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.
Combination Vaccines
Posted by Steph (Bozeman, MT) on 05/07/2008
I'm posting to share my cat's vaccination experience earlier today. his name is Biff- he's a 5 year old lynxe point siamese-he's big-16lbs-but not really overweight-maybe just a tad. Took him to the vet at 5:30-already worried and not feeling quite right about allowing him to be vaccinated- he had a rabies on left shoulder & respitory & luekemia combined on the right shoulder. Then we had my dogs nails trimmed- we were on our way out the driveway around 6 when I heard him vomit-back to the vet. She at first thought overexcitement, but he continued to vomit & she agreed he was having a reaction & injected benadryl. And then we watched him. He was still vomiting every 5 minutes or so. He was licking at the injection site alot throughout the next couple of hours- where he got the rabies- and trying to reach it with his back paw to scratch- he chewed on the pads of his feet a few different times- he was very agitated and obvoiusly experiencing quite a bit of discomfort. His fur on his back kept twitching on and off- like he's trying to shake off the feeling - wouldn't still for long kept pacing- was panting openmouthed a few times. The vet after about 45 minutes of this gave him a steroid shot. We waited another half hour til he seemed well enough to go home & hadn't vomited in about 25 minutes or so. The vet seemed very surprised that it was a rabies reaction-said it was really uncommon. On our way home he lost bladder conrol in his crate. He's been better since we've been home- he's pretty sleepy- I'm just worried something more will happen tonight- don't want to fall asleep in case. this sucks- This very much worsens my concerns about vaccinating- I feel lucky after reading some of the other stories that the end result wasn't death.
Combination Vaccines
Posted by Brandye (Keller, TX) on 05/06/2008
My two pugs, ages 2 and 1.5 yrs. old rec'd Leptospirosis vaccines on 05-05-08. The younger pug exhibited no side effects, but after 3 hours, the 2 year old began scratching at his face, vomiting, having muscles twitches, the skin around his eyes swelled, and his lips swelled. Upon calling the vet, I administered 25 mg. of Benedryl orally. It took around 3 hours for the symptoms to dissipate to the point that he was able to sleep.
Bordetella
Posted by Sally (San Diego, California) on 05/06/2008
My 3 year old Bichon-Poodle mix just had her yearly Bordetella Vaccine and is experiencing side effects of loss of appetite, very tired, slight cough and cries when I try to pick her up. Prior to receiving the vaccine, she was a normal happy dog. The side effects began about 6 hours after receiving the treatment. I have given her 4 mg of Chlorpheniramine Mealeate which has not helped yet. She has never had a reaction to this vaccine before.
Combination Vaccines
Posted by Jeanette (Fontana, CA) on 05/05/2008
Hi. My 2 Year old Ragdoll kitty went in for her annual check up and feline shots. there were 3 shots she received. one was for Leukimia and one for Rabies and the other was a shot for feline cat fever. i dont remember the exact name of that shot. I got Shyla home after her shots and she started vomiting and then had diareah. i have had cats all my life. i am 50 years old. i have never experienced this before. i called the vet and the lady at the front desk told me she is having a alergic reaction and i need to give her some Benydril for kids ; they said one cc. i ran to the pharmacy and went home and gave it to her then she seemed to be okay. my gosh, they never warned me of side effects. i was a nervous wreck and i would not recommend these shots done all at once. the rabie shot i believe is what caused her to become ill. I hope anyone getting their animals shots look into what exactly they are giving them and to only have 1 shot at a time; if your cat doesnt go out; i wouldnt even risk the shot.
Combination Vaccines
Posted by Brian (Lafayette, IN) on 05/04/2008
18 hrs after vaccination my 15yr old Westie is shaking and dissoriented walking around in to walls and falling over with no idea where she is.
Bordetella
Posted by jasmina (mount prospect, illinois) on 04/29/2008
We took our yorkiepoo for her 9 week shots one was the bordetella on her back and a couple of weeks after noticed that the hair fell out in that spot and on the skin was a dark quarter size looking mark. Now in that same spot there is brown hair growing in the shape of a quarter size circle. Asked vet, said they did not know what it was. Vet gave her another shot at 12 weeks this time over her right leg and a couple of weeks later the same thing has happened. Should I take to another vet and have her blood checked or is this from the vaccines. Scared to get her 16 week shots. Affraid my yorkiepoo will look like a dalmation by the time all of this is over. Anyone have the same problem. Is this genetic or from the vaccines?
Combination Vaccines
Posted by Mary Ann (North Huntingdon, PA) on 04/29/2008
This is not regarding a remedy, but about a bad side effect both of my dogs had after their yearly vaccinations (distemper and rabies). My female Rotwiler/cattle dog mis had two seizuers three days after receiving the immunizations. My 15 year old male australian shepherd began to bleed profusely from his nose.
Combination Vaccines
Posted by Lisa (Melrose Park, IL) on 04/26/2008
I took my 12 wk old 9lb chi for his shots last Friday. He received, Bordetella, rabies and 6 in 1 distemper. 6 days later he woke me up at 3:30 in the morning whimpering, paranoid and sniffing and shooing things that weren't there. I waited until 8am when the vet opened and took him in....first I thought he ate something that didn't agree with him as he got a hold of a plate with a 1/2 eaten hamburger and some fried veggies....but the more I read the more I realize that he is having a very bad reaction to his shots. I specifically told them not to give all the shots at one time because of his size but they said it was fine....well no it is not...I had a perfectly beautiful and normal chi now I have a very paranoid hallucinating puppy that I don't know how to cure. I am giving him benadryl, some lact-something stickly liquid to absorb toxins, valuim and antibiotics...it's killing me to see him like this. If anyone can help please let me know.
Combination Vaccines
Posted by Jeri (Aberdeen, Scotland, UK) on 04/24/2008
My dog Thor is a healthy 10 lb.,4 yr old male neutered mini Rat Terrier. He has lived in Aberdeen, Scotland for 2 1/2 years, moved from Katy, Texas. He did not have any adverse reactions to any vaccines while living in the US but has had reactions the past two years to the multi boosters not rabies. He does not react right away but 6+ hours after wards. Last year I was out for our evening walk and thought he had been stung by a bee or got into a stinging nettle plant due to the swelling on his face. I contacted the vet and took him in after hours. he was given an injections and pills and improved by the next day. No other problems were noted. He had his multi annual injections on this Wednesday morning 11:00, at 8:00 pm his right eye started to swell up followed by the rest of his face and hives broke out on his body. I called the after hours care, spoke with a vet who told me what type of over the counter meds to use on Thor. This helped him, reduced swelling in his face and body so I did not take him in to the emergency clinic. The next morning his body was covered again with hives so we went to the vets. While waiting he vomited his breakfast, pacing continually. He got two injections one for tummy upset and one for reaction. I was also given Zantac Syrup 300ml, dosage 0.6 ml twice a day by mouth till his stomach settles and Piriton 4mg, dosage half a table twice a day till symptons are gone. The vet checked Thor's records and said he did not get the same brand injections as last year. I've checked Thor's records from the US but the brands aren't listed. I will be contacting my vets there to find out what they were so I can pass the information on to my vet here. the vet has recommended that Thor be given Piriton at least 24 hours before he gets his next annual injections to help reduce the reactions. Thor spent the rest of the day resting and sleeping. He looks better today but is not his normal self yet. Went for a walk this morning but he didn't seem to enjoy as he usually does. Looks like he has a few hives again, is pacing but my husband says he is so much better than before. I'll take his word for it as I see Thor all day and he doesn't. To reduce Thor's stress and me not getting bitten I now mix the liquid meds with peanut butter I don't have any problem with Thor taking them. I put his pills in a piece of cheese. the vet said it was okay to do this. I'm due to move back to the US next year and am hoping these problems will not follow us.
Combination Vaccines
Posted by Andy Hein (Omaha, Nebraska) on 04/23/2008
My Mini Australian Shepherd was 14 months old when she was taken in for her annual Rabies and DHPP shots. Immediately after the shots she had a reaction and started vomiting and collapsed on the ground. The vet gave her oxygen and benadryl and said he wanted to watch her for several hours. 2 hours later they were doing CPR and she died. I got no real answers from the Vet except it was a rare thing that happened. That was no comfort to us.We have no answers and have done alot of research and now feel that our pets are being over vaccinated.
Combination Vaccines
Posted by Marie (Belvidere, Illinois) on 04/22/2008
Our 4 months old great dane puppy has received the 5 in one vaccine at the age of 6 weeks at the breeder. Since, we have been batteling HOD and it has awaken his chronic diseases. In his case, HOD was vaccine related and not diet related. He is aggressive with other dogs and hyperactive. He is followed by a traditional and homeopathic veterinarian. We have been controlling the HOD with a low in protein raw diet with supplements (vitamin C, MSM, cod liver oil, probiotics). On the homeopathic side, he is treated with lachesis.
Combination Vaccines
Posted by Sandie Hanlon (Westboro, MA) on 04/22/2008
Hi I have a two year old Border Collie. When she got her 1st puppy shot she had a severe reation and took a week to recover. I didn't witness this but the breeder didn't want to send her until she had her seen by a vet. That was the conclusion. It was the 4 way puppy shot. At one when she recieved her rabies shot she lost her coat, not entirely but it was a weak coat, she lost weight as well. A homopathic vet wasn't surprised as she expeirienced this herself with her rabies shot.(hair loss). She is fine now and got back to normal, but I am very nervous about the next time she "needs" to get another rabies shot.
Combination Vaccines
Posted by Libby (Fort Collins, CO) on 04/21/2008
We took Pebbles our 13 y/o chichuahha in for her routine vaccines, she died within 10 minutes. The vet had just given us a clean bill of health. I do no that the rabies vaccine was given not sure what other vaccines may have been given. I just don't understand why a house pet needs rabies after they get so old. The vet said her lungs just filled with fluid and she went into cardiac arrest.
Combination Vaccines
Posted by Lori (Saskatoon, Canada) on 04/21/2008
I feel these should of been all been reported to the FDA or CFIA. How else is this sad situation going to improve, shame on the vets.
Combination Vaccines
Posted by Nan (Waterford, Michigan) on 04/21/2008
in may 2005 our 2 year old weim had a reaction to the lymes vaccine that caused her to have IMHA she was in emeregency for a good week with 3.5 blood transfusions and meds, imuran and pred. It was very hard on her and knowing any more vaccines or stress may cause it again. The cost was well over 7,000.00 to get her better, but I cannot put her through any more vaccines and risk her life again. Tiiters right now will be done, but if they ever come back low I am going to be at a loss as what to do because I am not going to do anymore vaccines. Right now we lost two other weims this winter due to vaccines . The vets answer for doing vaccines is to give high doses of pred and benedryl. This is not an acceptable answer. The high doses of pred in the one with imha had warts, or as also know as palamomoias which is also a form of cancer.
