VACCINATION READER FEEDBACK

[SIDE EFFECTS]  10/06/2007: Rosemary from Murrells Inlet, SC, USA writes: "My cat had her rabies and another shot yesterday afternoon. The second shot wasn't for feline leukemia, but it was a similar shot...maybe FIV? She was normal last night...playful and affectionate. Today, she never got out of bed. It's after 9 PM, and she has just gotten up, drank a sip of water, and has now gone to curl up in her carrier, which is her "safe place." She feels really bad and is hot to the touch, as if she has fever. Her vet is closed tomorrow (Sunday). If she’s not back to' normal Monday, back to the vet we go. She’s 6 and I don’t remember her ever having this reaction before. I can tell she feels awful, but it is so scary and pitiful because I can’t tell HOW bad she feels. She’s an inside only cat, and it’s tempting to not vaccinate her at all, but accidents and escapes happen, and I want to protect her the best I can. She also has asthma and has to have a steroid shot every other month, so I’m scared of putting too much medication in her tiny little body. Golly, I’m scared."

[SIDE EFFECTS]  10/04/2007: emily shepard from boise, idaho writes: "our 9 month old' heeler received her vaccination for rabies @ the Humane Society. Later that day, she started acting lethargic and vomiting. She had eaten grass to make herself sick. Is vomiting a normal side affect of rabies shot?"

[SIDE EFFECTS]  10/01/2007: Gina from Rangiora, New Zealand writes: "Recently we had our 18 month old collie cross female dog' vaccinated for her routine booster shot against distemper, parvo, and kennel cough. She showed no adverse reactions immediately. Two weeks after her shot she got a severe ear infection, she was taken to the vet. Over the following four days she visited the vet every day. Her health dramatically deteriorated. She became disorientated, went blind in one eye, drooled at the mouth, was unable to eat or drink without spoon feeding. By the second to last day she was going round and round in circles, on the last day she was parilized. We had to have her put down, it was awful, distressing, and horific to see a young, healthy, fit dog become so ill, so fast. The vet had an autopsy done which showed that she had a genetic tendancy to distemper, (it runs in her family.) It is extremely rare, but she got distemper from the shot because she was predisposed to do so. It doesn't end there though, we discovered that last year her brother died of the exact same thing."

[SIDE EFFECTS]  10/01/2007: mindi from cleveland, ohio writes: "We had our 5 year old cat in for his booster for rabies and feline leukemia on Thursday 9/27/07 and he was sick so sick! He lay around all evening Thursday didn't eat or drink, did the same thing on Friday, cried if I tried to pick him up and was lethargic on Saturday most of the day.  Could barely get up on the bed that evening...did eat on Sunday finally. Today when I went home for lunch he seemed to be his usual self wanting to play and ate pretty well.  My question is this, is it worth the pain to have an indoor cat (who's never been outside, isn't allowed outside, shows no inkling to going out)be vaccinated for this?  He's not any special breed....but much loved by us.  I couldn't hardly stand seeing him in so much pain..any thoughts?"

[SIDE EFFECTS]  09/30/2007: Sheila (frostykats@yahoo.com) from Roanoke, Texas writes: "I had my 1 year old kitten vaccinated for Rabies yesterday. Since we brought her home, she won't eat or drink anything and when touched she hisses at you.  She has fever in the spot of the rabies vaccine and tries to bite if you touch the vaccination spot. I have three other cats and none have ever acted like this after their rabies vacc.  She acts like she HAS rabies now!  My vet told me nothing about what side effects to expect.  I have been told in the past to massage the area after the vaccine to keep the medicine from pooling and causing problems but she won't let me touch her.  Any ideas?"

[SIDE EFFECTS]  09/24/2007: Rick from Glenmore, Pa writes: "First week of May we took our healthy cat for a booster because we had to board him for a week. At Glenmore Vet. Hospital a Dr. Crocker took our cat in the back. When she returned, she had also given him a lukemia Vaccination which we hadn't asked for. He began to lose weight, first he ate ravenously. Then he began to vomit and not eat. He died Friday night of Pancreatic and liver cancer after losing almost 50% of his weight. We're devestated.We feel we killed him by trying to protect him."

[SIDE EFFECTS]  09/19/2007: Troy Brown from New Carrollton, Maryland writes: "We took our Chow Chow to the vet on Saturday to get her rabies shot, and on Sunday she started acting strange, she is drinking a lot, and laying around sleeping a lot, she is not the usual active dog that she was before the shot. She also looks like she is swollen, and her head is tilted to one side when she looks at us. I think something is going on with her vision, and hearing, but we are taking her to another vet today, so I will know more then. My dog was perfectly healthy with not problems, before this."

[SIDE EFFECTS]  09/17/2007: Nelscine from East Point, GA writes: "My 4 lb yorkie, Roxie got her state required rabies shot on Wednesday. She experienced serious lethargy Thursday and Friday, but was back to her old self by Saturday with minimal swelling of the leg that was injected.  By Sunday she had what the vet termed a "Tissue Reaction"  a large red mass appeared on her leg and looked as if it would burst any second.  Roxie continued to walk okay and only whimpered when the spot was touched with excessive pressure.  The vet lanced the spot and expressed the liquid (mixed with blood) that had accumulated.  The vet then applied a topical anti inflammatory swelling reducer and advised us to keep the spot open so that it would heal from within.  He also stated the remaining fluid should be reabosorbed by the dog's body, however, express it again a couple of times.   Roxie is okay right now except the spot on her leg.  When she got her first shots in July, she was just a little lethargic.  If I am being misled or anyone else has had this experience please respond, this is my first dog in ages, long before vaccines and  Pet Supermarkets etc.  I love Roxie and do not know what I would do if anything worse happened."

[SIDE EFFECTS]  09/15/2007: Jenny from Ormond BeachFL, Florida writes: "This comment is about vaccinations side effects on animals. I have a beautiful white cat who now walks on three rather that the normal four legs. Shewas diagnosed with osteosarcoma in her right leg, right around her knee.  The remedy--amputation. Four years ago she went to the vets (in another town, another place) and had her rabies and boosters for other diseases, notably leukemia.  When we arrived home she got out of the car and almost fell--the leg that had been injected was apparently too numb or too painful for her to use.  This lasted for a few days, and for at least two weeks she was too ill to eat much or groom herself. Then about two months ago--in a new town and a new vet--she underwent her rabies vaccination in the same leg, (I have stopped the other boosters since that first episode) and sure enough she started limping.  It went away, then came back along with a total loss of appetite.  The vet felt the inevitable bump, and after many painful days of waiting for biopsies and getting second opinions, I decided to have the amputation. Powder Boo is alright now, a bit demoralized, but I live with the awareness that this cancer could easily have spread (although the vet did tell me that in cats sarcomas do not metastasize as easily or quickly as they will in dogs."

[SIDE EFFECTS]  09/09/2007: Lolita Prieto from Peoria, AZ writes: "I had my 8-mos old chihuahua taken to the vet for her shots and just about an hour - two later, she developed somes hives, severe swelling, and itching. She only weighed approx 3 lbs then and the vet gave a combination of so many different shots. This was truly unsafe. Vets should at least know that small breeds can't handle too many shots given at one time. Just a comment..."

[SIDE EFFECTS]  09/08/2007: Gina Quintana from Sun City, Arizona writes: "Hi there, I recently received a letter from the county I live in stating Bowser, my 2 1/2 year old Chihuahua/rat terrier mix was due for the rabies vaccination. The process was quick and seemed painless as it only took less than a minute to administer the rabies and I also had a "5-in-1" shot which I'm not really sure which 5 they were. This vet visit was on August the 17th but within the last few days, I have noticed his usual eating habits of scarfing-down his-food-in-the-blink-of an-eye has changed dramatically. His food I put in his inside dish is still there from 3 days ago, and he has devolped a large lump above his right "thigh" which if I remember correctly is right where the vaccinations were administered. I do recall th vet mentioning a small bump may form. My question is, will it go away? And if so, when? Should I be alarmed? Thanks"

[SIDE EFFECTS]  09/07/2007: bea from rpb, florida writes: "all vets think of money. the more shots they give your dogs the more money they make.i won't take them back to vets. i give my dogs a shot at 12weeks and one at 6 months and that's it. too much drugs in their bodies. if you have kids you don't give shots every month i hope thanks. "

[SIDE EFFECTS]  08/29/2007: Melissa from Alexandria, Virginia writes: "to Denise: There is a homeopathy antidote to the rabies vaccination. It is called a nosode. You can order the pills and they may help to undo some of the damage from the shot. They can also be given to the pet prior to a vaccination to lessen the side effects.  A doctor out of North Carolina can ship it to you. Google it."

[SIDE EFFECTS]  08/29/2007: Denise from South Jordan, Utah writes: "i just had my 2 1/2 year old deer chihuaha vacinated with the rabies and bordatello shot today at 5:30 pm. needless to say, I was up at the vet emergency clinic at 10:00 pm. My dog had a high fever, shakes and cried when picked up.  His breathing was shallow and he is very lethargic. After reading all the feedback i am now scared to death!  The vet at the emergency clinic gave me rimadyl and told me to bring him back if he isnt better in 2 days which is probably what i will be doing because here-2 hours later there is no improvement.  any suggestions?"

[SIDE EFFECTS]  08/22/2007: Janna from Austin, Texas writes: "If your pet has suffered a vaccination reaction or if you have questions about what to do regarding future vaccinations, I strongly urge you to visit www.Alt4Animals.com. I found Dr. Falconer after my completely healthy female Weimaraner died due to a vaccination reaction.  She spend 4 weeks in intensive care at one of the leading veterinary schools in the country and they could not save her.  This website is loaded with great free information. If only I had found it sooner."

[SIDE EFFECTS]  08/21/2007: George from Clearwater, FL writes: "My 2 year old cat has just had 3 booster vaccines (rabies, distemper & feline Luekemia) A day later, she is lathargic and the injection sites are teneder to the touch..Since she only goes out to the screened in porch I will probably never have her vaccinated again"

[SIDE EFFECTS]  08/20/2007: Sonia writes: "Hi my name is Sonia i have a Rat Terrier and Minature Pincher Mix. He is 3months old and i just took him to the vet for his distemper, parovovirus, rabies, and bordetella shots on friday. and he has already had two seizures in the past two days im scared and am taking him back to the vet today. its was the saddest think to see my puppy go thru and know that was nothing i could of done. i will NEVER give my dog another shot. if anyone could give me any advise about what i can give him for thh seizures to stop. Thank You. sdcruz82/@/yahoo.com and is it ok not to give my puppy anymore shot after this?"

[SIDE EFFECTS]  08/18/2007: casey from somewhere, united states writes: "I have had 2 of my dogs have reactions to vaccines, the 1st was my chihuaha, she had a rabies shot and it almost killed her, had to take her back to the vet to have it reversed, the second on was my miniature dachshund, he was 6 months old he swelled up like he had been stung, we had to give him childrens benedryl 4 times a day for 4 days . No more shots for the chihuaha, it could kill her next time. The dachshund is due this month and I am afraid to have it done. Are the vaccines safe or not."

[SIDE EFFECTS]  07/31/2007: Gretchen (gjaccino@bellsouth.net) from Stone Mountain, GA writes: "I had a long haired Siamese cat who died at 19 years old, last year. She was spayed and fully vaccinated, except feline leukemia for about 6 years. She became an inside cat primarily, but was exposed to a variety of other animals we had over the years. She was completely and totally healthy for her last 13 years with absolutely NO vaccinations. I now have two one year old cats from the same litter (1 spayed, 1 neutered)and both have had inital Rabies shots. We also have a 9 year old dog, mixed lab who was vaccinated last year. I DO NOT want to have them vaccinated again, but I worry about heart worm. How can I get them tested annually without all the rest?"

[SIDE EFFECTS]  07/30/2007: Bartek from Brampton, On, Canada writes: "My dog is a german shepard and after she had taken the rabies shot, whenever she went to sleep or lay or even sat down she let out a little urine and drank far more than she ever has. could this be a side effect or what could this be? please you guys are my only hope if you do know what it could be please e-mail me at youngyoda_99@hotmail.com thank you sincerly "

She was 15 and was a Tonkinese mix. As she lay having to fight for every breath, her legs where all stiff and she was not blinking. I pet her softly and told her it was OK to go and she managed to let out a painful MEOW and her body started shacking and she passed. I wish no one else has to go thru loosing they pet like I did. I feel that vets hold back on information such as the side affects and dangers. I know some vaccines are harmful to humans. AT 4 years old my daughter received 3 vaccines and 24 hours later I found her not breathing on the bathroom floor. She now uses a breathing machine and has severe Asthma. I no one in my family or her fathers family have asthma, and I never smoked or no one around us smoked ever. I think the government is not being upfront with us."

[SIDE EFFECTS]  07/28/2007: Jennie from Soldotna, Alaska writes: "My kitty was only 8 months old when he died yesterday. I tried everything to save him. The vet couldn't figure out what was wrong. The only thing he ever recieved was a rabies vaccination. After that he went down hill. He started with diarrhia, and it was incurable. Then he started throwing up, drooling. He didn't make it. Vaccinations are bad for humans, why would they be ok for our pets?"

[SIDE EFFECTS]  07/24/2007: Katie from Terre Haute, IN writes: "I boarded my Maltese and Yorkie at the Vet's office for a week and was told I had to get the Bordetella Vaccine for my Yorkie and Maltese. A week later, when I picked them up they were both wheezing and coughing. It seems the vaccine caused this instead of preventing it."

[SIDE EFFECTS]  07/19/2007: Lori from Columbia, SC writes: "I have read all of the negative comments from everyone regarding vaccinations and I will admit seeing some allergic reactions in my time mostly hives and facial swelling that responded to antihistamines. When you have a puppy in your clinic that dies of distemper because it never received a puppy shot or you have to tell a small child that you were unable to save their friend because the puppy never received any vaccines and was too far gone with parvo virus to save, it is hard. At our practice we do talk about risk factors for vaccination and treat each pet individually. SC is a 3 year rabies state so we only vaccinate rabies every three years. I have done titers on some pets that did not have a protective titer even 6 months after vaccination and others that needed multiple vaccines to pass their titer test for going to foreign countries. Vets are not just out for a buck they have studied immunology and infectious diseases. Viruses can not be treated with antibiotics and often are deadly when contracted. If one of your pets dies unexpectedly rather than guess at the cause have the state diagnostic lab perform a necropsy. Vaccines have saved more pets lives than have injured pets from side effects. When the vaccines companies test for safety they give a 10 time dose of vaccine to see if it causes any ill effect on small and large dogs."