VACCINATION READER FEEDBACK

[SIDE EFFECTS]  02/21/2008: Laura from Vienna, VA writes: "My 11 week old siberian husky received the 3rd round of the DHPP-C vaccine, after receiving the first two at 6 and 8 weeks respectively. She seemed a little lethargic after, but as that is common I thought nothing of it.  A few hours later she had hidden under the deck and was wheezing.  As soon as I was able to get her out I called the vet and arranged to bring her back in.  It turned out she was having an allergic reaction to some component of the vaccine, and was bleeding into her lungs.  Although the doctors at both the regular office as well as the specialty clinic worked with her for about 5 hours, due to the severity of her reaction and the critically low oxygenation levels throughout that time, she did not make it.  I am now hesitant to give any of my pets anything more than what I am required to by law, even though I had never thought to question the recommended vs. required vaccines in the past."

[SIDE EFFECTS]  02/20/2008: Peter from 77479, Sugar Land writes: "I took my Yorkshire Terrier, Maggie, in to receive a parvo booster shot yesterday. Today she is depressed, lethargic, and is urinating a large amount of blood.  She is two years old."

[SIDE EFFECTS]  02/18/2008: tracy (gatorman@suddenlink.net) from bossier city, la writes: "i have a 7 year old pug who has not had a rabbies shot in 3 years because of the severe reactions he has had to it, he gets very bad hives, as well as swelling in the throat and face, he seems to get dizzy and can not walk straight, how ever i am going to the vet tomarrow to get him updated on the shot because i am being forced to by law, i love to take him to the groomers and have him shaved and bathed and have his nails clipped but i can not find a place to do this anymore unless i can bring in proof of the vac. i am so scared for him and angry at the same time, i even told the groomers that he could not take the rabies shot and they started treating my dog like he must have had it,i will take all the procautions and have him watched heavley for several hours after but i am scared to death."

[SIDE EFFECTS]  02/17/2008: Dave Lance from Monroe, Ohio writes: "my dog had his rabies and distemper shot and about two days later his stool has been abnormal several days. He is 10 years old and I recently met a woman that testified before congress about childhood vaccines. She thinks that his vet is over-vaccinating my dog."

[SIDE EFFECTS]  02/15/2008: Susan from Bartlett, IL writes: "Our cat (a little over 1 year old) received 2 vaccines, rabies and distemper and is very sluggish six days after--there are no other symptoms--cold, etc. This must be the drug--how do we counterract it?"

[SIDE EFFECTS]  02/13/2008: Nicole from Placentia, California writes: "My dog Ozzy a 6 month old Boston Terrier had his first Bordatella vaccine before being fixed. He has been very sick with flu like symptoms for 4 days now.  He's been dry heaving, vomiting, and losing weight.  He's just not himself.  I honesty think it was the shot that contributed to these symptoms."

[SIDE EFFECTS]  02/09/2008: Rhonda from Glendale, Arizona writes: "My nine year old Shin Tzu had the rabies shot yesterday, and today is shackey and he doesn't even want to lay down. He has alot of anxiety too! I think the shot is affecting him more since he's older. I do remember his hip and leg being sore before with the shot. Now I'm worried that maybe if there is arthitis that could be to much for him. I just think the symptons seem to be extreme and there just has to be a better alternative."

[SIDE EFFECTS]  02/09/2008: Roxanne (n3vermore@Yahoo.Com) from Minneapolis, MN writes: "I think I have tied my 18 month old Whippet's poor behavior and psychosis to the rabies vaccine.

She got her first rabies shot at 7 months of age, which was December 2006. About a week after, she started acting up in the crate, the current buzz word "separation anxiety" was used. She drooled, so much so that her bedding was drenched.  She chewed the crate.  She stopped eating and I had to stuff her or she was literally starving herself to death. This went on until I couldn't take anymore and I sent her back with her breeder for a month.

I got her back, and all the problems were gone. I thought a month at "boot camp" which was basically crated most of the time, did the trick.  We were good from April 07 until January '08.

She got her 3 year rabies shot on 1/26.  A week later, to the day, the same drooling behavior returned along with the refusal to eat.  Nothing in my routine has changed, nothing has changed with the 2 older Whippets.  No new crates, schedules, etc.  I really was thinking the dog was looney toons and needed a "single dog home"  I looked at my records and it popped out at me that these episodes have coincided with the rabies shot.  The added behavior this time around is aggression toward the older dogs, which has earned this dog a few battle scars. 

I called my vet and asked about this and of course they basically told me I was stupid, that no way would a rabies reaction take over a week, and it wouldn't be psychological. I was told to take my dog to a behaviorist or to get some "diffusing rods" of a certain scent to calm her.  I don't buy it.  Rabies is a STRONG vaccine, and I think my dog has a problem with it. I am hoping these issues will just go away overnight like they did before.  If they do, she won't be getting any more rabies vaccinations."

[SIDE EFFECTS]  02/05/2008: June from Poughkeepsie, New York writes: "Hi, As soon as I got a rabies shot for my doxie who is 11 years old. She had problemns walking.Her back legs she couldnt walk. Now I notice she has trouble picking up her back left leg. She falls down,I had her to the vet. They didnt say anything if it was a reaction. Pills and doctors visits for 1 month now. She didnt have a problem before the shot, She was running around with the other 2 dogs in the house. Thank you"

[SIDE EFFECTS]  02/01/2008: D. Esquivel (kdesquivel@hotmail.com) from austin, tx writes: "We purchased pet insurance for our 2 1/2 year old inside only cat. Part of the deal was to have a physical and update vaccinations.  He had his first rabies (2 years) at 11months, and vet at the time said he didn't need anything else, since he was strictly inside and not exposed to any other cats.  Jan. 15, took him to new vet, gave him rabies and FeLV, and FeUpper resp. even after I told them he did not need them. Here we are some 2 weeks later, 1 emergency trip and 1 overnight hospital stay, and 500 dollars later, I have a cat that has lost 3 lbs, will not drink, runs a temp of 104.5, and has completely transfromed from the spaz cat who loved to play, run, chase, and get into general mischief, into a cat that can barely walk, and wants to sleep all the time.  drs. keep telling us the shots did not cause this. He has never been sick before, and now, nothing but sick since the shots.  I will not be getting more shots for him.  and only hope he can pull through.  drs. diagnosis-fever of unknown orgin. ha ha...."

[SIDE EFFECTS]  01/30/2008: Cathy from Phoenix, AZ writes: "re: rabies vaccine: Took my pure-bred beagle female for shots last year (9/4/07) (rabies/distemper/parainfluenza/adenovirus/coronavirus/bordetella) a year ago and her muzzle and eyes swelled up and she was frothing at the mouth. Took her to vet where they administered dexamethesoneSP (4mg) and Dephenhydramine(50mg) and swelling went down and she was fine the next day. Got the notice in Jan. 08 from animal control that her tags were up and she needed a rabies shot. Took her for shot and told vet of reaction in Sept. 07.  He gave her a 50cc shot of benadryl 10 minutes before shot.  20 minutes after rabies shot, she collapsed and was completely lethargic and uncontrollable bowel movement with vomitting.  2 hours later she perked back up but right muzzle and eye started swelling.  Gave her .75ml of childrens benadryl.  12 hours later, swelling gone, but can't keep food down and keeps having bowel (or trying) movements.  Taking her to vet this afternoon if no improvement. I am now reluctant to get her any shots at all after these reactions."

[SIDE EFFECTS]  01/28/2008: Tiffany from Hammond, Louisiana writes: "I took my 7 week half pound toy poodle to the vet to get first set of shots on a Monday. They gave her an 8 and 1 shot and wormed her.By Monday night she was vomiting. She vomiting Tuesday night and by Wednesday I thought she was doing better just a little weak but walking around. Thursday night she was laying around not walking. I took her to the vet Friday morning. They gave her some fluids through the skin. I left her there through out the day. The vet said she was not doing well and there was nothing else he could do. I took her to another vet and he gave a blood transfusion and some antibiodics. she was doing better saturday then sunday she starting laying around again. Symtoms she was having not opening her eyes much, stiffing the neck back, stiffing legs out, and hissing at me. She was tested negative for porvo. I truly believe the shot killed her. I heard after the fact the vet should not have given this small of a dog a 8 and 1 shot. Is this true?"

[SIDE EFFECTS]  01/27/2008: EJ from Middleboro, MA writes: "I've owned my horse for 6 years and last Spring he had what I consider to be a bad reaction to the first set of yearly vaccinations. I think that was tetanus, strangles, rhino and rabies.  He was lethargic and walked away from me in the paddock for 3 days. This is a horse who's in my pockets and always following me around like a puppy. He's never reacted like this before.  I wondered if any other horse owners have had similar experiences and know what to do to prevent this type of reaction.  Since he's boarded, I have to vaccinate.  A homeopathic clinician recommended giving 3UC of Thuja 3 days before, day of and 3 days after to reduce reaction.  I haven't tried any homeopathics on him yet, but may consider it.  Anyone have any experience with this remedy and animals?"

[SIDE EFFECTS]  01/26/2008: Kar i Mogensen (karimogensen@aol.com) from Austin, AR writes: "My 1 pound and half pound 9 week old baby Chihuahuas are due for their second round of shots and I am researching what is in the second round, what it is incubated in, what the possible side effects are, etc. If you have any information you can share with me, please email me at karimogensen@aol.com and put puppies in the subject line please. I am really scared of vaccines, for people or animals. I had a dog that lived 21 years and she never had a Rabies vaccines, or anything past a second round of shots. I am really concerned about my little girls, they are so tiny. you can see them on my website at www.mogensenonline.com and click on the recent news link. Advice is appreciated. Thanks."

[SIDE EFFECTS]  01/24/2008: Shawn (spersell@kc.rr.com) from Kansas City, MO writes: "My 1 year old bichon-poo was vaccinated on 1-4-08. He received a distermper/parvo/corona booster. He started getting very sleepy after the vaccinations.  On 1-20 he was falling over and was diagnosed with narcolepsy.  He can not stay away for more than 5 minutes at a time.  He loses control of his back legs, falls to the floor and goes to sleep.  Even out in the snow, he can't stay awake.  He falls face first into the snow and sleeps."

[SIDE EFFECTS]  01/19/2008: Jared from Portland, Oregon writes: "I took Cuda, my Australian Shepard,to the vet today for a rabies shot. The vet did not warn me about any possible complications.  I took him home and left to go grocery shopping.  When I got home 3 hours later Cuda's face was swollen and his eyes were half shut.  He did seem to be breathing and acting normally.  My vet had closed by this time so I called the emergency vet.  Even though they said to come in immediately, I did some research and found that Benadryl can help dogs.  I coated one pill (the dose for a child) with peanut butter and gave it to him.  Within about 30 miniutes the swelling started to go down.  He seems to be perfectly normal now, thankfully."

[SIDE EFFECTS]  01/18/2008: Tami from Prineville, OR writes: "I have a Minature, Dapple Dachund--her puppy shots were ok, but the boosters made her break out in lumps and have trouble breathing. It would take the vets office a full day just to get her shots in her a little at a time.  Now we just don't let her get them, or take her out where she can contact distemper/parvo, etc."

[SIDE EFFECTS]  01/18/2008: Merry (merry2323@msn.com) from Taylor, Michigan writes: "Had I not found this forum I would have been lost as to what I should do. I just took my 8 month old kitten in for her original vaccinations so I can get her spayed and I will never take her back once this is all done.  She's lethargic and irritable, very unlike her normal loving attitude.  I have a 7 1/2 year old cat who hasn't had any shots since he was 3 years old and he never will again either.  They are both inside cats so I really don't see a reason for any more vaccines especially if this is how they're going to react to them!"

[SIDE EFFECTS]  01/15/2008: Karoly from Budapest, Hungary writes: "I didn't think it was possible, and I tend to trust science, but the parvo/kennel/distemper vaccination given to my 7 week old beagle puppy, has made her anemic. What was a healthy puppy is now likely to be intermittently sick for the rest of her lives. Vet didn't explain risks, or offer single-vaccine solutions."

[SIDE EFFECTS]  01/15/2008: Laura (ljlindsay001@aol.com) writes: "My year and a half old Yorkie received a rabies shot and had a bad reaction. She was lethargic and when she did walk, she appeared to be in severe pain.  My husband took her to the vet and they gave her an IV which gave her energy back but now, over a month later, she still does not have hair near the shot area.  Will her hair grow back?"

[SIDE EFFECTS]  01/14/2008: June from Poughkeepsie, New York writes: "I just got my 11 year old doxie rabies shot and she sleeping alot and her back legs she cant walk. I think we all have to watch the dogs and cats vaccine.There is something wrong with this."

[SIDE EFFECTS]  01/07/2008: Kerryn from Adelaide, Australia writes: "I got my 8wk old kitten vaccinated yesterday (F3 Vac - Fort Dodge, FIV - Fort Dodge and Milbemax Allwormer). Before we had him vaccianted he was energetic, very affectionate and alert. Once we got home from the vet he went really quiet. Today he won't even let me pick him up without meowing, as if he is in pain. He never meowed before!! He can hardly open his eyes and looks very sick and lifeless. We are so worried about him. Since he had his shots he is a different, sick little kitten. We were only getting him vaccinated to protect him, but it has harmed him instead.. I feel terrible and wish we never took him there."

[SIDE EFFECTS]  01/05/2008: Bridgett (B.Shprd@yahoo.com) from Westchester, New York writes: "I have no remdedy to write about but I do have a horrible story about vaccines. I took my 4mth old full breed Maltese to get his Booster and Leptospiros vaccinations today and approximately 30 mins after leaving the vet his face, ears and mouth swell up so bad that I didn't even recognize my poor pooch. Upon taking him back, the doctor requested that I leave him for about 2 hours for observation and further meds to counteract the reaction.  My puppy is home now but he is very lathargic and extremely moody and everytime I pick him up he yelps.  Is this a normal occurence from the type of vaccines that was administered?"

[SIDE EFFECTS]  01/04/2008: charlotte from corpus christi , texas writes: "I have no remedy . My 2 yr old boston terrier had his 8in1 shots and now has a knot under his skin on the site .  I want to know if I should be concerned about it and if it is normal for him to be a little tired this was 2 weeks ago when he got his shot. please help me .  thank you "