Comments on: The Rabies Vaccine and Your Dog: Side Effects

By: Jan

Jan — Sat, 04 Feb 2012 20:28:58 +0000

Donna, reactions to vaccines can happen at any time, but that kind of reaction usually happens right away. Your dog sounds like she needs medical attention no matter what the cause is. She could also have a virus. Vomiting, diarrhea and not drinking enough are serious symptoms and can lead to dehydration. Please see your vet.

You might also want to read What to Do When Your Dog Has a Vaccine Reaction at http://www.dogs4dogs.com/blog/2010/12/02/what-to-do-when-your-dog-has-a-vaccine-reaction/

I hope she gets better soon.

By: Donna Hetrick

Donna Hetrick — Thu, 02 Feb 2012 16:08:54 +0000

Hi -
thank you so much for the great service your website provides. We are ‘new’ parents to a 1 year old cockapoo. We’ve had her since she was 9 weeks old. Since that time we have had her in teh care of a holistic vet who is very aware of spreading out vaccinations, etc. About 2 weeks ago, I took her in for her mandatory rabies vaccine. The vet gave her the 3 year vaccine and nothing else (even though she’s due for bordetello). I asked her before leaving if I should expect any side effects. She gave me a homeopathic remedy to give her to help with any potential side effects and said all should be well. It’s two weeks later and all of a sudden Lilly has started vomiting and having extreme diarrhea. She is lethargic and makes weak attempts at playing but tires out very easily. She is drinking small amounts and eating very little. When I called the vet and said that I thought that this was related to her rabies vaccine they said, “Oh we don’t think so….” My question is – how long might I expect this to go on? So appreciate your feedback.

By: Jan

Jan — Sat, 28 Jan 2012 17:04:56 +0000

Tricia, I don’t blame you for being angry. You have every reason.

Any drug maker would tell you not to vaccinate a stressed dog, and what could be more stressful than surgery?

Your dog would likely be lethargic after being spade, but being vaccinated could cause it as well. You need homeopathic help for your little girl. You’ll learn how to get that at http://www.dogs4dogs.com/blog/2010/12/02/what-to-do-when-your-dog-has-a-vaccine-reaction/ In the meantime, if she were mine, I’d get Traumeel and Arnica Montana from your local health food store. Ask the personel there how to use it. It can help her heal faster and feel better. Get it as soon as you can. I always give it to my dogs after surgery. You can give the Arnica four or five times a day for a few days then less often over time.

Re treating the over-vaccination, see a holistic vet if you can. Or contact the people mentioned in the article above.

And you can learn how to go after your careless vet in that article. Make him/her pay.

Re symptoms of rabies vaccine reaction, see http://www.truth4dogs.org. There’s a list of symptoms there. If you notice anything other than lethargy, seek help. Check for a fever. Also remember that some reactions from rabies vaccination are very delayed — months, years even. I’d tell your vet you want him/her to pay for seeing a homeopathic vet. Take the vet to small claims court if necessary. Make him/her miserable. Your dog will probably recover, but some damage has likely been done. Homeopathy and really good food is the best way I know to help your baby.

At the very least, he should refund what you paid. I hope he didn’t have the nerve to charge for the second shot or the microchip.

Oh yeah. And find a new vet. And relax. Your stress will stress your little girl.

If you want a phone consult with another vet, let me know. It won’t be very expensive.

By: Tricia Converse

Tricia Converse — Sat, 28 Jan 2012 02:33:43 +0000

I am a wreck, I picked up my little Havanese puppy (Lola) to day from the vet after my husband dropped her off to be spade/fixed only to find out they had, 1. put a microchip in her (without my authorization) & 2) had given her another rabies vaccine after she just had one last month. Needless to say I am freaking out about the vaccine & I went completely crazy at the vet’s office. I am so worried about her. What should I do? She is very lethargic but I don’t know if it’s the shot or the surgery. I want to file a complaint against their office & what signs should I look for if she starts to get sick? I am a mess about this!

By: Melinda

Melinda — Fri, 27 Jan 2012 14:25:58 +0000

Thank you for writting me back, I wish I would have known. I guess I spelled it wrong.

By: Jan

Jan — Thu, 26 Jan 2012 22:51:09 +0000

Melinda, first, I’m so sorry for your loss.

Second, the vet should have never vaccinated a dog with an ear infection. When you’re up to it, please report the reaction to the drug manufacturer. It’s possible they will reimburse you, at least some, for your medical expenses and maybe more. Most importantly, they will have to report the drug reaction to the USDA to make the drug safer. Get the records from the vet. They should have also reported what happened but may not have.

Third, what is an invetro infection? Invitro?

Fourth, please read http://www.dogs4dogs.com/blog/2010/12/02/what-to-do-when-your-dog-has-a-vaccine-reaction/ It will help you with reporting.

Take care. Feel better.

By: Melinda

Melinda — Wed, 25 Jan 2012 01:18:26 +0000

We had a ten year old Great Pyrenees that acted like a puppy running around and being silly just because she was glad to see us. She had a great personality and was the best guard dog for my other animals. She was terrified of storms and loved to sleep in the bathtub when it was hot outside. She was my sweet baby, like a big cuddly polar bear. The picture of a very healthy dog. About three weeks ago I noticed she had an ear infection; we loaded her up and took her to the nearby animal hospital. At the time he examined her cleaned her ears and asked if we wanted to give her a rabies vaccine, since she was there and since she hadn’t had one in years. I really wished I had said no. On the way home she acted funny and got sick, within one week her appetite had decreased and she started limping on one side, then we noticed a bloody discharge from her. Our cousin took her back to the same vets, on Tuesday; they said she had a invetro infection that was very serious. If it had been a closed infection she would have died, but it was open and if they operated and spaded her she might be alright. They made no guarantees, they operated on her on Wednesday, she didn’t do very good and never really move around as good as they would have liked. Our cousin picked her up on Saturday and they had to practically carry her to the car. The vet made a comment that it seemed her problem was neurological. She was never able to stand on her own, her appetite continued to decrease. The antibiotic and steroids were the only medicines they sent home with her. We came in off the road and I called the vets, she was obviously in pain and had labored breathing. I worked as a nurse for ten years and I know what pain looks like. They said to increase her pain med, what pain med, they had not sent her pain med home with her, I could not believe it. She died in my arms that night one hour after getting her first pain pill. Maybe it made her passing less painful for her; it was the saddest day in my life. I decided to look up the side effects from a rabies vaccine and I started crying again, there it was her neurological problems and the following; Allergies
Autoimmune diseases, including organ disease, allergies and skin problems
Chronic digestive problems
Muscle weakness, especially lack of hind end coordination
Chronic digestive disorders
Skin diseases
Behavior problems: aggression, destructive behaviors, separation anxiety and odd obsessive behaviors (like tail chasing and paw licking). Vomiting
Facial swelling
Fever or lethargy
Circulatory shock
Loss of consciousness
Death. All these can occur from 3 days to weeks. We lost a loving family member and friend. I really wish the vets would have looked a little harder at her record and put a correlation between the shot and the rabies vaccine. I wish I would have know the side effects and our family will be looking for a new animal Doctor, I can’t lose another one that way, it was horrifying and my heart will hurt a long time over this, I feel like I let her down and I loved her. The Dixon Family

By: Kristofer Fauci

Kristofer Fauci — Tue, 24 Jan 2012 22:54:03 +0000

Nice blog.keep up the good work.

By: Jan

Jan — Mon, 23 Jan 2012 19:02:58 +0000

Linda, I’ll try to answer your questions. Let me know if I miss any.

First, if a vet were to give a rabies vaccine and he/she wanted to test to see if the vaccine was successful, would they do a titer test for validity or is it a different test?

Titer test. There is a rabies test and another duel test for parvo and distemper.

If they do indeed perform a titer, why would that be good enough proof of protection for the vets vac and not good enough proof for over-vaccinating purposes?

There isn’t a legal titer value, but will be soon, if that’s what you’re asking. If you mean does a titer test show over-vaccinating, it does not. It shows that antibodies have been formed.

Would the vet be checking for antibodies in his test?

Yes, it tests for antibodies. Read my article about titer testing: http://www.dogs4dogs.com/blog/2008/10/22/titer-test/
The Rabies Challenge Fund http://www.rabieschallengefund.org will soon have a titer level proven to the USDA. Right now, they just use the human titer level. When the RCF study is done, we will be able, hopefully, to test rather than revaccinate. Please support this great cause.

Many vets know little about titer testing and it is not to their economic advantage to have clients learn that their dogs may not need all the vaccines. Vaccinating is the easiest way to bring you into the office.

Re Lyssin, I wouldn’t vaccinate against rabies without it.

Here are some more articles that might interest you:
Rabies Vaccination: 13 Ways to Vaccinate More Safely http://www.dogs4dogs.com/blog/2010/09/23/rabies-vaccination-12-ways-to-vaccinate-more-safely/

Vaccinating Dogs: 10 Steps to Eliminating Unnecessary Shots http://www.dogs4dogs.com/blog/2009/04/22/no-unnecessary-dog-shots/

I hope I have answered your questions. Good for you for standing up to your vet. He/she is the one who needs to start doing some research. BTW, vets get vaccinated against rabies in vet school. They are encouraged to test titers thereafter, rather than revaccinate. Why is good for them, but not our pets? Money.

By: Charles Brossmann

Charles Brossmann — Mon, 23 Jan 2012 16:49:37 +0000

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