Vaccination Side Effects in Pets
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VACCINATION READER FEEDBACK
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[SIDE EFFECTS] 09/23/2008: Beverly from Henderson, KY writes: "i took my 5 year old yorkie-poo who only weighs about 6lbs. he was given a rabies shot and parvovirus shot and a heart worm pill. he was fine that day but, the following day he could hardly raise his head, he would not eat or drink and was running a fever. a week later he lost the use of his back legs and just layed for one night. the next morning he was able to use his back legs and was jumping and playing like his old self. he still has blood in his stool and seems aloof. this is not like him at all."
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[DEATH REPORTED] 09/20/2008: Valerie Strain from Bethany, Oklahoma writes: "my name is valerie and I took my 4 16 month old mini schnauzers in for their annual rabies and other boosters less than one month later all 4 got seriously ill one with a horrible rash 3 were hospitalized and one died the 4th one came down severely anemic and has bacteria in his colon. I have 5 other older schnauzers and all are fine the only link is the vaccine in the 4 younger dogs. We are awaiting autopsy on Snickers who died. We are broken-hearted. Her rash was terrible, on tummy, was raised red bumps from top to bottom and they were blistering. Any insight would be greatly appreciated. We love them all dearly and miss Snickers terribly. Vets refuse to say it was the vaccine but wouldn't all 9 have been sick if it wasn't?"
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[SIDE EFFECTS] 09/20/2008: Kristin from Raleigh, NC writes: "My Rat Terrier- 4 years old- got his yearly check up and vaccinations yesterday. Distemper/Parvo, Bordatella and 3 year Rabies. Today, he couldn't even stand up to use the bathroom. He only ate a tiny bit of food and has been sleeping all day. Gave him one Bayer baby Apsrin, as recommended by the vet, and it apparently hasn't helped. Poor thing is suffering and I can't do anything else for 3 days."
Replies09/24/2008: Hazel from Spring Lake, NC replies: "Hi Kristen, I do hope your little dog is doing better now even though i dont know how. I am a strong believer in only getting my dogs i have 2 black pugs what the law requires for them. The others is only for vets to make money and your dog does not need them. lease dont keep letting them give your baby dog shots that it not nessary. Read up on the subject hun. Goodluck and i hope i was some help. I live in Cumberland County NC."
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[SIDE EFFECTS] 09/16/2008: Roy writes: "Reactions to pet vaccinations
My cat had an alleric reaction to his pet vaccination. I ended up having to take him to the pet hospital and he is doing well.
I read the posts in the pet vaccination section and it appears to me that some of the pets are having allergic reactions to their vacinations (unusual behavior and injection soreness, ongoing sickness, are some clues)...the pet has to be taken back to the vet for a possible injection of ephinephrine to counteract the allergic reaction. Vet told me to give the pet childrens benadryl till you can get it in for some epinephrine."
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[SIDE EFFECTS] 09/14/2008: Sharon from Mill Creek, Washington writes: "We have a female Cavalier King Charles Spaniel. Our breeder said not to give her the bordadella(?)Vaccine. The vet disaggreed and she got the first dose. It made her very sick. Vomitting, Fever, pain at the injection sight; sorta like flu in humans. We were upset and angry, so she never got the rest of the vaccine. She continued to have GI problems to the point of having pancreatits. I was cooking for her too so we just couldn't figure out what was going on. They tested her for food allergies. The results showed allery to everything on the list excepts, dairy, wheat and catfish. Desperately allergic to lamb, chicken and rice! I found an excellent holistic vet and he has turned her around with his Indian herbs (Trifal), enzymes and Probiotics. It was finally determined that the vacine blew her immune system as none of her littermates have any problems whatsoever. She still has upper GI issues but she's healthy and robust and a love bug."
Replies11/04/2010: Tracy from Firestone, Co/usa replies: "I have two King Charles (one is 2 years and one is 16 weeks) and lost a nine month old KC puppy (Juliette) in July due to vet mishandling. She developed severe uncontrollable itching after her Rabies shot. She was the runt and very tiny, and had her shot at 18 weeks. I took her to a veterinary dermatologist who put her on Atopica that didn't help. He told me he had to do a routine blood test and took my pup from me. After about 25 minutes his assistant gave me my very groggy puppy. He gave her anesthesia without my consent or permission, at 4pm on a Friday afternoon. She had a full belly... And aspirated during the anesthesia. She died ten days later from aspiration pneumonia. My advice to new puupy owners is to go by your gut feeling regarding all of these vacinations. Thinking back, I remember thinking that maybe I should wait to have Juliette vaccinated because she was so tiny and had enough puppy stuff to deal with. I wish I had waited, because I think the Rabies vaccination somehow jeopardized Juliette's immune system."
12/27/2011: Michelle from Frederick, Co replies: "Can you please tell me who was the vet???"
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[SIDE EFFECTS] 09/09/2008: Katherine from Grovetown, Ga writes: "My mother took her 14 yr old indoor cat in good health to the vet for yearly vaccines & rabies, that night he was lethargic, head was contracted & stiff, r rear leg extended with claws spread while lying on his side, pupils enlarged & irregular, shallow breaths, only able to walk short distances,we are all still in shock from his death."
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[SIDE EFFECTS] 09/06/2008: Susan from Toronto, Canada writes: "Our 3-year-old dog was vaccinated a week ago (rabies, distemper booster, leptospirosis, parvo, adenovirus type 2, parainfluenz). She was fine for about 6 days then we noticed that she was shaking her head as if her left ear was bothering her. She also began throwing up. I took her back to the vet who did examined her ears (no visable problem) and took blood for a series of tests. We're waiting for results. She is still vomitting and also has diahrrea. Things aren't looking good. "
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[SIDE EFFECTS] 08/31/2008: Elaine from Jacksonville, Florida writes: "I faithfully took my minature schnauzer in for yearly shots. I wanted the best for him so I had all the vaccinations they offered. When he was 10 years old and I took him in for the shots I noticed he was in pain right after and did not bounce back from the shots. In four months the Vet said he had Lymphnoma which is accelerated by vaccinations.
After 2 or 3 years of age, I would not get the shots for my dogs, there is proof that vaccinations are not needed every year. Only rabies is required by law. I took my other schnauzer into the vet last week and he still wants to shower my dog with shots. I think it is a money game. I did not get them. I am going to find a homeopathic vet. Losing a pet to cancer or anything that is so pointless fills you with guilt that is slow to go away. A year has passed and I still want him back."
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[SIDE EFFECTS] 08/30/2008: Pam from Smithfield, RI writes: "I just brought my yorshire terrier sho is ten years old in for her shots. Now a lump has formed at the injection sight on the back of her neck.I was told to watch it for it to go down, if it does not it will result in a return visit for a biopsy! If she has cancer becasue of a shot--was it worth it?? NO!! Not to me!! She is an indoor dog-why do I have to put my beloved pets life at risk for something so almost impossible for her to get."
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[SIDE EFFECTS] 08/28/2008: Christina from Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio writes: "Hello, I am writing this comment in hopes that it may help or inform other dog owners of the serious and potentially deadly risks of some vaccines. In Aug.2006 I took my then 2 year old mini schnauzer to my vet to get her vaccines. The vet gave her the rabies vaccine, along with bordetella and distemper vaccines. My dog had her first rabies vaccine when she was 1, which was good for one year. Now I was taking her in for her second rabies vaccine, which would be good for 3 years. I would also like to note I had another dog (Irish Setter) who was given the same vaccines at this visit and was perfectly fine afterward. After my mini schnauzer was given the vaccines, within minutes, she experienced a serious reaction, and went into shock. She collapsed on the floor on the way out of the door at the vet, her eyes were stairing off into space. She pooped as she was laying there and her face was very swollen. I grabbed her and ran back into the vet, they took her to the back where it took almost 3 hours to regain her vital signs. I had no idea something so serious could happen just from vaccinations. It cost me an additional $200 on top of the original visit to save my dogs life, but of course money didn't matter at that moment. They inserted a catheter, gave her fluids, and several injections. For a while they weren't even sure she was going to make it and wouldn't let me see her. She did recover, but now I'm afraid of vaccinating her again. The vet said we can give her antihistamine before we vaccinate but it is not guaranteed an even worse reaction may occur. I have since then done some research on canine vaccinations, and my best info for dog owners is to just be there when your dog is getting these vaccines, and know the warning signs and symptoms. Because really there was no way of me or my vet knowing such a reaction would take place."
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[SIDE EFFECTS] 08/18/2008: Linda from Oklahoma City, OK writes: "Took our Golden Retriever for rabies 8/3/08 and she was fine. Took her for lyme, Bordetella, and DPC vaccinations 8/15/08 and by the time she got home she wasn't using one of her back legs and has just been lying around and hasn't eaten much. Talked to vet today 8/18/08 and they said to give her buffered aspirin and if she isn't feeling better tomorrow to bring her in. I have never had one of my dogs have a reaction from their shots and until I started researching yesterday I never knew they could have side effects like this."
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[SIDE EFFECTS] 08/16/2008: Crostu from Beverly Hills, California writes: "FYI
I can't offer a whole lot of knowledge or specifics here, but I can tell you what I observed. I took my 9 week old kitten in for a fcrvp (fvcrp)?? anyway the one that they give all kittens. No leukemia shot or any other shots or treatments were done that day. The kitten got real still and quiet, more so than I thought normal. Then the kitten just layed on his side. So I went to pick him up to comfort him. He meowed in much pain. I put him back down. I touched very lightly all over his body. He hurt from head to toe, as I could tell by his high pitched screams and painful look on his eye. There were no other symptoms. it lasted for about 36 hours. Of course I called the vet. They said that this is a somewhat rare side effect, but he should be fine. He was fine after that. I had taken about 15 cats to the vet for shots at that time, and had never had that reaction. Just thought I would tell you my experience."
RepliesEC: FCVRP = rabies and distemper combination shots.
12/08/2008: Dvikib from Baltimore, MD replies: "Please note that the FVRCP shot is for feline viral rhinotracheitis, calicivirus, and panleukopenia. The Rabies shot is normally a separate shot."
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[SIDE EFFECTS] 08/14/2008: Joyce from Staten Island, NY writes: "My cat, bootsie, had his rabies and booster shot a week ago, on monday, and he is very sick, the vet is giving him fluids, antibiotics, and vitimins, and force feeding him, I have him back almost every day...I asked them to take a blood test on him, and they are charging me $145.00. They are getting anoyed at me because I keep bringing him back...He is eating with my encouragement,,,,am so stressed out.
joyce"
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[SIDE EFFECTS] 08/07/2008: Kati Morlando from Raleigh, North Carolina writes: "My cat Jesse got a distemper shot and a rabies shot on Saturday the 2nd of august.H e is eating and drinking fine, he used to go outside practically all day, but now all he is does is lay around the house and sleep and he has been in the house for five days now."
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[DEATH REPORTED] 08/07/2008: Jen from El Paso, Texas, USA writes: "In July of 2000 my 11 year old Belgian Tervuren, was diagnosed with spindle cell carcinoma. She had developed 2 egg-sized lumps in the area of her shoulders. I consulted with a Specialty Veterinary Clinic in Tucson Arizona, and I was told it was Vaccine Induced Cancer. She died December 1, 2000. She underwent 3 surgeries to remove the tumors, but each time it came back more aggressively."
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[SIDE EFFECTS] 08/06/2008: Susan from Indianapolis, Indiana writes: "After my 1 yr. old Sheltie received a 5 in 1 vac (before I knew better) he had a couple of weeks of what I now know was episodes of "reverse sneezing." He would put his head down and then have a minute or so of intense snorting - don't know how to describe it any other way. It was scary watching him have these attacks and each time I wondered if he would come out of it.I was told that the trachea actually collapses sometimes. He has not had any more vacs in the last few years nor anymore bouts with this vaccine reaction, thank goodness. We won't be doing any more vaccines! Sue"
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[DEATH REPORTED] 08/05/2008: Dan from Salisbury nb Canada, Canada writes: "Dog died: Took dog in for yearly shots Continuum DAP and Imrab 3 He ate and drank very little and he had to be put down .He was a toy poodle Full of life when i took him in he never recovered"
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[SIDE EFFECTS] 07/29/2008: Melissa from OKC, OK writes: "We boarded our 11 year old female Husky at our neighborhood vet we have used for 20 something years. They said she was too large for a cage and she would have to be put in the dog run. That we could bring her bed also since she had a car accident as a young pup and broke her hip. They would not keep her until her shots were brought up to date as she had not had any from a Vet since she was 3. I used to give her booster, but they don't recognize them! We left town for two nights so I don't know what her reaction was initally, although I called the 2nd night and they told me she wet her bed (which she has never done) and did not like their food. She has been urinating on herself ever since (one month now). She won't eat unless I hand feed her meat, tiny amounts and hold her water bowl under her nose.She just lies there like she is 100 years old. I called two other vets and they all say it is not the Vaccines! That she is 11 yrs old, spayed, that her bladder could have dropped and may be incontinent. She has always been an indoor dog she goes outside, does her business and comes right back in. So there was no reason to vaccinate her yearly. Thinking back now to when she was spayed and they gave her vaccines then; she was very ill afterward. I took her back several times, they gave her antibiodics, etc. I really feel she is going to expire this time and it was all so unnecessary."
EC: Melissa, please research the Tellington Touch techniques. They are massage techniques that can produce remarkable results.
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[SIDE EFFECTS] 07/26/2008: Emmitt from Lakelnd, Florida writes: "I got my 16 week old cat that weighs 4.4 lbs his immunizations yesterday. Now he is having the same symptoms. Lethargic, Meows and bites when picked up and doesn't eat or drink. He got the rabies ahot and fel leukemia and Ercp (whatever that is) hope he will be his old self soon!!"
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[SIDE EFFECTS] 07/24/2008: Suzanne from Toronto, Ontario, Canada writes: "Within 3 hours my 19 month old shih tzu was very lathargic. My high energy puppy suddenly started acting like he was 19 years old. Now I'm finding out that dogs don't need yearly vaccines. The vaccines are good for at least 5 years. Personally, my dog will not be getting his shots till he is at least 7 years old."
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[DEATH REPORTED] 07/19/2008: Nancy from Marianna, USA writes: "My newfoundland had her annual vaccinations two weeks ago. She started chewing on her feet and legs, Then I noticed blood in her mouth and on her toys. Took her to the vet and she had low plateletts, went to a specialist and he said it most likely is reaction from recent vacc. I left her there that night thinking I would see her in the AM. I got a call in early am saying she was DIC (bleeding out) She died! That was this week. I had no clue this could happen. She was 5 1/2yrs old, part of me died that day. Many friends are not aware of this as a side effect. Why are we not aware??"
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[SIDE EFFECTS] 07/12/2008: Dana from Kauai, Hawaii writes: "I have about a 14 week old kitten who weighs 5.5lbs. Yesterday I took him to the vet to have his booster shots and ever since he has been very lethargic, won't hardly eat or drink and he meows and bites me when I pet over the injection site. I hope he is ok, and after reading all these posts I am very hesitant to get the rest of his booster shots."
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[SIDE EFFECTS] 07/12/2008: Danny from Lancaster, Oh writes: "About 3 weeks ago I took my 1 yr old male cat Tazzy to the vet to get his distemper and rabies b/c we were boarding him and having him neutered while he was there. A week later he seemed to be ok and his same ol' self. The vet never mentioned if he had any problems. Well yesterday I took Tazzy back to get his 2nd booster and since then he has thrown up several times, has runny stool, won't eat and is very mopey (not himself). Not sure If I should call the vet and let them know b/c I'm thinking they may just want more money out of me.
what should I do? Any suggestions?"
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[SIDE EFFECTS] 07/10/2008: Brian from Ferndale, Michigan writes: "My 9 yr old Chi always has a reaction to the vaccine shots, but they seem to be getting worse. This latest one was for the rabbies (and maybe another?). He is listless and very sore. He cries out when picked up, yelps after he barks (has since stopped barking), walks very unusual, will not jump up or down and hides under a chair shaking. It has been a week now and seems to be getting a little better. His appetite is good and bathroom is OK. I am done with all vaccinations for him except for the required rabbies (unless I can avoid that too?)"
Replies07/11/2008: Mary from Southaven, MS replies: "Yes, you can avoid future rabies vaccinations by having a titer test done instead. My chi, as well, will NOT have further vaccinations. Two reactions she's had have convinced me that the risk is just too great."
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[SIDE EFFECTS] 07/06/2008: Elaine from Bumpass, Virginia writes: "I have three terriers. Welsh, Irish and Wire Fox. The Fox Terrier is 15 and because of reactions to vaccinations, I now have all boosters given separately. Last April, 2007, I took my 3yr old Welsh Terrier, Maggie, to get her DHPP. She had been very healthy up till then. She was very lethargic for the first two days and would not eat. Then, she started walking with her head cocked to the side. She stumbled when walking and seemed disoriented. It was a very busy time for us...we were packing to move from CA to VA in ten days...my father was dying and in the care of hospice. It wasnt until about five days after Maggie was vaccinated that we realized how serious her condition was. We took her to the ER Vet about May 2, 2007. Blood work and urinalysis were normal. The vet performed a neurological exam and said that she had a serious neurological problem. She was concerned that the live virus from the vaccination might have crossed the blood brain barrier and actually caused her to contract distemper. There were also a lot of other neurological diseases that could be the cause. She told us that the only way we would know what was wrong was for her to have a CT scan and a spinal tap. She told us that these tests would cost about $1500-2000. We of course decided to go ahead with the tests. She sent Maggie home with us and told us that she would contact us in the morning. She wanted the tests done ASAP because the next day was Friday and if the tests werent done by noon, they wouldnt get the results until the next week. She called us very early the next morning and told us to have Maggie in San Diego at 9am. It was an hr drive for us and we left her off and were told that she could probably go home that night and that they would have some of the results by then. We called to find out when we could pick her up and were told that she needed to stay overnight because her blood pressure was very high...and they didnt have the results but would in the morning. Called early the next morning and was told that Maggie should stay thru the day because of blood pressure...and they still didnt have the results. By that evening, they wanted to keep her overnight. We told them that we were coming to get her. I was sure that blood pressure was from her being nervous...and they promised they would have results when we picked her up. We drove down to get her and were told that they still didnt have the results...seemed strange since that is why they needed to perform tests before noon the day before. Sent Maggie home with Prednisone and antibiotic. In the meantime, we moved out of our house and spent the next week with my family. My father died that week. We were on the phone with the vet daily...one week later there were no results from the tests. The final bill was $3,500 but we had no idea what was wrong with Maggie. She was no better...still stumbling and cocking her head to the side. She was no longer playful and slept all of the time....and peed constantly because of the prednisone. On the 17th of May, we had to leave to drive to VA. The Rx had run out and they renewed them. The vet had no explanation for the lack of test results. We started to realize that somehow the test results must have been lost. There was no other explanation for no test results ten days later. The vet kept putting it off on the lab. On the second day of our trip to VA, the vet called me on my cell phone and said that all the test results were normal. My question to him was, What is wrong with my dog? After all of that time and money, they were telling us that there was nothing wrong with her. She wasnt better though. We took her off of the prednisone and the antibiotic. We had been stopping every hr for her to pee while we were driving. It has now been over a year. Maggie is now back to normal. It was a gradual change. She no longer cocks her head to the side. She plays, runs and eats normally. The one lasting side effect seems to be with her personality. She has become anti social. She doesnt like to be held and growls at us when we make her do something that she doesnt want to do. She never acted like that before. Our new vet in VA does not want her to have anymore vaccinations...except for the Rabies. She said that it is the law that she has to have that one. She is four now and is due for the rabies in a couple of weeks. I am hoping that it doesnt cause the same problem that the DHPP did. We will never know for sure what caused Maggies neuroligical problems but I have to believe that it was the booster shot that she received."
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