Rabies Vaccine Side Effects in Dogs

February of 2016 my 10 year old English Setter, Doti, had symptoms of an allergic reaction, such as swelling starting in her jowls going to head, neck and ears. This was proceeded by severe vomiting and diarrhea, and not eating or drinking which resulted in dehydration. I asked my vet if the rabies vaccination which she had gotten 7 days earlier was the cause and she said no, it had been too long since vaccination. Doti ended up in the vet hospital for two days where they gave her innerveineous liquids and prednisone and she came out of it ok. However she has had some weakness in her hindquarters since, which I thought was due to her age. This year, April 2017 she had the booster to the Rabies vaccination (I had let the time lapse so she was given a "one year" shot in 2016)Sure enough 6 days later she started swelling in her jowls and it moved to her head. I called my vet and said she had the same symptoms she had suffered the year before and it was the same amount of time after her rabies shot. I asked if it could be the rabies shot, she said, no it has been too long since the vaccination. The vet told me to give her Benadryl and if she got worse to bring her in. Doti did get swelling in her head and later her ears and a little in the skin of her throat and neck, but with the Benadryl she did improve. That was Thursday, by Sat. she started vomiting and having diarrhea. Along with other symptoms such as lethargy, fever, eyes starring, aloofness (not wanting to come in house even at night which is very unusual) some confusion. However she did continue to drink this time and did not get dehydrated. By Monday she was eating a small amount and acting more like herself. She did start to swell a little in her lips, but I gave her more Benadryl and it has gone down. Today (Tues.) she is doing much better, much more perkier, seems more herself and is eating and keeping it down. In researching reactions to rabies vaccination I learned reactions can appear weeks or months after the vaccination and the symptoms she had are very typical. I feel my vet should have known this or at least researched to find more information on the reactions to Rabies vaccination. I just hope she does not have reoccurrence of symptoms or chronic problems from it. She has had severe arthritis since she was 5 and I see that is one of the chronic symptoms of vaccine reactions. She also had a cough when she was 2-4 which suddenly cleared up so might have been due to the vaccinations. I wish a vet would have told me of the possible reactions to the vaccine. I may have recognized them and stopped vaccinating her. I will be reporting this to my vet in Beach so she recognizes the symptoms and does not revaccinate again. I feel we were lucky (or blessed) that Doti did not develop more serious symptoms after the second vaccination.

I desperately need some immediate help and advice.

Our little 3 year dog received his rabies shot last Wednesday and almost immediately started drooling. (he only got the shot because they required it to neuter him) He wasn't his same self for days and by Saturday was struggling to go up the stairs. By Sunday morning his back legs were paralyzed. We rushed him to the animal hospital and they keep saying he must have injured a disk, however he hasn't been active since receiving the shot (along with the distemper vaccine).He is alive and on pain meds, steroids, and muscle relaxers but I am not seeing improvement.

What can I do??

My dog that is 12 old and 2 years old had a reaction to the rabies vac .....right after it was give the first year. Seizure, loose stools, vomiting. This year he was pre medicated and same thing except he is having loose stools, blood from his rectum x4 weeks. This is off and on and it started that day. He goes several days normal and then it hits him again. We have him on pre digested food and no stress. He is miserable but our vet says it is unrelated

At 4 months Sophie Siberian Husky received her first rabies shot. Before she was fine and willing to be trained. After vaccine she does not listen, is very aggressive, is constantly biting on everything and anything, yelps for no reason, barks at my children and myself, strange dry sporatic cough and very hyper. I am so sad. She is a completely different dog that I loved so much.

We just took my 16 year old bichon mix to get a rabies shot at one of those mobile vets (nationally known) as the groomer would not take her without her current shot. I was hesitant cause for her age she is pretty spunky, and even though she has not had a reaction ever from it, she was 3 years younger when she got the last one. They gave her the shot and almost immediately she started to cry and limp, we rubbed the area hoping she just needed a few hours to feel better. Well it's the next day and she is so lethargic, she won't eat she urinating on the floor. She is walking around with her tail in between her legs. I am watching her like a hawk...I have a terrible feeling about this, and I'm sure I will be headed to an emergency vet today (of course its labor day and my vet isn't opened) I should have gone with my gut and just not had it done :(

My 7th month old lab/border received the rabies vaccine on Wed night. She is still lethargic and won't eat. It's starting to really worry me. She just threw up a little tonight. I don't know what to do.

I have a 6 year old lab mix. She received her rabies vaccination on April 23,2015. I have never had any issues with her health until after this shot. Her symptoms did not show until 4 days ago which would have been May 8,2015. She now seems to have lost functioning on the left side of her face and her motor skills are very bad. She seems way off balance and her left ear and left side of her lip does not move. She still seems happy and is eating ok and using the bathroom as usual but I am very concerned maybe she had a stroke or something is very wrong. I have contacted my vet but he ensures me that in his 28 years of practice he has never seen any reaction to a rabies shot as I have described. Please HELP!

Thanks, Beth

Feb, 2012 I had my hound Roscoe vacinated with a "booster" for his rabies that the county requires. Roscoe was a very healthy, though elderly (12 yrs old) dog. He first showed signs that something was wrong within 2 months when a small rectangular area of his upper back at his shoulders started swelling. I suspected it was a fatty tumor, which my vet said was harmless... within two more months it appeared as 4 small "ball shaped growths on the rectangular area...

By August the original "balls" were the size of golf balls and were producing grape size similar "balls" on top of the original growths... My vet said "when he is uncomfortable enough we can let him go"... within the next two months the growths were tennis ball size and increased his original weight by 10#s... he had also lost his own body weight to where his ribs were starting to show, and his only joy was eating. Walking was hard as the growths were above his shoulder blades, where he had the injection.

December 1st I had already checked with other vets and they said "we can remove the growths" for aprox 830.00usd. I live on SSD and had no way of paying that money. No one takes payments anymore. So I had to say good by to my best friend who was so happy and healthy less than a year ago.

Thank you for letting me tell you about my dear Roscoe, a beautiful Plott Hound, I miss him everyday, and would never have approved his getting that vaccine if I had any idea that this was going to happen. Tonya

Went to get my 14 pound, dachshund mix her rabies vaccine today. She is almost 4 years old and this was her 3rd time to receive her shot. It was the Defensor 3 by Pfizer.

Within 15 minutes she was vomiting. They rushed her back to the room and administed a steroid, benadryl, and something to stop the vomiting. By the time they were done administering the shots my dog was laying down, unable to get up. Her eyes were fully dilated, and zoned out; lack of response with her surroundings. Her gums were stark white. Shallow breathing. She lost control of her bowels and pooped on the table twice where she layed. Her temperature also spiked. At this point it was just a waiting game. My husband and I sat next to her and tried comforting her as best we could. She just sat there for about 20 - 30 minutes with her head on the table, concentrating on her breathing. The vet checked her temps, gums, and heart every couple of minutes. After about 30 minutes she was starting to at least perk her ears up when we talked to her, and made eye contact with us again. Then she started to actually lift her head. Gaze around. She was really slow to come around, but I'm assuming it's very exhausting fighting for your life! After about a total of an hour of waiting for my dog to come around she was finally alert, her gums were pink, her temps went back down to normal, and her vet said it was ok to go home but to keep watch over the next 24-48 hours. She was still unable to walk; legs shakey from weakness, so we carried her out. By the time we got home she was able to walk from the car to our front door. I also noticed that she began to start scratching, a lot. Upon closer examination I notice red splotches on her belly, chest, throat, and ears. She had an itchy rash. Called the vet to let them know and they told me to do another dose with childrens benadryl. Did that and she is now back to her normal self for the most part. She is still tired but her rash has deminished.

Her reaction was TERRIFYING for me. Absolutely, emotionally draining and scary. And I have no idea what to do when she is due for her next one. If her reaction was this bad the first time, what will happen with her next shot? Will it be even worse?! I never want to give her another rabies shot again! What's the point of risking my dogs life to protect her from a disease that she only has a. 01% chance of getting! ? For me the risks outweight the benefits TREMENDOUSLY. I am not looking forward to any more shots... :(

My chihuahua is 18 months old and got her rabies booster yesterday. Within 2 hours she had vomiting, runny stool, and then her face swelled up to the point her eyes were almost closed. Emergency clinic gave her dexamethasone and diphenhydramine and the swelling subsided. I am watching her today and giving her diphenhydramine every 8 hours. Her reaction was very alarming and I hope this is the extent of the damage, but am very concerned, especially after seeing other testimonials on adverse reactions to rabies shots.

I adopted my, now, 19 week old Chihuahua "Ricky" at the age of 8 weeks from the P. S. P. C. A. He was awarded to me at an early so long as I promised to follow through with his "necessary" shots ( Or they will take him back). He had already recieved his first DHPPP. I was instructed to follow up with his second in three weeks, then his third three weeks after that.

Thank God my Daughter who is studying to become a vet told that me "due to new studies" she advised against any combo shots, lepto and Lyme. Also NOT to have his last DHPP at the same time as his rabies vaccine. She said to space them a week apart. I have done all I was told to do. I have been taking him to a vaccine clinic for dogs. Ricky was fine after receiving each of his distemper's.

Ricky received his rabies shot yesterday(At the age of 19 weeks). Everything seemed fine. He vomited once, but only slightly. I assumed this was normal. Today he started to sway his head back and forth. He wobbled a little. I ran him to a near by animal hospital. I was told that in NO WAY this was related to any vaccine. They said perhaps he was exposed to something. They gave him a neurological physical exam and I was told he is fine (His symptoms had subsided upon arrival;of course)I was told to take him home and bathe him, just in case he had come in contact with anything. I did. The head booble has returned, but not as acute. He has been asleep for the entire day now and he will not eat. He will not play. I am very frightened. All I can do is sit and watch and make sure he is still breathing. I feel helpless. I am torn about next years (or any) future vaccines. I do live in a heavily wooded area.

Thanks for your time.

Sincerely, Yvette

My 20.8 lb Lasapoo just got vacinated with the 3 year rabies shot - this is his second time. the first time seven days later he became violently ill. This time they gave him a shot prior to the vaccine to help with any reaction he 'may' have. Yesterday was day seven after the vaccine and he is vomitting and has diarrhea - we are taking him back to the vet. I feel so helpless, it's the law that he has to be vacinated and I want to do what is right but my poor baby is so sick again.

I am writing to let you know of my horrible experiences with the rabies vaccines. The dogs that I will list, were all rescues, were all formerly emaciated, and in very poor condition prior to adopting them. No other vaccines but the rabies were given.

1. (2009) Adult male Rottweiler. Adopted from rural shelter. Emaciated, skin issues, but incredibly sweet and friendly. I had 30 days to comply with the county's ordinance to get him neutered and vaccinated against rabies. I waited as long as I could, so that he could get meat on his bones, and allow a little time to have his new diet (Blue Buffalo) build his immune system a little. Approx. 2 weeks after his neuter and rabies vaccine, Gavin had to be euthanized. He bloated, his back end was weak, and the vet stated there was nothing that could be done for him. (neg. heartworm test)

2. 2010 (Jasper) A stray Great Pyrenees that had been dumped in a rural area. He was emaciated, but friendly and a wanderer. After I took him in, he found ways to dig out of my fence, he was playful with the other dogs, and a big loving teddy bear. I waited approx. 7 mos. Before allowing the rabies vaccine and neuter. About a month after, I noticed what appeared to be a mud spot on his back leg. He was also seemingly depressed, he was not digging out, and was no longer playing with the other dogs. Upon closer inspection of what appeared to be a "mud spot" on his fur, I smelled an infection, lifted the fir, and found a gaping wound at the injection site. It was treated, but never healed. He lost use of his back legs shortly after, and was euthanized. (neg. heartworm test)

3. 2010: I adopted a Great Dane from an individual. She was extremely thin, had a dull coat, and was timid. I waited nearly a year to have her spayed and vaccinated against rabies. She was now a very vibrant, healthy, and energetic Dane. She was my Doberman's best buddy, and my sweetest and most protective fur-baby.

After she was vaccinated, she seemed to be ok. I couldn't have been more wrong. This MIGHT just be coincidental, but it MIGHT have something to do with the vaccine. She began losing weight almost over night. In two weeks, despite eating, she was losing drastic amounts of weight. I took her to the vet, had her x-rayed, and my 2 1/2 yr. old Great Dane was diagnosed with abdominal cancer.

I spent a month attempting to make her comfortable and HOPED that by trying some of the more natural remedies, that I could either slow the process, or stop it altogether. I had her about an additional month before she began vomiting and having diarrhea, and it was obvious she had no quality of life left in her. She was euthanized. (neg. Heartworm test)

March 2012: I adopted a Great Pyrenees from an individual. He was emaciated, timid of men, and was never permitted in the house. When he arrived at my house, he was introduced to my other dogs, and got along famously with them... Even seemed to enjoy the company of other dogs. (Minus feeding time, which is quite understandable... he had been starved).

He was checked by a veterinarian, tested light positive for heartworm, had toe-nails that had curled and grown into his pads- those were cut, and this supposed-to-be-massive dog weighed a mere 72 lbs. (Males tend to average 100-115lbs). He was already neutered, but I had to get a rabies. (The vet and I both agreed that the rabies needed to wait until he was healthy)

After he gained weight, I had him vaccinated against rabies by a completely different veterinarian/clinic. Since the vaccine: he has become aggressive towards one particular dog, has gotten into two serious fights with him, and one fight resulted in my son getting bit (my son attempted to break the fight up). He bit me as well, but the other dog was the intended target, and he was protecting a chicken. I recently noticed that his vision now may be affected. He has since walked into the fence and gate, (and now I believe that is how my son and I got bit.. I am guessing that he can't properly judge distance) he now lays around, he's depressed.

We have such a burden on us TO vaccinate against rabies, as it is state law, and penalties can be stiff. However, due to my experiences, I will probably forego vaccinating my dogs from this point on. (The dogs that I've adopted that were never starved or in poor condition, have all done fine after a rabies vaccine. (I do the 3 yr. ) It has been the ones that were found in very poor condition that never recovered). I will start my Pyrenees on a clay supplement in an attempt to help detox him. I am also searching for other remedies. He is still on Transfer Factor and now Devil's Claw to help with the swelling and potential infection from the wounds he sustained from the dog fight. I have no faith in vaccines, and don't even vaccinate my baby, and will not. Study after study, experience after experience dictates that there is no safe vaccine out there. And when an immune system has been compromised in any way, the effects of vaccines can be most devastating. I'm not sure when the states will come to realize that they are compromising our dog's health with their mandatory rabies vaccine laws. We are losing precious family members with these insane laws.

We own Cavalier King Charles Spaniels. Essentially, every one of them gets a shot of benadryl, when they are given their rabies vaccine. They get a fairly large lump, at the injection site. We've owned seven CKCSs and every one of them has had the same reaction. It's always to rabies, no other vaccinations.

We moved here from South Africa a year ago and by law had to vaccinate our two dogs and a cat. In Cape Town, South Africa, rabies is almost non-existent, lymes disease hardly occurs and there is no such things as heart-worm disease. Coming to the US was quite a shock for us and we weren't used to all these diseases. Our cat now has a tumor where she was vaccinated and we don't know how long she has to live. Yesterday our two dogs were vaccinated for rabies and today our one dog can't walk and the other one has hives all over her body, her face is swollen and one eyelid is drooping. She is running around all over the place. I really HATE vaccinations and believe they are ineffective and pharmaceutical companies are just trying to make money. Try not to vaccinate your dear pets as far as possible.