Rabies Vaccine Side Effects in Dogs

Good day, My 3 month old Dalmatian had a severe reaction to the rabies vaccine he received yesterday. Within 20 minutes of receiving the vacc, namely Rabvac1 Fort Dodge, his face, gums and eyes became heavily swollen such that he was even having difficulty keeping his eyes open, and his mouth was continuously itching. He also vomitted. Immediately we took him back to our vet, and he confirmed it was a vaccine reaction and administered 3 more injections, out of the three one was Avil, and i'm not sure about the other two injections he gave. After about 30 - 40 minutes of receiving the antiallergic treatments his condition started getting better. We brought him home, and after about an hour more again the symptom started appearing... I called the vet and he asked me to switch off our airconditioner and keep him warm. Surprisingly true as he was, on increasing the room temperature he started getting better, and by the next 3 - 4 hours he was eating, and playing as well. The slight swell was still there on his muzzle and slight signs of eye bags visible. My vet has prescribed BETNESOL (Betamethasone Sodium phosphate) oral drops 10 drops twice a day for 3 days, I gave the first 10 drops at night and then again in the morning. From today morning his face was absolutely normal, though his activities are slightly sluggish, he's sleeping a lot more than usual and drinking a lot of water on his own which is unusual (we usually make his meals water rich to feed him more water, he never drinks on his own). I have a feeling his throat is itching and some slight irritation may still be remaining on his face though apparently is normal. And within one day I can feel he has lost some weight.

Kindly let me know if there is anything more to worry about regarding his condition, is there any chance that the reaction might reoccur, will his health be okay or will worsen. Is his sluggishness and the feeling of weightloss just temporary due to his adjusting to the vaccine or is it something to be concerned about.

Will highly appreciate your guidance

Best regards, Abhishek

I have a 2 year old Yorkie named Sophie. Last year when she went for her well check our Vet told us that Sophie was perfect. At this visit Sophie received her rabies vaccine. One week to the day Sophie was on death's door. We were sent to an animal neurologist and she was diagnosed with encephalitis (sp?). She was at the hospital for a week and after much care I am happy to say that we were the recipients of a miracle and Sophie is 100% today. However, it is now time for her next check up and they want to give her a distemper shot (she did not receive it last year because of her reaction the rabies shot). I am terrified to give Sophie any sort of shot. She is an indoor dog and only has contact with her sister Mollie another Yorkie. I don't know what to do. Any advise?

I took my dog to the vet 2 weeks ago to get his yearly rabies shots. He was fine the first two days and on the third day something changed. He is not the same dog. He turns viscious in an instant, is cowering in the corner growling to himself. Urinating in the house then going into these fits of shaking uncontrollably. I called the vet and they said there is no side effects because it is not live and to give him benadryl. This is my companion and I do not want to put him down but that might be the next option. I do not know if it is a rabies shot or if he is just going mad, but he is only two years old.

My maltese had a severe reaction to her rabies vaccination three years ago. She lost all the hair in the area of the shot. It became red and inflamed.

Our seven year old GSD had his three-year rabies vaccination (Pfizer Animal Health) and within four days started vomitting, having diarrhea throughout the night, and stopped eating. This lasted for three days (over Christmas unfortunately) until we were able to see the vet who prescribed Metociopramide and Metronidazole. He is now eating again and the symptoms have subsided.

Also since the vaccination he has been lame in his hind leg where he was injected and his energy has been low, partly due no doubt to being sick.

Grace our Jack Russell got her rabies booster vacine yesterday (11/21/11). Today she attacked and killed my older dog Rocky that was a Chihuahua. They have been in the same household since December 2010 I reported it to the vet. Was never warned about side effects.

With my first puppy; Chihuahua male, intact, born January 26, 2011; rabies vaccinated on 6-8-2011; he started 'reverse sneezing' within a few days of being vaccinated.

With my second puppy; Chihuahua male, intact, born 4-14-2011; rabies vaccinated on 8-22-2011; he had a small swelling at injection site that went away in 2 days, and a larger swelling has occurred 6 days after injection- his right trap muscle is swollen. (Injection site swelling was approx. Half an inch from current swelling. ) However, there is a possibility that this is an injury as a result of puppy 'rough-housing'. The exact cause is undetermined.

I had always followed the "rules" and allowed my Papillon to receive his prescribed rabies shot. About four years ago, after receiving the shot, we had just arrived home about 20 minutes from the vet's office, when I noticed his behavior was becoming a bit frantic, he was drooling and his little face was beginning to swell. I became hysterical, phoned the vet's office and told them we would be returning pronto... Upon arrival, they whisked him back and gave a shot of epinephrine and steroids. Since that time, whenever he gets his rabies shot, he must always get a steroid shot first.

This year my Papillon is 11 years old and he went for his rabies shot, as usual, he received his steroids first. But this year was different. It's been several weeks now and he seems withdrawn, cautious and something all family members have niticed is that his hearing seems to have significantly deteriorated since receiving the shot. I had been suspicous of the shot all along, however now even more so. After reading other posts, I will do more research and decide what to do from this point forward.

Thank you, Diana

I have a toy poodle who weighs 6 lbs. When he got his first rabies 1 year vaccine he only weighed 2 lbs. He had a reaction that involved his skin getting bright red after the shot which travelled down his hind quarters. Then the tips of both his ears became irritated and a week or so later looked like someone had tried to embroider the edges. I had to soak off all the scabs in warm bath water. A month later he lost all the hair in the area of his injection site. I went ahead a year later to give him his 3 year vaccine only this time he was given some medication prior to the injection to help with the inflammation I believe it was benedryl. He had the same reaction as before but it was not as severe as before. My vet and I decided after both reactions that he would no longer receive this vaccine.

My dog also reacted to the Lyme Disease vaccine by having a fever the day after that injection. I no longer give him this vaccine.

He is currently titered in between his vaccines and they are spread out during the year (Bordetallo is given at different times)

I GOT BOTH DOGS RABIES SHOTS ON 8/05/2011 FRI.

THE 12.5LB. DOG VOMITED SAT NIGHT LIKE COFFEE GROUNDS AFTER ALL FOOD. OK SUNDAY NIGHT. ON MONDAY NIGHT THE 5LB. DOG VOMITED AND CONTINUES TO VOMIT COFFEE GROUND TYPE. DRINKS WATER VOMITS FOOD. WED AM SMALL DOG STILL SICK. WHAT CAN I DO VET CLOSED TODAY....DAVID

My black lab of 6 years developed a lump the size of a golf ball about 1 month after she had her rabies and other shots given at the same time. This was the first time I allowed them to give them all at the same time. I took her back to the vet. They did a gram stain and said they found staph or step. They gave me an antibiotic for less than 1 week. The lump went down, but has come back up. I repeated the gram stain. There is staph or strep, but no white cells.

I just had my 12 year old dog vaccinated with her rabies shot. She has been up for two nights with severe diarreha. Every single hour last night she had to run to the door to go out. I am thinking because of her age, I should just skip the vaccines from this point on. Any opinions.

My 3 yr. old dog just receive a rabies shot on yesterday and now she can't walk and she is not eating what did you do for your pet, the vet says it had nothing to do with the shot but I think different.

I agree that pet vaccines, especially the rabies vaccine is highly dangerous to dogs. The first year I had my springer mix, Starsky, not too long after his vaccines, he developed a nail disorder called lupoid onychodystrophy, where his nails fell out or he would chew them off until they bled and caused him pain. Then, I did not return for his other 'annual' vaccinations. I used the excuse I did not have the money, which was partly true, but I'm a firm believer in that NATURAL is always the way to go with both humans and animals. So after being late (several months late) on getting his rabies shots and after getting $100 fines by the county because I had stopped getting him vaccinated I was forced and not too long after he developed an "auto-immune" disease where his red blood cell count dropped severely and he stopped eating and lost so much weight his sides almost touched in the middle of his body. I was in tears constantly... My vet was awesome at this point though.... He did all he could by getting Starsky on some fatty acids and some steroids, and with those and lots of prayer, Starsky came through (though that lasted about two months). I thought I was going to lose him. But thank God, he is still here and is 7 years old now!!

Well the County did a sweep through our city last year and guess what, I got a warning that my dogs were not vaccinated...... Of course they weren't! I believe it is killing animals all over the place and it's criminal! How many dogs are causing rabies infestations to humans that you know of? That pales in comparison to the amount of dogs developing 'auto-immune' issues because of these horrific vaccinations!

So, I tried to fight it and lost.... my vet wrote me a waiver for Starsky because he did believe Starsky had been through too much to get vaccinated and risk getting ill again.

But, Maggey, my 4 year old black lab mix had to get the vaccination (rabies). So I tried fighting it, but I would have had to take this to court if I didn't pay the $100 and get her vaccinated. So Maggey got vaccinated and less than 3 days later, she developed a rash, hair loss, redness, and swelling at the injections site, and here we are a year later, and she still is itching and losing hair just above her tail where the shot was injected! It makes me so mad that I am forced against my will to do this.

I'm battling what to do now that they are due again for their rabies vaccinations....

We have a one year old toy fox terrier that developed a bald spot on the right shoulder just above the leg from the rabies vaccination injection. The hair has not grown back after several months and the spot is completely bare. Our vet does not seem concerned about it and gave the next injections under the front right leg. He has since developed a small bump under the skin at the second injection site. This is a show-quality TFT and we are highly frustrated with our careless vet, feeling like we've been duped. Any help, suggestions or treatment would be highly appreciated!