Rabies Vaccine Injection-Site Tumors
Written by Jan on October 28, 2009 – 12:01 am
Zsazsa and her Injection-Site Tumor
A Chihuahua named Zsazsa developed a large injection-site fibrosarcoma after a rabies shot. Looking for information, Angel Moran (Zsazsa’s “mom”) e-mailed Kris Christine, Founder of the Rabies Challenge Fund. Below is Angel’s side of their communication. Kris’s beloved dog Meadow also had a mast cell cancer develop directly on the site of his rabies shot 3 months after it was administered, and he died after it metastasized. The Rabies Challenge Fund is a nonprofit group working to prove that the rabies vaccine gives immunity for at least seven years, thus limiting the number of shots a dog has to get. The Fund relies exclusively on donations from pet lovers. Please give if you can.
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Angel Moran, writing Sunday, August 30, 2009
Dear Kris: My chihuahua was recently diagnosed with fibrosarcoma. It is at the presumed injection site of her rabies shot. The vet said there is no correlation to her cancer and the injection site but from what I am reading I don’t believe what I am being told. Any studies you have would be greatly appreciated. She developed the lump within 3 months of her booster shot.
Kris sent Angel information from vet journals that we can send you or your vet.
Other info Kris sent: In a DVM360 article (8-1-08) entitled Vaccination: An Overview, Dr. Melissa Kennedy states: “Adverse reactions have also become a major concern in small animal medicine. …. These fall into two general categories. The first is immediate hypersensitivity. This may be a local or systemic response, and is due to pre-existing antibody to the agent. This is the classic “allergic reaction” to the vaccine and can be life-threatening. The second is a delayed response, requiring days of longer to develop. The vaccine, seen as foreign, elicits a significant inflammatory response and is especially true for adjuvanted vaccines. This response can manifest as a granuloma, or more seriously, a fibrosarcoma.” She added: “The likelihood of adverse reactions in dogs has been found to correlate with the size of the dog and the number of inoculations given, with higher risk associated with small size and multiple inoculations.”
Angel writing Monday, October 12, 2009
Kris, I just wanted to give you an update. I had to have my Zsazsa put down this past week. The vet who helped me care for her said the only way to determine 100% her cancer was from the rabies vaccine was to do a biopsy. We agreed to have it done just for our piece of mind and to have her count if this vaccine caused her death. Dr. Amy went to the company who created the vaccine … and she feels the vaccine caused it and explained we have her brother who we are concerned about as well. [The manufacturer] has agreed to pay for the biospy and claim they have no reports of this vaccine causing this cancer in dogs. They are interested in the results. I applaud the Dr for contacting the company and getting them to agree to pay. She warned we couldn’t sue the company but it’s not about that, it’s about the dangers of the rabies vaccine and the numbers not being accurate. Thank you for fighting for our beloved animal’s who can’t fight for themselves.
Angel writing Thursday, October 22, 2009
Dr. Amy called today with the biopsy results for Zsazsa. It was a soft tissue spindle sarcoma and/or with (not sure) peripheral nerve sheath tumor. Dr. Amy thought she had removed the entire tumor but based on the results it was much deeper and she said we made the right decision that Zsazsa would have needed radiation and chemo along with having to have her limb removed. She feels certain it is related to the vaccine and has reported the results to [the manufacturer]. Dr. Amy is going to fax me the results and notes and once I have them I can scan them in and send to you if you would like them. Dr. Amy said they have seen an increase in this type of cancer in dogs and feel it is related to vaccines but they need studies to proof this.
Click here to post your rabies vaccine story. Read more about making rabies vaccination safer.
Vaccinating Unhealthy Pets: Beware Reactions & Vaccine Failure
Vaccinating Dogs: 10 Steps to Eliminating Unnecessary Shots
Titer Test: Don’t Vaccinate Your Dog Unnecessarily
Dog Flu Vaccine: Do You Really Need a Shot for the H3N8 Canine Virus?
Treating Adverse Vaccine Reactions by Jean Dodds, DVM
Posted under Rabies Vaccination, vaccination | 20 Comments » Email This Post
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January 22nd, 2010 at 5:24 pm
My 7 month old Maltese had his rabie shot and two weeks later I notices a lump the size of a marble where he was given the shot. I brought him back to the Vet and was told that it could be a reaction to the shot. Now I am scared to death that it could be fibrosarcoma caused from the rabie shot. This is America, we should have the right to refuse these shots!!
January 23rd, 2010 at 12:55 pm
Hi Maria. A lump two weeks after vaccination is of concern, but not necessarily cancerous. You should keep an eye on it and if your vet suggests a biopsy, get one.
There’s a lot more info at http://www.truth4dogs.com and http://www.truth4dogs.org
Make sure you get good documentation of the reaction and keep a copy somewhere safe. You may want to apply for an exemption next time around. Also, check out the sites above about vaccinating, especially the article on avoiding adverse reactions.
Good luck.
February 2nd, 2010 at 7:54 am
Hi. I had a 3yearold border collie. We lost him in september to soft tissue spindle cell sarcoma. He received the three year rabies vaccination. He developed a tumor. It was two years to the date of his injection that this developed. His sister is exempt from the rabies vaccination because she gets seizures. What is in this stuff. It has to stop.
We are getting a puppy in a few days and I am scared to death to get her vaccinated. What can we do so this stops happening to others?
February 2nd, 2010 at 10:01 am
My great dane has a large bulbous tumor on his leg, located near his right hip. The vet wasn’t concerned when I pointed this out.
Then I thought it was odd when I saw a shepard dog the other day with a tumor in the IDENTICAL location. The chihuahua in this article has the tumor in the same location. Is this the hip that they use to do the rabies shots? I do know that the vets use different areas for each shot. We used to laugh and call this Zeus’s “extra nipple”.
Now I’m concerned that this is not just a “warty” growth, but rather a tumor from the vaccination injection site.
Is there any way just to have the vet proactively remove this bulbous growth without having to do more tests that I can’t afford?
February 22nd, 2010 at 10:24 am
My daughter was given a chihuahua for Christmas and I gave her the rabies shot, a requirement. Yesterday she developed a lump very close to the shot site (behind the shoulders) and the lump is painful. Could it be a reaction to the shot? or something else?
February 22nd, 2010 at 10:32 am
Hi, I’m sorry to take so long to get back to you. Your pup for need a rabies shot until she’s at least 4 months old. Please go to my other blog for more info on shots. Here’s a good place to start: http://www.dogs4dogs.com/blog/2009/10/08/protecting-dogs-from-vaccine-reactions/ Do not allow your vet to vaccination before 8 weeks — 9 or 10 is better according to experts. DO NOT allow combination shots. Parvovirus and distemper are the necessary shots in most places. Leptospirosis is very dangerous. Write again if you still have questions.
February 22nd, 2010 at 10:35 am
Dakota, I hope YOU didn’t give the shot. A vet has to do it for it to be legal. It should have been given in the leg, but there’s not much you can do about that now. If YOU did give the shot, you have a dilemma. You won’t want to vaccinate again any time soon because of the health risks. But then you’ll have a legal problem.
Yes, the lump is likely a reaction. Tell your vet about it immediately and make sure it’s put in your dog’s file. Hopefully, it will go away in a few days. If it’s still there in two weeks, see the vet. It could be something serious.
February 23rd, 2010 at 6:53 pm
I don’t understand how they can sell the shots if it’s illegal; I did give her the shot. The man owns the feed store and has for years so I assumed he knew what was what. He said I could give her the shot the day after her pup shot and to give it between the shoulder blades….big mistake on my part! She’s not sore but I am watching the spot and will take her in if it doesn’t go away…..she will NEVER! get a rabies shot again either -she’s a house dog anyhow. Thanx for your help.
February 23rd, 2010 at 7:04 pm
Hi Dakota. It’s not illegal to sell the vaccine, as far as I know, it’s just that giving the shot as a non-vet does not fulfill the legal requirement of rabies vaccination. I would think the seller would know that, but who knows. In any event, I hope you’ll watch the spot. I hope it works out. Check out the articles at http://www.truth4dogs.com before you vaccinate for ANYTHING again.
February 24th, 2010 at 8:11 am
He shouldn’t be in business if he doesn’t know all the rules. What’s funny, he wouldn’t sell me the heart worm because he said I need a prescription for that -and I understand that is true. I will check out the article and I will always research before I give her anything again! The lump has gone down since last night -about half the size so we are all very much relieved. Thanx again for your help.
PS. No more rabies shots for Mushu!
March 11th, 2010 at 5:41 pm
My 1 1/2 year Olde English Bulldogge was given her rabies vac on mon. the 8th. Today (3 days later) I noticed a lump the size of a ping pong ball on her rump(injection site). Called the vet, they said to just watch it for the next 3 weeks. Is this right? Or should I get her to another vet? She did not have the same reaction last year.
March 11th, 2010 at 5:54 pm
Stacy, my vet says to give it two weeks, but in the meantime, make sure your vet records the reaction in your dog’s file. And get a copy in case you need to file for a health exemption in the future. Take a photo, too.
If the lump doesn’t go away in two weeks, you need a vet trained in homeopathy. There are referral lists at http://www.dogs4dogs.com/vet Good luck!
March 11th, 2010 at 7:40 pm
Thank you for the advice, one problem though, the link is not working.
March 11th, 2010 at 8:51 pm
Sorry. I can never remember if it’s vets or vets. http://www.dogs4dogs.com/vet
March 19th, 2010 at 6:53 pm
I have had to deal with the bad results from the rabies vaccinations on 2 of my corgis. One had Ischmeic Dermotopathy the other suvere allergys. We had to have the one put down when she was 6. She ended up with Lymphoma. The other one can now get by without shots. But we don’t use any toxins, like fles guard. She goes into toxic shot from bee stings.
I have to go through 3 vet to get a titer on my last dog. His titer came out with a 1:370. That was even going over a year when he was suppose to have a shot.
When ever I get the chance to bring up the topic I’m on the band wagon pushing a titer test.
March 19th, 2010 at 6:58 pm
Forgeot to mention the Dermotopathy was the pads of her feet. They sluffed off. She couldn’t walk on rocks or pavement.
March 30th, 2010 at 10:06 pm
1 My yorkie named Lily 1year 3 months was given shots on friday by sat. she coulnt walk stand or anything, called vet ,they said watch her by sun at 2 she came around by monday she developed a golf ball size lump in her area of injection, Iam worried sick about it,,,,I want to find a specialist on this for her
May 6th, 2010 at 10:02 pm
Hi,
I am so upset right now. I am a retired practical nurse. I thought this was qualification enough for me to give my dog his vaccinations. Let’s face it, giving an injection is not rocket science. Anyway it was time for my dogs yearly booster shots but money has been tight so i figured I would get the vaccines from the feed store & save us a few dollars. I gave Bearr his 7 in 1 in his hip & his rabies shot between his shoulder blades. I was never told the shots should not be given on the same day. The vet has always given them on the same visit. I gave the shots on April 29th & I saved the vials & marked them with the date & placed them with all the dog’s records. Now he has a large lump(the size of a golf ball- he weighs about 23 pounds) on the back of his neck. I feel so guilty now. He seems to feel okay & it’s not sore. Is there anything else I should know or be doing for him? He will never get another vaccination that is not absolutely necessary. It has always bugged me that the vet insisted on him having a kennel cough vaccine when he’s never around other animals. I appreciate this site & all the information. Thank you so much and please pray for my dog, Bearr.
Rhonda
May 7th, 2010 at 8:44 am
Hi Paula. I hope Lily is doing better and the lump has gone away. If it hasn’t, it needs to be biopsied. You should probably have a board certified surgeon do it.
Make sure the lump was recorded in Lily’s file. You won’t want to vaccinate her again and may need proof to apply for a rabies vaccination exemption. If she had her puppy shots, she has a 99% of having lifetime immunity for the important diseases: parvo and distemper. You can do a titer test to prove it. Read about the testing here. http://www.dogs4dogs.com/blog/category/titertesting/
I hope you’ll find a vet certified in homeopathy to help Lily deal with the damage done by the vaccine. Find referral lists at http://www.dogs4dogs.com/vet
May 7th, 2010 at 8:53 am
Rhonda, not only should shots not be given on the same day, the shots were likely unnecessary. Each vaccine given increases the chance of a reaction by 24%. You gave seven. That’s a lot. Probably NONE of those shots were needed and many are harmful. You can find lots of info at http://www.truth4dogs.com. Please read this: http://www.dogs4dogs.com/blog/2009/04/22/no-unnecessary-dog-shots/ Even if you dog isn’t small, please also read http://www.dogs4dogs.com/blog/2009/09/30/vaccinating-small-dogs-risks-vets-arent-revealing/
Now, you need homeopathy. Find a vet trained in homeopathy at http://www.dogs4dogs.com/vet If you can’t afford that, contact marina@naturalrearing.com and ask her what remedies you should give. Make sure you are feeding the best possible food as well. http://www.dogs4dogs.com/food Bearr needs as few chemicals now as possible.
Another thought: I hope you didn’t give a rabies shot. It would not be legal and to repeat the shot anytime soon would be dangerous.