Side Effects of Pet Vaccines: A Closer Look

In December of 2010 I had a beautiful Staffordshire Bull Terrier shipped to me from England. I have been involved in this breed for 20 years and have been looking for a nice red and white for about 4 years. I paid a very large amount of money for this boy. I finally found the perfect dog and had done all the due diligence of studing his line. He arrived healthy and absolutly everything that I had expected. With many of my dogs being in the top 10 in the country my expectations were that this boy could be number one. As he grew I was very pleased and never thought any less of him.

In February I took him in to the vet and had his vacinations and Rabies. Within a week I was noticeing him rubbing his eyes and face on the carpet and a large area on his back losing hair. I took him in to the vet and found that the area where his hair was falling out was right where he had recieved his rabie vac. We decussed options on how to help him through this and then I took him home to decide. The skin was becoming very thich where the shot had been administered and the thought was that the only way to stop the issue was to surgically remove that area of skin. As the days passed I saw that the area was getting larger and knew that we would have to act on it.

Then one Monday morning I woke up with him having cherry eye. I took him in right away and it was confirmed. We decided we could no longer wait and had surgery on the eye as well as the large area on his back (about the size of golf ball ) removed. The cherry eye was caused from the allergies and his rubbing his eye on the carpet, his background has no issues with allergies or any other health problems. So now I have a young dog that I had planned to have in the ring to win against all others who has an eye issue and a large scare across his back. I worked as a vet tech many years ago and do not ever recall seeing these issues from these shot, but then we used modified live vacines back then not the killed.

I love this little guy with all my heart, and still do even though he is not able to do what my original plans were. But I still have to keep him from reacting from the allergies. He still wants to dig at his eyes, rub his face in the carpet and dig at himself. He is uncomfortable becouse I did what the law says is the right thing and had him vacinated. He lives in the house and is never allowed to run free, so what is the chances of him ever coming in contact with rabies. This has changed my thoughts on Rabies vacines and I honestly do not know that I will ever be able to bring myself to give another one again!

My 3 year old chihuahua mix got his Lyme disease shot today. He usually is all happy and entergetic but now he is just laying down or sleeping and only gets up a little bit and walks slow and stiff. He doesn't really move his neck either. Also I tried to pick him up and he squealed. I was wondering if it's side affects from the shot, or maybe side affects of the actual disease? Can getting the Lyme disease vaccine put an animal at risk to actually get it? Thanks. I just hope he doesn't have Lyme disease. It's sad to see him like this..

she has been tearing up her bedding and having diarrhea in her crate which never happens. She is fine otherwise don't know what else would cause this.

I took my 3 lb 16 week old Maltese to get her last parvo shot. They gave her it and the rabies shot. She was fine until about and hour afterward. She yelped when I tried to hold her. I thought she was sore. Later she kind of drug her hind end and could not stand for me to touch her from the shoulders back. She would turn around trying to get to her tail. I now read she should not have got multiple vaccines, and that Maltese AND small breeds are most likely for reactions. UGH!

My 5 year old Tortie cat got a 1 yr Rabies shot and FDRC shot and Revolution application on 4/17/11, one month ago. (Not her first.) She was my fat cat who hogged all the food (was a starving kitten when I rescued her) and loved to be outside. But since the shot she will not go outside, may initially lick the food like she wants to eat, but walks away. And sleeps or lays around all the time. The VET claims it could not be a reaction or side effect to the shots. So, I am looking into the Diamond Naturals Active Cat Food that I recently changed to and the canned foods I have been feeding them (although 2 other cats are eating it without apparent ill effects ...).

One of the following homeopathic medicines for companion who has a reaction to vaccination.

Acontium napellus

Works well with animals who have had seizures after vaccination may also respond to Aconite.

Thuja occidentalis

Is usually the first choice for vaccine-induced breathing problems.

Belladonna

This is the remedy may successfully treat seizures that occur after a vaccinations.

30c Homeopathic remedy rules:

Don't touch the pellets with hands use spoon, crush them up and use and folded paper like and funnel etc. To put them directly into the mouth. One dose of each is usually enough, but if you see any improvement then it worked. If not give one more dose.

Our 5 1/2 year old cocker spaniel went into anaphylactic shock after receiving her annual rabies and distemper vaccines. She has had these vaccines without incident since birth. The vet is not sure which vaccine she reacted to d/t both being administered at the same time. Luckily, the vet responded immediately with proper treatment and although our dog also suffered delayed reactions, we were able to bring her home 8 hours later. She does not seem to have suffered any consequences as a result of the near death incident. The vet said she should not receive the distemper vaccine again, just the titre. She is "not sure" what we should do about the rabies vaccine.

I have a boy puppy that was born Dec 27/10 and had his first set of vaccines Feb 18/11 and 9 days later had a seizure. I am going to take him for his second set of vaccines but only his distemper and parvo. I bought Thuga and Sulfer 30c tablets but unsure how much to give him and for how long. Thank you in advance for your help. Fern

hi I am reporting side effects that occurred after I vaccinated my cat (2nd time being vaccinated) she is a Siberian born Oct. 2nd 2009. She received her rabies ( purevax), distemper and feline lukimea. About 10 hours after the vaccines she was shivering, had a temperature, limping, lathergic, not eating, only wanting to sleeping and breathing rapidly.

September 13, 2008 I took my airedale, Teddy, for a Bordatella at Petco in order to board him the following week. He received this vaccine about 6:00 p.m. And by 8:00 p.m. he suffered what appeared to be a seizure and died. There was no time to get him to the emergency vet (this occurred on a Saturday evening. ) It was overwhelmingly sad. I phoned the emergency vet to see if the Bordatella vaccine could have caused his death and they emphatically told me no way. I wonder to this day, if it was the cause as he was fine before that.

I have another airedale who turned 10 in October. He and Ted were best buddies.

My heart goes out to Rusty's mom and dad for their loss. After reading your article on vaccines I will certainly heed your warning about a blood test before vaccinating. Thank you for the info.

My 1 1/2 year old Boston terrier has had an allergic reaction to vaccines 2 years in a row. Since she had it as a puppy, the vet separated the vaccines this year. She had the same allergic reaction as last year with her parvo vaccine. A few weeks later with her rabies vaccine, she had a sudden "acute toxic event" 2 days later. We don't know for sure if it was the vaccine, but I don't know what else it would be. She almost died. She had emergency surgery and lost 1/2 her liver and her entire gallbladder. I am terrified about future vaccines.

We took our 5 dogs to Petco, Love My Pet, March 27, 2011 for all their shots. Within 5 days the 1.5 year old great dane was dragging his back toes on his left leg. We went to our vet who told us "nothing wrong"; we went to a specialist within 2 days and his left leg paralyzed. Day 3 it had moved to the right leg and his front legs were wobbling and he had dropped 12 pounds! Any/all test were run that day BUT I was told nothing could be done until test results came back -- 7 days later!

Prior to the appointment I had searched the internet and my gut said it was the vaccines.... Specialist thought I was crazy but agreed to give him steroids because he was perplexed and said he did not know what else to do to stop the paralysis. Within 18 hours after the 1st dose he could stand; within 5 days (10 doses) he was running! All lab work and fluid analysis = nothing wrong! CT results stated torn achilles in the left leg (needed a splint) and right had shattered bone and he needed surgery IMMEDIATELY. Yesterday they called to say a sono gram showed nothing wrong with left leg so no splint needed BUT he still needed surgery on the right to remove the 6mm bone fragmnets. Did the surgery ---- no bone fragments could be found!!!!! Another CT was done. Today's results: left leg fine; no 6mm bone fragments in the right leg --- just swelling in the joints!!!!! He resumed his steroids again for another 5 treatments and then I believe he will be fine. Wonderful the internet gave me guidance BUT the 3 vets I saw will not put in writing it was the vaccines!!!! They cannot explain why a 142 pound healthy dog "went lame" within a week of the shots! They said off the record they agreed with me BUT could not put it in writing! AMAZING!

Thank goodness for Trupanion pet insurance!!!! Love My Pets --- horrible, horrible horrible! They just kept asking if I had read the care instructions and given dimetap!!!! They would not give me the manufacturer name/number or insert for the medications!!!!! They stated there was no recall BUT gave me the wrong lot# of the vaccines!!!! Nothing was sent to me in writing even though I kept requesting assistance! 3 times I called and was told to leave a message with the manager who would call me back.... No call was returned to me!!!!

I have learned so much and never realized how bad all the vaccines can be! PLEASE continue to self educate as the "industry and pharmaceuticals" protect their own!!!!!

My two year old Havanese had a very bad reaction to the distemper vaccine. She had this vaccine alone without any other vaccine's at the same time. I will never get my dog vaccinated again (except for rabies.. State law every 3 years) but I will get Titer tests to see if the dog is protected against these diseases properly. Vaccinations are very scary!

My black lab Brandy used to have small reactions after her vaccinations. She would have facial tremors and what may have been small seizures. We never made the connection until later. She also had developed a thyroid problem when she was about 6 years old. I took her to the vet for her yearly vaccines (as I thought every good pet owner should). When she was 13, she was given her yearly booster as well as rabies vaccine. Within a few weeks she began having seizures that we could not get under control, even with seizure medication. We lost her that year.

A few years earlier we had a cat that was given yearly vaccines. She developed an over-active thyroid, and despite having lost a lot of weight and not seeming to be in good health, the vet gave her a full set of vaccinations, plus Feline Leukemia. At the time, I thought all those vaccines were in the name of good health. Within a few weeks of getting those vaccinations, she stopped eating and we lost her.

I now have 2 dogs, 4 horses, and 3 cats that have been given minimal vaccinations. My new vet doesn't fight with me or try to convince me to vaccinate. I am convinced that I lost both my beloved Brandy and cat Barney to vaccinations! I suggest every pet owner read "The Nature of Animal Healing" by Martin Goldstein, DVM. Despite 2 degrees in Animal Science, it is this book that began me on my journey towards true animal health. My animals have benefitted greatly from the limited vaccines and home prepared diets! I hold my breath after each state required rabies vaccination, but hope their overall good health will help them through its trauma to their system!

Christine,

My dog lost his hair too, around the injection site and my vet said it was my fault, and that the fur would grow back once he was feeling better. He still has that triangle of fur missing on his rump, and I will always ask for diluted rabies shots from now on. I have found that Benadryl is good for almost everything that ails a dog.

Thanks,

Becca

dont settle for slipped disc. When dogs can use back legs and are weak it could be kidneys. Or just too weak to move. My dog was misdiagnosed and I ended up losing her. the vet was so wrong said it was a back issue and it was kidneys.

I just read your post about your dogs bad reaction after getting vaccines - I agree it is from them.

If there is a vet who will state that is what happened, they will have to pay for all treatment. But I know the most important thing for you is to have your dog back in good health- I hope he is doing better??? are you getting any answers??

I just found your site. For my children I am very pro-vaccine but I have had some very bad luck with my dogs. My 18 month old french bulldog had a mysterious back injury (ruptured disk in back) which led to paralysis while RUNNING, one day after receiving her annual vaccines, parvo etc. My second french bulldog, entirely not related, had the same mysterious back injury ONE DAY after her vaccines..

Everyone says coincidence. Come on.