxer who has just been transitioned over from Medi-Cal Development to Eagle Pack puppy formula. Yesterday I took him to the vet. Right before we left he had a bowel movement and I noticed there was a bit of diarrhea near the end, which caused me a slight concern. He had his last set of shots for the year (incl. rabies) and since then his bowel movements have been straight diarrhea (not quite 24 hours). I'm not sure if this would be related to the vaccination since he started to experience diarrhea before he got his shot. I'm not sure what to do now! At what point do I choose to take him back to the vet? Thank you!
Distemper (Dogs)
Posted by drjenhawes (Kalispell, MT) on 04/30/2009
Has anyone had success treating hypertrophic osteodystrophy in puppies? It is the technical name for the distemper vaccination reaction that happens in Weimeraner and other breeds of dogs....HELP! My poor puppy CHILI is miserable...
Distemper (Dogs)
Posted by Michelle (Virginia Beach, VA) on 04/29/2009
1 1/2 year old mini long haired daschund had distemper shot. 4 hour later no engery and throwing up. Emergency vet gave benydrl. Two days later still not eating and not feeling well.
My complaint is why the same dosage for 8 lb dog vs 100 lb dog.
Thanks.
Combination Vaccines
Posted by Pia (Fayetteville, GA, USA) on 04/28/2009
Possible reaction to yearly vaccination.
Our sweet Sapphie, a beautiful weimerarner started swelling up like a balloon a couple of days ago. It was so bad she looked disfigued. She also started throwing up. We thought she might be having an allergic reaction to a bee sting or even a snake bite. Went to the vet. They gave her sterioids which made her throw up again, all this after giving her a shot of an anti-inflamatory. Since weim have such a delicate stomach, we decided to stop the steriods. She did get a little better.
So the vet put her on Benadryl. As she was acting nuts, drinking wo much water she had to pee every 30 minuts (no exageration,) the vet change her to Chlortrimetron. This was after this morning her face and ears where swelling up again and her coat, which is smooth, was showing bumps and patches all through out her body. Needless to say, I was totally freeked out!!
So know the vet thinks she might be having a delayed reaction to her yearly shots. Has anybody experienced something like this with their pet: extremely swollen face, vomiting, hives through out the body?
Any and all help would be greatly appreciated.
Combination Vaccines
Posted by Liz (Manitoba, Canada) on 04/26/2009
Distemper, Rabies, Vaccine
Five days ago we brought our 13 year old schnoodle in for his shots. Two days later he was shivering terribly and became extremely hypersenstive to touch. The vet did blood work and examined him but could find nothing. We took him home and he got worse, over the next two days he became blind and deaf, his gate became more and more staggered, we could not touch him or he went absolutely berserk, squealing and snarling and biting. He kept pacing the house. He paced all night long, for over 14 hours until the vet arrived and we had him put down. I can't even express how mad I am. Even now the vets are saying he must have had a brain tumor, that they have never heard of side effects from vaccination. Well I have had a dog who had a brain tumor and it doesn't come on suddenly like this. I know it was the vaccine. He was the sweetest little dog for 13 years and didn't deserve this.
Combination Vaccines
Posted by Carolann (Norfolk, Uk) on 05/26/2012
I took my 12 year old staffordshire bull terrier Chloe to the vets for her booster after her booster I noticed the left side of her temple had sunken in due to a reaction to her brain caused by the vaccination, she will need to be on medication for the rest of her life. She's not in pain but all she wants to do is sleep and eat, not interested in anything else. I have been told that vets know that the vaccination can cause a reaction, why don't they tell us this.
Combination Vaccines
Posted by Lisa (Charlotte, NC) on 04/24/2009
In 1987 before I knew how dangerous vaccines are I gave my german shepherd all the shots the vet recommended. Five years later I woke up to find the dog paralyzed from the waist down. The vet said it was a "neurologic issue" and said we should put the dog to sleep because once the paralysis reached his lungs he would die. So sadly I lost a sweet dog to what I believe was over-vaccination. The symptom was like Guillain-Barre in a human.
Combination Vaccines
Posted by Amy (Amsterdam, NY) on 04/24/2009
Next Day Hind Quarter Weakness
I am looking for any information from ANYONE who has experienced what we now are. Last night, Thursday 4/23 at about 6:30, we brought our 2 young healthy dogs to our vet for their routine vaccines. Sadie, our almost 3 year old German Shorthaired Pointer, got her Adult DHLP-V (Distemper)and Lyme vaccines. She has always been a healthy, happy, energetic girl, and our vet (who we will not be using anymore) said she is in perfect health. Then Grace, our almost 2 year old Mountain Cur who is equally happy and healthy, got her 3 yr rabies vaccination along w/the same distemper as sadie. We went home, and everything was normal. This a.m., i let my girls out as i always do. Typically, they run all over the yard, chasing birds and bunnies until they are exhausted. Not today. Today they came right inside, saide barely able to move. She couldn't walk, her body was shaking, and she was unable to get onto the couch by herself. I called the vet, they said give her some aspirin and limit her activity for 24 hrs. i was so worried about sadie that I didn't notice grace having almost identical problems. She too cannot climb up on the couch w/out help, and has a difficult time sitting/laying down. What do I do?
Combination Vaccines
Posted by Erica (Boston, Ma) on 01/18/2010
I just read your blog and I am sorry for what you went through. I am now going through something similar with my dog. I have a 2 yr old shih tzu and a few months ago I took him to get his rabies & distemper shots. Within a week my dog was shaking all over and he had a small lump at the injection site. I took him back to the vet and she told me nothing was wrong with him that I should just watch him for the next 3 months. Well, it's been almost 3 months & he's still shaking frequently. I've been doing a bunch of research regarding the rabies vaccination. I can't believe the things I've been reading. Did you know that all vets are supposed to tell you that the rabies vaccine should be given alone & you should wait 2-4 weeks before giving any other shots? My vet never told me. Also, the smaller the dog, the greater the risk. The rabies shot is 1 ml whether you have a teacup pup or a great dane.Imagine. Well, I fund a great website with tons of info for dogs. Its called www.truth4dogs.org. Not sure if you've seen it. I was just wondering have your dogs recovered? I'm going to a great animal hospital in Boston, MA where I live to get another opinion. I have a feelng this shaking is going to be a permanent thing with the nervous system. Well best of luck to you & your dogs.
Combination Vaccines
Posted by Debbie (Lakeland, Florida) on 04/23/2009
i have a 3 1/2 yr old dashound and we got his rabbies shot about a week ago and he hasn't been right since. He yelps when we pick him up doesn't want to eat or drink. Now i'm beside my self with worry is this a normal reaction for my dog? Any help or advise please. Thanks worried mommy!!
Combination Vaccines
Posted by Debbie (Spring Valley, CA) on 04/20/2009
I took my cat yesterday to the Vaccination Clinic to update immunizations. He is my baby and they said since he is simese he should not have all shots at once as he may have a reaction. He seemed unusually quiet coming home...He won't eat he has no energy neither like him. He seems to be alittle dizzy. Not running around stepping slower than usual. I told them to just give him one vac. at a time, looks like he got two. the Rhinotrachllis-calci-Panleukopenia and Chlamydia Psittaci Vaccine. Have others seen this reaction and if so did it pass with pet returning to good health and normal behavior? Thought you should keep your pet vaccinated now I am questioning if I did the right thing.
Combination Vaccines
Posted by Cathie (Navarre, FL, Santa Rosa County) on 04/18/2009
i took my 9 month cat to the vet, they said she needed her injection for a upper respiratory booster with 1 more in 3 wks. we got her home ,she was tired acting, but next morning we had to RUSH her to the vet with a 105.9 tempature, they gave fluids by i. v. ,then we took her home. she was fine for a few hours, we had to give her 1/2 of a baby aspirin, and 1/2 tsp benerdryl , then her fever went up to 107.3 and we were told to use achol to rub her down, it did bring down the temp....for a little bit, but it went back up called vet again supposed to go at 7am in morning for antibotics. i dont think she'll be getting that second booster!!!
Combination Vaccines
Posted by Anna (Yonkers, New York) on 04/17/2009
I just wanted to add a few words on the danger of too much vaccinations. My 11 year old Golden Retriever had to have his rabies shot in order to get licensed. I am sorry to say I wanted to save some money, so we brought him to a clinic. He received all vaccinations at once, including a 3 year rabie vaccine. A few months later he developed cancerous tumors. He died about 6 months later. In trying to help him after his diagnosis, I found out how too many vaccinations at one time can be deadly. Too late for him, but not for others. If you must vaccinate, try spreading the vaccinations over months so not to overload your pet.
Combination Vaccines
Posted by Angel (Atlanta, Georgia) on 04/17/2009
My Rottie has a golf ball size lump on the back of her neck from getting vaccinations. It has gotten larger and not smaller. It has never gone away, only gotten larger over the last 2 years. I don't know what to do due because there is not a lot of money for treatment. I have decided not to vaccinate her this year. The lump is large and mushy. I would like to find a Holistic Vet. This is so horrible what they do to our pets. She was being vaccinated and the place where you have the store and clinic combined.
Angel
