Side Effects of Pet Vaccines: A Closer Look

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 Jean (Lincoln, England) on 06/09/2014

I was trying to find an answer to a question when I came across this site and read how dogs don't need to be vaccinated every year after having them done as puppies. We were upset when our usual vet retired and another vet injected our little Jack Russell on his back above his hind leg. All the other vets we've used did it in the scruff, but she crept up behind our dog whilst my son was holding him and did it quick without us being able to stop her. My son asked what she was doing and she said they did it there sometimes when they didn't want to cause stress. Two weeks later, he seemed to act strangely, as if he were dreamy and then he began to lose control of his bladder. He was eight years old, but he was healthy before the vaccination. We took him to be checked out after the bank holiday and he was scanned around his bladder and had blood taken. Then we were given some tablets for infection, even though the vet said there wasn't any sign of infection. We were so afraid he would die suffering as two other dogs we'd had, we believed suffered with cancer, so we took him to be euthanized, which ended up being quite horrific as he cried and was fighting it. Now I'm wondering if it was the vaccination or the way that it was administered that actually caused our last little dog's death. We cannot bear to go through such heartbreak again, so we can't have another. I'm afraid the vets have broken our trust now.

Combination Vaccines
Posted by Theresa (Mpls., Mn) on 06/09/2014

Jean,

I can't begin to tell you how upsetting your post is. I am sorry for your little JRT.

It is hard to answer your question about the vaccine causing a reaction observed in your dog two weeks after it was injected without knowing what it was that was injected. IMHO from what you posted - dreamy look/loss of bladder control - sounds like your dog may have had idiopathic epilepsy, which can appear at any age - but this is only my guess based on what you shared. And the vet told you true: many animals won't notice a poke in the leg or rump but take exception - terriers in particular - to having their scruff's grasped for any reason, much less a sharp poke.

It is unfortunate that you were not aware of the services being provided in time enough to accept or decline them. When you show up at the vet, you need to know *why* you are there so you can discuss your options. Vet and client should have a two way relationship and I can only urge everyone to not settle for the closest vet to you - but to go the distance for the vet you find you *can* trust.

I can assure you your dog died because you euthanized it. It may or may not have had what your last two may have had; this cannot be ascertained unless you do a necropsy/autopsy- however it sounds as if you really do not know why the last two died as you did not perform diagnostic tests. Since it's three dogs now for you feel that had the same issue, you should strongly consider environmental toxins in your home as a possible common factor in all this. Kudos for making the decision to not obtain another dog.

RIP little JRT


Combination Vaccines
Posted by Om (Hope, Bc. Canada) on 06/09/2014

The post made me cry and I have to thank Theresa for her excellent reply. Thank you again, Theresa. It made me feel better even though it will sit with me for a while unfortunately. Namaste, Om


Distemper (Cats)
Posted by Therese (Wadsworth, Ohio ) on 11/14/2013

I took two of my cats (siblings) for their distemper shots about two weeks ago. One of them is currently at the vet for what I beleive is a reaction to the shot (high fever, no appetite, lethargy, nausea). Prior to this shot he was perfectly healthy. Just got off the phone with the vet and shes testing for kidney infection/failure because of his labwork. This is now my second cat that had the EXACT SAME THING happen. Three years ago I took my cat Buddy for his distemper shot and exactly two weeks later he was rushed to the vet with high fever, lethargy, no appetite. After a couple days on fluids he was fine and has been 100% healthy to this day. My vet is in Medina also. After Buddy's incident I spoke with the vet several times explaining that I beleived it to be a reaction the the distemper shot. She refused to believe it!! She finally said that if I felt so strongly we would not vaccinate Buddy again. Now I just called back and left a message for her that this appears to be another shot reaction just like Buddy's. We shall see what she says THIS time!! I'm wondering if these shots are worth the risk at this point since my cats are indoors.

Distemper (Cats)
Posted by Theresa (Mpls., Mn) on 11/14/2013

Hey Therese!

I'm sorry to hear about your ill kitty; I'm even more sorry to hear about the reaction by your vet! This is a person who is supposed to be your team mate in your pet's health, and they are failing to take into consideration the first hand feedback from the team member who spends 100% of their time caring for and observing the pet! [Head:Desk]

It makes perfects sense to me that if one sibling had a bad reaction, that the second sibling might react the same way; its familial.

You might consider dosing both cats with homeopathic Thuja Occidentalis; also dosing some activated charcoal - mixed in with wet food am and pm for a week.

If these were my cats I would NOT vaccinate again, ever. Particularly since they are both indoor kitties.

I would also consider changing vets; the American Holistic Veterinary Medical Association lists several holistic practitioners in your area. I find the website hard to use, so a few options if you are interested:

www.dancingpawsawc.com
http://www.wellnesspathvet.com/
http://www.holisticvetpractice.com/

These vets may be able to help heal via nutrition some of the damage done. Please keep us posted on your cat's recovery!


Distemper (Cats)
Posted by Theresa (Mpls., Mn) on 10/16/2013

Hey Oleander!

I am sorry for your experience. Was this experience with a vet with whom you were familiar, or a newer partner? I certainly would have a frank talk with the owner if a partner treated you in this manner, or seek a new vet if this was the owner. Veterinarians are *generalists* and wise vets understand that breeders and rescuers are *specialists*, often with far more experience in a particular niche than their own. Of course they poked the lil' kiki in the leg and NOT the upper back - you are not mis-remembering this; that is the new protocol as a leg is easier to amputate should cancer develop at the site of vaccination [sad but true].

It may help to give this baby some homeopathic Thuja, along with probiotics and additional cleaners such as activated charcoal or milkthistle. Poor lil baby ki. Kudos for rescuing and fostering!


Combination Vaccines
Posted by Erika (Plano, Tx) on 10/06/2013

I took my healthy vibrant loving five-year-old Chihuahua named peanut in for his vaccinations yesterday morning and nine hours later he was dead I am devastated and I never want anyone else to go through the pain that I'm going through right now.

I am so angry that he was healthy and fine and after he got his shots he died all I was doing was trying to care for my animal.

Combination Vaccines
Posted by Theresa (Mpls., Mn) on 10/06/2013

Erika, I am so very sorry for your loss of Peanut.


Combination Vaccines
Posted by Theresa (Mpls., Mn) on 09/05/2013

Hey Lisa!

The symptoms you describe do NOT sound like a vaccine reaction to the DA2PP or Lepto.

Acute immediate vaccine reactions include shock and skin reactions - you would have seen these reactions within the hour and they would have warranted an immediate return to the vet, while reactions such as lethargy are seen later, within 24 hours. *Some* of what you describe [lethargy] sounds like a reaction to the vaccine, and dosing with homeopathic thuja occidentalis may help to negate the adverse vaccine reactions along with probiotic therapy to combat any tendency towards yeast overgrowth in the GI tract as a secondary reaction to the vaccine - BUT the limping and the obvious back pain appear to be the main issue and they sound like something else.

What you describe sounds like an injury; is it possible your puppy jumped off the couch and landed hard or twisted and pinched his spine? Cavalier King Charles spaniels are reportedly prone to a form of IVDD known as Hansen Type I intervertebral disk disease. Its important to see your vet to rule this condition out - or to begin supportive therapy immediately if in the clinical findings.

http://www.cavalierhealth.org/disc.htm


Combination Vaccines
Posted by Julie (Asheville Nc) on 09/06/2013

The "good stuff" is unpasturized apple cider vinegar. You can find it at organic grocery stores or a health food stores. Or search in the internet to have some shipped to you!


Combination Vaccines
Posted by Kelly (Davis, Ca) on 03/14/2018

This happened to my 2yo 5lb Papillon after he was given Lepto vaccine in his hind leg. He was miserable and wouldnt even lay down or sit because his leg hurt too much. I took him back to the vet the same day and they gave me OstiLox which is a doggie NSAID (like advil or tylenol for humans) and he felt better within an hour! It was $30 but I have the whole bottle now and it was worth it to see my dog normal again.


Combination Vaccines
Posted by Bowie (Beaufort, S.C.) on 06/18/2013

My dog received all shots and dewormer and heart worm test and heart worm and flea preventitive medicines yesterday and I found him panting heavily and eyes dilated ? What should I do? can I wait till morning to contact his vet?


Distemper (Dogs)
Posted by Dianne (La Crosse, Wi) on 06/02/2013

Okay, I have to tell our story of our beloved lab named Mo. We took him for his distemper shot and he got so sick from it. He could not walk or eat. He was vomiting and jerking. We called the vet and he said he must be allergic to the shot. So we said please make sure that it is on his record for future shots. It took almost 2 weeks before he was better, but he was still acting a little strange. He would take off on us (we live in the country) which he NEVER did before. There is a campground about a quarter of a mile away and he ended up there and they called the Humane society to pick him up. We called over there and they said they had him and they were getting his vet record. We said he was current on all shots which the record would show and we would be over to pick him up. They said we had to pick him up before a half an hour or it was an "extra" charge after noon. We got there before noon and they had given him ANOTHER distemper shot EVEN though they had his record and it showed he was allergic and current and that would be $90 please! What? you have his record and it says he's allergic and you gave it to him anyway? He was so sick, he went blind. We took him for emergency vet visit and they said he had brain cancer. Well if he did it was from the freaking shot! Some "humane" society!! They killed our dog-period and I will never forgive them. He was a happy vibrant just fine dog before those two shots! There is nothing "humane" about giving a dog a shot he didn't need and already had when it clearly showed on the vet report he was allergic to it for a stinking $90!


Distemper (Cats)
Posted by Benji5781 (Freehold, Nj) on 04/16/2013

My chihuahua had a reaction to distemper vaccination. Her face became swollen and she became lethargic. Pretty scary.


Bordetella
Posted by Tiffany (Memphis, Tn, Usa) on 04/13/2013

We have a 10 week old male Labrador/Mastiff puppy. He started puppy class and we were told he had to have the Bordetella vaccine to continue. Our vet gave him the nasal spray vaccine. Within a few hours he was snippy and agressive - he had not previously been. As soon as we got home, he made a bee-line for our 5 year old son who was sitting on the floor and bit him. He ran a fever the rest of the day and through the night. We gave him some benedryl. He is eating and pooping fine today, and without fever. But he is still showing much more agression that he ever did before his shot. But there is still the agression. We are very sad indeed. This morning, he bit our 5 year old's pants and began to growl at him. He hasn't growled at any of us the whole week he has been home before yesterday's vaccine. I feel as if we have ruined our sweet puppy.

Bordetella
Posted by Lindy (Busselton) on 07/09/2015

So interesting reading the ladies story on the lab x mastiff pup having the kennel cough vaccine and puppy becoming suddently aggressive . My pup is same breed and did exactly the same with my other dog since vaccination , and has continued to . before her vaccination she was lovely, kind.


Combination Vaccines
Posted by Cheryl (Vancouver, Wa) on 12/27/2012

My 11 yr old shih tzu received the following vaccines on a tuesday - rabies, dhpp, and bordatella, along with a dex/depo shot for his itchiness due to allergies. this same vet diagnosed my baby with a heart murmur, and had him on lasix and elanapril, and was giving my dog a dex/depo shot app every 6 weeks.

2 days after getting all those shots at the same visit, my beloved dog died of congestive heart failure. since then, i have learned that the dex/depo shots were steroids, and that steroids should not be given to a dog with heart problems. i would like to know if the dex/depo shots caused him to die so suddenly or from receiving too many combo vaccines at the same visit. (i got my baby when he was 8 yrs old; the previous owner could not find his vaccination records, thats why my vet kept after me to get these shots. and also because i was planning on boarding him at this vets office over xmas, thats the reason the vet gave for giving him the bordatella along with the others. )

i am almost ready to get another dog; i have never been so heartbroken or so sad as i have been since losing my baby. we were inseperable, and i need another companion soon. i need to know if holistic practice is what i should seek for my new pup and if things would of turned out differently if i'd of done this with my pet that died. thank you for reading this; any advice would be greatly appreciated.


Combination Vaccines
Posted by Betterinthesouth (Longs, Sc) on 11/16/2012

19 month old mini Schnauzer almost died from 3 yr rabies and 3 yr distemper/hep/parvo vaccines approx. 36 hrs after administered. Airway was being restricted, constant vomiting and diarreha. Dog had to be rushed to an ER clinic and then again 6 days later is still barely eating.


Rattlesnake
Posted by George (New Braunfels, Texas) on 10/27/2012

I learned of the availability of a rattlensake vaccination, so I had my three-year-old labrador retriever vaccinated, with the recommended booster. It's been a couple of months now, and the dog's tear glands have ceased to produce tears, and he now salivates excessively. We now have to administer eye drops several times a day. He has always been a very healthy dog with regular vet checks, up to date rabies, heart worm, etc. Has anyone heard of any connection between these symptoms and this vaccination. We can't come up with any other idea what might have caused this.

Rattlesnake
Posted by Debby (Texas) on 04/24/2014

When my dachshund was 1 year old, she had 2 rattlesnake vaccines. She is 3.5 years old now. I never had any problems, side effects etc. she received her vaccine in Montana after 2 near misses with timber rattlers.


Combination Vaccines
Posted by Linda (Kerhonkson, Ny) on 08/09/2012

My 8 year old golden retriever went from a seemingly vibrant & healthy to gravely ill in the 2 weeks following an annual visit to the vet where she was administered a lyme booster and a distemper booster. The day before the appointment she seemed under the weather, not wanting to eat or go for a walk, which was very unusual & out of character. But that evening & on the morning of her vet appt. she seemed fine and back to normal. I reported these symptoms to the vet, who could find nothing wrong with her and said she seemed perfectly healthy and that, "everyone is entitled to an off day". With that, I agreed to let them go ahead with her booster shots.

The day after the shots she was very lethargic and when things hadn't improved by the day after, we were back at the vet, who said her leg was swollen at the injection site and was probably having a reaction to the vaccine. I was told to bring her back in a few days if she didn't improve. During the days that followed we had some signs of improvement followed by signs that the condition was persisting. I made another appointment to bring her back to the vet and the morning of the appointment (6 days after her initial visit) she was unable to get up, experiencing partial paralyzation of her hind legs. She was admitted and put through a battery of tests and treatments. Following an MRI and spinal tap, 13 days after her initial vet visit, she was diagnoses with an abnormality in her lower spinal column with the presence of cancerous cells. Her rear legs remain partially paralyzed and she has lost control of her bodily functions.

The vet does not want to acknowledge any possibility of a correlation between the illness and the vaccines, and I am not convinced. Ironically, I had a friend who told me of someone he knew who had a similar experience with his dog following a lyme booster. Just wondering how many more cases may be out there, and wondering if this & other cases are being swept under the rug by vets and pharmasutical companies. What do you think?

Combination Vaccines
Posted by Daveyo (Nakhon Sawan, Thailand) on 08/30/2012

The Vets diagnosis is all wrong. Your dog has Distemper now in the CNS. It is called vaccine induced distemper.

You need to have the dog taken to Dr. Mueller in Atlanta Georgia (Briarcliff Clinic) to have the NDV-CSF tap done ASAP. If you don't the dog will DIE!!! This cures the disease in 24 hours in the CNS and your dog will recover from the paralysis. The cost for this is just 500 dollars. It covers one overnight stay plus the CSF tap and followup treatments of which you can take home if your dog has pneumonia which always accompanies Distemper.

I am an expert on this disease and have 3 dogs as proof of the cure. One was completely paralyzed and today is jumping and running around etc. The other had seizures and today none.

There is also a book out pertaining to this disease of which me and Dr. Sears made to inform people that this disease is treatable and fully cures in 24 hours.

As of that VET who gave the shot and did a horrible misdiagnosis, give him your bill from Atlanta and make him/her pay for it, and after that find another VET.

Take care Daveyo


Lepto Vaccine
Posted by Tawanna (New Jersey) on 10/13/2020

Ginger and turmeric.


Thuja
Posted by Sjanczak (Windsor, Ct) on 07/22/2012
★★★★★

I volunteer in cat rescue and have seen a few reactions to vaccines. I learned (from a homeopathic vet) that the homeopathic remedy thuja can counteract a distemper vaccine reaction in kittens. I do not know if it will work for other vaccine reactions or if a different remedy is better for dogs. I have seen kittens with rapid breathing, lethargy, and shakes return to normal behavior almost immediately or within 24 hours of taking thuja. If you are going to vaccinate your pet, it may be worthwhile to research this and have on hand the most appropriate remedy.


Parvo Vaccine
Posted by Lelani (St. George, Ut) on 07/11/2012

My puppy was given her antiparvo vaccine last night at home, and she was poked several times because we could not get the needle in her (lots of yelping and squirming). She was vomiting for a couple hours, dry heaving, and all she does is sleep. She has now begun to drink water, but will not eat. And she shows signs of resentment towards me (I was one of the hands holding her down). She pooped this morning and it was wet and somewhat solid. Like a thick, wet paste texture. Will she be okay?

Distemper (Cats)
Posted by Christa (Milwaukee, Wisconsin) on 07/04/2012

My 3 year old cat got his first distemper vaccination yesterday. Starting from about 5 hours after the shot, he lay down in a closet and didn't seem to move from that spot for about 16 hours. I got him to get up and walk around a bit after that period, but he was being very lethargic - not meowing at all (he's usually very vocal) or chasing a laser pointer (which he usually loves). After being up for about an hour he eventually went and hid under the bed. At that point I decided to call the vet because he never hides under there and I know cats do that when they're dying. The vet said these are all normal side effects from the vaccine and that he should be fine by this evening. He's come out from under the bed now, but he's still pretty much just laying around. I did get him to meow a few times though. He seems to be getting a bit better, but as he's an indoor cat I doubt I'll ever put him through this again.


Combination Vaccines
Posted by Tanya (Adelaide, South Australia) on 05/19/2012

I have a 3yo Mini Schnauzer x Lhasa Apso who had here annual c4 vaccination today. After 1.5 hours she started to have a severe allergic reaction including:

- swelling of the face

- swelling under the neck

- lumps all over her body

- increased temperature.

She has been given some anti-inflamatories which have helped out a bit but she is still swollen.

The vaccine was Protech c4 by Boehringer Ingelheim.



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