The comments below reflect the personal experiences and opinions of readers and do not represent medical advice or the views of this website. The information shared has not been evaluated by the FDA and is not intended to diagnose, treat, or prevent any disease or health condition. Always consult a qualified healthcare professional for medical concerns.
Combination Vaccines
Posted by Joyce (Staten Island, NY) on 08/14/2008
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
Combination Vaccines
Posted by Erin (Austin, TEXAS) on 08/13/2008
Did you ever take your dog to the vet? What did they say? This same thing happened to my jack russell.
Bordetella
Posted by Tammy (Livermore, CA) on 08/12/2008
I just took my 10 year old Chihuahua to the vet for a check-up last week. I was also talked into the Bordetella nasal spray vaccine. I specifically asked if there were any possible adverse side effects and was told there were not. Since then my dog has been sneezing, reverse sneezing and I think he had a seizure of some type on Saturday where his whole body stiffened up and he could stand on his own for about 5 minutes. He kept trying to get his paws up to his face. I am very angry that I was not told about possible side effects when I asked.
Combination Vaccines
Posted by Jen (El Paso, Texas, USA) on 08/07/2008
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.
Combination Vaccines
Posted by Kati Morlando (Raleigh, North Carolina) on 08/07/2008
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.
Combination Vaccines
Posted by Susan (Indianapolis, Indiana) on 08/06/2008
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
Combination Vaccines
Posted by Dan (Salisbury nb Canada, Canada) on 08/05/2008
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
Combination Vaccines
Posted by Melissa (OKC, OK) on 07/29/2008
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.
Combination Vaccines
Posted by Emmitt (Lakelnd, Florida) on 07/26/2008
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!!
Combination Vaccines
Posted by Suzanne (Toronto, Ontario, Canada) on 07/24/2008
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.
Combination Vaccines
Posted by Nancy (Marianna, USA) on 07/19/2008
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??
Bordetella
Posted by Stephanie (Queensbury, NY) on 07/18/2008
My dog received the intra-nasal vaccine for bordatella on Feb. 28, 2008 the next day she started to cough almost asmatic, a runny nose so full of mucous, constantly running also very tired out. She's only 3 yrs. old .Over the next few months she has been scoped, x-rayed, nebulized,and been on three different antibiotics,$1,000.00 later to no avail.The vet chalked it up to an allergy. At which I called Schering-plough the company which makes this vaccine. The vet there said to take her back and they would pay for a battery of tests to see if the Bordatella was responsible. Of course after waiting 3 weeks for results they said Bordatella didn't show up. My dog was a healthy energy filled dog until this. Now she's very lathargic and sleeps alot. I will not vaccinate my dog again I will go all natural. To see her so sick and uncomfortable and shortness of breath breaks my heart and angers me to know the vets continue to over vaccinate.
Distemper (Cats)
Posted by Julie (Madison, WI) on 07/18/2008
I had a 4 month old kitten die of cat distemper because I didn't get it's vaccines. I think that telling people not to get vaccines is wrong - it was the death of my little Angel.
Combination Vaccines
Posted by Greg Haywood (Oviedo, Florida) on 07/15/2008
To Patty from Oak Park, WA...
In your 6/20/08 post, you said about your cat, "he was licking his legs and paws, couldn't get comfortable laying down, and he was breathing rapidly. He wouldn't let me hold him or pet him for long".
we have two 16 week old female kittens from the same litter who both just had their last kitten shots. One has reacted exactly as yours did. She remains hostile, but only toward her sister kitten! It is now 7/15/08. Can I ask how your kitten is doing now and how long it took for it to return to normal behavior?
Combination Vaccines
Posted by Danny (Lancaster, Oh) on 07/12/2008
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?
Combination Vaccines
Posted by Dana (Kauai, Hawaii) on 07/12/2008
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.
Combination Vaccines
Posted by Joyce (Joelton, Tn) on 07/12/2008 489 posts
Hello, at this point, my suggestion is to find you another vet and stand up to them when you feel a treatment is likely to be adverse instead of beneficial. Classic example of this, is when a relative's two pups came down with parvo and were taken to vet for treatment. One died and one survived. Our not-quite year old shephard mix exposed to them came down with it a few days later. Realizing that vet's therapy was only 50/50 chance of survival, went the route of 2 grams of Vitamin C dissolved in l quart of water and dribbled into her mouth (she was beyond drinking on her own) frequently, had her back on her feet and drinking the next day).
Combination Vaccines
Posted by Peggy (Amelia, Ohio) on 07/12/2008
I too have had problems with my chihuahua and the bordetella vaccine or nasal spray. She has same exact symptoms. Before she was spayed she had received the vaccine. All was fine, then after they spayed her she got kennel cough from the vets and the tube for anesthesia caused her to develope tracheal damage. She was on antibiotics and had nebulizer treatments for three months after. The was 6 mths old then. She is 2 1/2 yrs old and I took her for a routine visit this past Sunday. They insisted she get the shot but I told them of her reaction when she was spayed and said no. They said we can do the nasal spray and made me feel less of a good parent to my little girl so I agreed reluctantly. They gave her steroids and benadryl before the treatment and put her on amoxicyllin. She has been back to the vets again and received another steroid shot and benadryl injection and changed her antiobiotics to tribessin. She is still sneezing, running nose, severe reverse sneezing to where her whole chest sinks in. They say nothing can be done, she will be ok. Not in my book. This issue is not over. To boot, they charged me for the second treatment even though I did not want her to have the stuff in the first place. She is never boarded or around a bunch of other dogs. They make you feel like a bad person if you don't get the shots or nasal spray but then you feel even worse after you do and they have a bad reaction. Not sure what to do at this point.
Combination Vaccines
Posted by Mary (Southaven, MS) on 07/11/2008
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.
Combination Vaccines
Posted by Brian (Ferndale, Michigan) on 07/10/2008
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?)
