Side Effects of Pet Vaccines: A Closer Look

My 11 1/2 year old springer spaniel, Abby, had a distemper shot on Oct. 13, 2011 and we had to put her to sleep on Nov. 1. I think it is from the shot. We took her and my other dog, an irish setter named Butch, to the vet for their shots. Also, my irish setter had enlarged lymph nodes. At the vet he didn't get the shot but had other tests. She had a slight limp from jumping off our deck. But 12 days after the shot her limp go really bad and her face got droopy. We took her back to vet and she said her shoulder showed atrophy and she had bell's palsy. She gave us something for the shoulder and gel for her eye on the bell's palsy side. That was a friday. Over the weekend she got worse. On Monday she couldn't walk. Her back legs gave out. We took her back to vet and they kept her overnight. The next day she couldn't move from the neck down. They had given her steroids. She had to be put to sleep. It was heartbreaking. I love her and miss her so much. She did have some arthritis issues but no like that. The other dog that was diagnosed with lymphoma is still around taking medication. I think this all was from the distemper shot.

My two cats - boy, 9, and girl, 8 - were vaccinated against rabies, and got the FVRCP vaccination and were Frontlined, all at the same time, to get them ready for a move overseas. Then I used Advocate on them a week later, as per the vet's recommendation. Nine days later, the female cat moves occasionally and is still eating, but is much quieter than she was. The male cat is not eating, has lapped up a small amount of water on two occasions, and been put on a glucose drip. He went from being a very active cat to just sleeping all day. The vet has done blood tests and they show nothing abnormal.

To 05/19/2011: Ellen from Eaton, Ohio/usa - how is your cat doing? Did she recover? Did changing to a different brand of food help? (I got cat treats for my cats - something different - the female ate all hers, I ended up putting one treat in the male's mouth, and he just spat it out. Still refuses to drink water or eat anything.)

See a homeopathic vet right away!!! Thuja is supposed to help with reactions to vaccines. I'm sure they have more helpful remedies. Also one that knows animal acupuncture. Good luck!!!!

I took my 2 year old perfectly healthy pomeranian in for a routine vaccination this past saturday. 3 hours after he recieved his distemper vaccine his left leg went lame. I brough him to the ER, they gave him benadryl and steroids and kept him for a few hours, I called to check on him and was told his right leg went lame as well. He now is paralyzed from the waist down and cannot control his legs or bladder. I moved him from one ER to the next to try to get some answers--no one believed me that it was from the vaccine.

They insisted that he must have a disc or spinal cord injury. They did a CT scan and an MRI--no disc problem was present. They found that his spinal cord was dying off rapidly. They are monitoring him now hoping that it will not travel up his spinal cord. They want to do a spinal sugery but I will not let them because I know in my heart my dog was not injured. It has to be a side effect of either the vaccine or the needle. Does anyone have any insight?? I am truly devastated. I have already spent $6k and no results. I will try anything for him. Please pray for my little Carlos and send any helpful information my way!!!

Once my CHI received a 3 year vaccine he is now not eating or drinking and can hardly walk and seems to be in great pain. His legs are wobbly and starting to give out. I need help. The vet took xrays and blood work and said nothing came out negative.

My 4 year old perfectly healthy Shorkie Shi tzu yorkie mix went for her rabies and distemper shot. She is never sick 6 days after her shots I noticed she was walking funny and off to the side. I felt a welt on her back and brought her right to the vet. They said it would go away in 1 month to 2 months that it was swelling that occurs from the shot. The next day she was ok but 1:30 in the morning started throwing up till about 4:30 am.. Sunday all day she was sluggish and shaky and didn't move off the couch. She only vomited once that day. Monday we went right to vet were they said it was not from shots they didn't know what it was but will give her antibiotics and something to settle her stomach. She took the 3 medications Monday and Tuesday to see no improvement. Tuesday morning she vomited again. Went back to vet they gave her some fluids and a shot and told me to keep with the medication. Wednesday still no improvment. Thursday back at vet for ultra sound. Now her blood came back good , her ultra sound came back good but showing imflammation and spasms going on in the belly. They gave me predisone to give her. Still no major improvement. Her bowel came back negative and urine although very concentrated came back with some protein in it. He told me to wait two weeks until she feels better and have it rechecked because of the concentration it might be showing protein.

I am very concerned because years ago I had a maltese which received the same shots and 4 days later was unresponsive and throwing up and had to be put to sleep.

It has already cost me over 1000.00 this week for no diagnosis or improvement of my dog. I will tell you this she will never get another vaccination again. To me she never goes around other dogs and is only 8lbs. she is with me always and I think it is unnecessary to have to vaccinate when they are small house dogs.

Yesterday I took my Shiztzu X maltese for her annual injections for C4 and Heartworm etc.

Within 1 hr she became withdrawn and wouldn't come when called for dinner. She slowly walked with her tail between her legs but wouldn't eat( she is usually a very outgoing dog that will wolf down her food, any food ) She then started 'shivering' even though the room temperure was quite warm. I rang the vet, took her back, he said a slight reaction to one of the shots. She then started breathing rapidly, as though panting with her mouth closed. I rang the vet this time getting the after hours vet, was told the same thing. The panting went on for 2 hours. I slept with her right up next to me checking on her consently. Around 5am she wanted to go outside and had Diarrhea. She hasn't hadn't any water for 18 hrs now so I'm spoon feeding it to her, I'm worried about dehydration. She hasn't become any worse but I'll ring the vet again and take her back. Also she screams when I touch the area the C4 was injected. The heartwom injection was given in a different area. I'm from Australia.

My cat had his jab on Wednesday and since then he has been sick.

I do not have dogs, but love them. Personally from a couple of friends & one of my own boarding experiences with my cats years ago-I would recommend skipping as many vaccines as possible and instead having a trusted friend dog sit or have one of those paid pet nannys come and vistit your pet 2-3 times a day while you are out, making sure they are bonded and insured, and have a high reputation for the safety of your pet.

I have a 5 month old kitten that is eating & acting fine but is having bad diarrhea. He had only one vaccine about 6wks ago. I have read many of the very sad stories abt pets and vaccines. My sincerest sympathy to any who have had very ill pets or lost a precious one to vaccines. I wanted to add, that, I understand that you can give any animal having any adverse type reaction to a vaccine or if you think an illness or tumor or cancer is vaccine related; you can treat them with homeopathic med "thuja" 30c is what is best from my natural med book on cats and dogs. I have read different dosing, tho one is to give one dose, but for 3 days. You could check the internet for other recommendations. But it could possibly save a pet's life. Also you can give even if there is no bad reaction, but I am not sure how long after the vaccine was given, this would be recommended. Hope this helps someone.

My 2 year old Dachshund was vaccinated yesterday and has the same thing. He first vomited, face got swollen, and his limbs became cool to the touch. He now has fever and can't seem to do anything to get comfortable. He is absolutely miserable. I am also concerned about the loose area under his chin. My Oscar is the sweetest little guy around and after yesterday, he doesn't even act like the same dog... I am extremely sad.

I gave my 7 year old Mini Schnauzer (Cleo) a Parvo/Distemper injection. Within about an hour she started violently itching, she also huge welts at the injection point and down her entire back. I gave her a benedryl and put her a lukewarm bath. The itching subsided. A few hours later she started itching again and again we put her in the lukewarm bath and the itching subsided again and the bumps went away. Strangest thing ever. Her heart was beating really fast, but her breathing wasn't labored. Since the bumps went away and the itching subsided, we decided not to take her to the Vet, but needless to say I was not able to sleep at all, I stayed awake watching her all night for any changes.

Dumplin, remove the magnet from your refrigerator door and place that same side that sticks to metal directly on the spot of inflammation and hold it there for up to an hr, several times a day until that swelling goes down.

Significant diarrhea noted @ 18 hours post initial lyme vaccine in 10 week old boxer puppy.

Bella, 2 yr old German Short hair 12 hour after shot experiencing joint stiffness especially in hind quarter, lethargic and whining.

When I took my 5 lb female yorkie/chihuahua mix to get her first shots in May or June of last year, she was 9 mos old. I didn't notice anything different with her other than laying around for a few days. I just took her on Oct. 4th to get this years dose, which was a 5-in-1 and a rabies shot. Yesterday I noticed a large lump on her right hip which is the site of 1 of the injections. She was not feeling well and was laying around, not eating. I did notice she was drinking a lot of water. I googled it and that is how I found this site. I do not know what I would do if I lost her. She is the light of my life. She is only 2 years old. What can I do to get rid of this lump? If I mess with it, which is very little, she really doesn't seem to mind. But it scares me. I will worry myself sick over this. Does anyone know what I can do to help her before it turns into something bad? Any help at all will be greatly appreciated. Thank you.

My female Yorkie has been given DHPP C vaccinations every year for years at the insistence of my vet. (if you don't get the shot, you can't board at that particular vet), -I didn't want her to have the innoculation at her visit 3 months ago-I wanted her to have a titer test, but the vet told me the titer test was very expensive and she would be protected by the innoculation and he talked me into the innoculation.

She has now been diagnosed with Lymphoma (by needle biopsy and I got a second opinion with repeat biopsy). (9 yrs. 9 mo. old and 5 pounds). She has totally healthy heart, lungs, etc. and always acted like a puppy. The vet oncologist I have for her now told me that Lymphoma is rare in Yorkies and she has up to 9-12 months to live. She is now on chemo and prednisone. This is a loving, beautiful, active dog that will be taken from me because the vet assured me the innoculation was safe. The vets do it for the money. That is the bottom line. The vet knows he is responsible-I could tell when I told him she had Lymphoma.

My llasa Apso had the 3 way shot 21/2 years ago and about 6 hours later after going to bed I could feel her twitching and her skin hot to touch. I called the vet and he suggested giving her benadyrl. She seemed to come out of it. I am supposed to give her another shot tomorrow and frankly I don't know if the chance of her getting a worse reaction this time is worth it. I might add she has severe skin reactions to many things including staph bacteria.

My question to you is that my dogs (breeds black labarodor (2 months old) and Rotweiler (4 months old) had their first vaccination of distemper, hepatitis, parainfluenza, parvovirius, leptospirosis). Since their vaccination they have lost appetite, vomiting and severe dirreahea. Please suggest what can be done.

My 13 pound Snauzer had shots this afternoon and now he has the shakes and he is throwing up. My dog is three years old and only had two vaccinations when he was quite young and my vet recomended another round of shots. My little dog won't stop shaking and he is quite sick. I am monitoring him and I took his temp. And it was 101.5 so its not too high. I am giving him small amounts of water and he can't seem to hold that down. I will take him to the emergency vet if he does not subside soon.