Rabies Vaccine for Dogs: What You Need to Know Now
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Has your dog experienced any of these problems days, weeks or even months after a rabies shot?
Cancer (fibrocarcinomas) at the injection site
Seizures and Epilepsy
Skin diseases
Allergies
Blood disease
Autoimmune disease
Chronic digestive problems
Muscle weakness, especially lack of hind end coordination
Chronic digestive disorders
Behavior problems: aggression, destructive behaviors, separation anxiety and odd obsessive behaviors (like tail chasing and paw licking)
Non-immediate and unusual adverse reactions often go unlinked the shot. Your dog becomes ill and you and your vet don't know why. Because of the difficulty of linking reactions to shots, and because there is no good national reporting system, reactions usually go unreported.
Reactions immediately after the shot are easier to spot, and can include vomiting, fever, lethary, loss of consciousness and even death.
For more information, please watch my video below and click the podcast links below. Or link to any of the excellent websites listed below.
Learn About the Dangers of the Rabies Vaccine
More Information About Rabies Vaccination
- Podcast: The Rabies Vaccine and Research Study
Animal Talk Naturally Radio hosts Dr. Kim Bloomer and Dr. Jeannie Thomason interview author Jan Rasmusen (me)about rabies vaccination and a study underway to increase the time between shots. - What You Should Know About the Rabies Vaccine for Dogs
Award-winning dog care author Jan Rasmusen discusses the rabies vaccination for animals, side effects, the Rabies Challenge Fund, and legal requirements - Podcast for Discussion by Rabies Challenge Fund Founders
Vaccination activist Kris L. Christine and renowned pet vaccination expert Dr. Jean Dodds talk on Animal Talk Naturally Radio. - AAHA Canine Vaccine Guidelines Revised
The 2003 and 2006 American Animal Hospital Association Taskforces examined the safety and efficacy of canine vaccine safety and efficacy. Follow this link. Click on he small red link: 2006 AAHA Canine Vaccine Guidelines-Revised. Go to page 6. - Rabies Challenge Study
Two of the top researchers in the US are volunteering their time to prove that the rabies vaccine gives immunity for five years, or even seven years. This study is funded by dog lovers wanting to extend the period between shots. - Dogs Adverse Reactions
Reports of adverse reactions to vaccines and other drugs. - What You Don't Know About the Rabies Vaccine
This is another webpage by me. Post your experiences with rabies vaccination in our Guestbook. - AHVMA - American Holistic Veterinary Medical Association
FIND A HOLISTIC VETERINARIAN IN YOUR AREA Holistic vets have had good luck helping dogs and cats be vaccinated more safely and in helping dogs recover from adverse reactions related to the vaccine.
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Tell Us Your Experience With Rabies Vaccination
My female Jack Russell started seizures after a 3 year Rabies Vaccine. Her first vaccine was the one year and she was ok, but the next year she got very sore from the injection and could not raise her head for a few days. Now she has seizures. There is no other reason for the seizures and they are not Grand Mal, just confussion and lack of some muscle control. They scare her. She is 8 years old now. This all started when she was 3. Just thought you would like to know.
I'm so sorry about your dog. This is a not uncommon reaction. I have a lot more about the rabies vaccine at www.truth4dogs.org and www.squidoo.com/rabiesvaccine.
You should consult a holistic vet. He/she will likely be able to help. Find one at www.holisticvetlist.com. Also, have your vet apply to the local Animal Control for an exemption to vaccination. This is very important. Repeated vaccination of a dog with seizures is likely to prove deadly. Make sure all reactions to a vaccine are posted in your dog's chart -- and get a copy. I wish you the best of luck.
I have three dachshunds, they are 11 years old and have had all their rabies shots up to three years ago. Now it is time to have them again. I do NOT want to keep giving them rabies shots being this old. Is that wrong? Don't you think they have enough built up in their systems? KJ
It is likely they have lifetime immunity. The French proved in the early 90's that this shot lasts 5 years. The Rabies Challenge Fund is working to prove that it lasts a minimum of 5, and then they'll go for 7. That said, the law requires that you vaccinate according to state law. Learn more about how to make the shot safer at www.Truth4Dogs.org.
Good luck.
Jan
We adopted a 3 yr old Dachshund from the pound and the dog had seizures 12 hours after he got the rabies shot. We really like this dog and were terrified by the seizures (8 within 24 hours). We sent him to the emergency pet clinic. After reviewing the situation, the Vet told us most probably he has epilepsy, which needs medication for his whole life, and that's why the previouse owner doesn't want him..... As we just got the dog, we decided to return it back to the pound. All of us cried and we really missed him. The kids asked what will happen to him....To our surprise, we found his picture was posted under adoptable pets list. We will go back to the pound and see if he's back to normal. Anybody faced such situation before? We do not know if it's related to the Rabies shot but that's the biggest issue after we had the dog. It's very good dogs and we all fall in love with him although we just had him for 3 days.
Seizures are a fairly common response to the rabies vaccine. They may or may not recur. Your best best, if you want this sweet dog, is to take him to a holistic vet trained in homeopathy. Find one at http://www.dogs4dogs.com/vet This vet could work with you on "clearing" the vaccine from his body. There's a great deal of information about all this at http://www.truth4dogs.org. Also at my blog http://www.truth4dogs.com Click "Rabies Shot" in the Categories on the right of the page and scroll down and read the comments. Someone else commented about seizures just the other day. It's near the bottom. (Or just click this link: http://www.dogs4dogs.com/blog/2008/06/18/20/ ) You can leave additional questions there if you like.
One more thought, re the vet saying he probably has epilepsy and that's why the previous owner didn't want him, I think that's unlikely. They would probably have deemed him unadoptable and would have put him down when he arrived at the shelter. Vets just don't want to believe that the rabies vaccine caused the problem. That said, there are millions of dogs dying in shelters every year for lack of a home. It might be less heartbreaking in the long run to find a healthy dog, as sad as it may be.
I hope you'll look at all the free information on vaccination and nutrition at http://www.dogs4dogs.com/ Wishing you the best of luck. This is a very sad situation. Jan
My dog a 25lb Jack Russel Terrier was vaccinated on June 03, 2009 on August 08, 2009 we put her to sleep. Every year Nala-our Jack Russel would get her annual vaccination shots. In 2009 I decided to get her the three-year Rabies Vaccines. This was a bad decision. Shortly there after Nala was not her usual energetic self. She became lethargic and groogy. On runs she would breathe heavily. When we took her to the Vet today, they could not find out what was wrong with Nala. Her vitals were poor. Nala was leaking fluids from her anus and has vomiting. The Doctor said Nala’s body was burning up inside as she dehydrated, her heart was racing. We laid Nala to rest at 6:15 p.m. on August 08, 2009
I'm so sorry about Nala. I can't do anything to help you, but if anyone else is reading this, I hope they'll read the vaccine articles at http://www.truth4dogs.com. Click "vaccination." Vaccination is a serious medical procedure with serious risks. Vets who vaccinate annually are doing so for money, not science. The practice of annual shots is NOT recommended by ANY veterinary organization or vet school in North America. It's hard to know if all these shots were responsible for Nala's illness or not, but it certainly didn't help. Vets like this have got to stop putting money before health. Sending you my heartfelt sympathies, Jan
My 10 year old lab Harley had a fatty cyst on the outside of his rear leg so we took him to the vet on Friday, August 7th to find out if we should do anything about it. It had been there about a year and never seemed to bother him, but it was getting larger and was a matter of concern for us.
The vet examined him and said that Harley was in good health, his heart rate was good, not overweight, etc. He did recommend that we have the cyst removed, as it had barely started to "open". The vet said the cyst wasn't attached to anything ,was nothing to worry about and would be simple to remove so we made an appointment to take Harley back in the following Tuesday for surgery. Since we were already there he also advised us to get his "shots" done. We agreed and the vet administered 2 shots. One was a combination DHLPP shot and another shot (not sure of the name)
When we brought Harley home he was very lethargic. We just assumed he had a rough day, visiting the vet, the weather was hot, etc, and he was fine...just tired. Saturday he still seemed tired, but again, we assumed just that. his behavior was okay, just not quite "up to par" as far as energy.
Sunday, as I got his food out for him, he didn't get up for his food. The sound of the food hitting the bowl always....ALWAYS...made him come out to his feeding place. He did eat, but I had to call him a couple times to get him to his food. We had family come over that day and he was still "off". He always loved all the attention the grandchildren give him and I usually had to get on his case a little to settle him down. That Sunday he just laid there on his bed most of the day, only got up once or twice.
The next day I fed him, he ate fine. Went outside, did his "business" and I brought him in the house. he laid down in his bed as I went back to my room to take a short nap. An hour later my wife woke me, saying, "Mike, get up. Harley's not moving." He had fallen asleep and wouldn't move when she called him. I came out to wake him, he was already gone. No breathing and he had already started to get cold. He died in his sleep.
I called the vet, in shock, to tell him what happened. He made no attempt an an explanation. He just tried to console me.
I started thinking, after the shock of this was all over, that those shots had to have something to do with his death. He, in the vet's words, was very healthy. Then why was he dead 3 days later?
I'm still not sure what I can/will do about this, but I am angry and don't want to leave this lie, if for no other reason just for the sake of other dogs and owners that this will happen to.
Thanks for your information.
Mike McGraw Millsboro, Delaware
Mike, I'm so sorry for your loss. It does seems like all those shots were the culprit. Of the DHLPP I can't think of a shot that a 10-year-old dog probably needed barring a local epidemic. May I post your question on my blog and answer it there where a wide audience may benefit?
Thanks. And my condolences.
I hope vets around the globe would prioritize health of the dogs over earning big bucks. I read on http://www.englishbulldogspuppyblog.com about a study on rabies vaccines and the immunity of dogs. IT is a must read for all dog owners.It is about time to put a stop to unnecessary deaths of dogs killed from rabies vaccination.
our 16 month old, 8.5 lb poodle mix had a 3 year rabies shot yesterday with a bordetella injection as well. the vet also prescribed benadryl, as she's had trouble with shots before, and may have had a skin reaction to her first 1 year rabies shot. today she is very, very lethargic, won't go up or down the stairs, screams when touched or lifted, and is often trembling. she will eat tiny bits of food and drink water. i talked with the vet who suggested i bring her in, but when i asked her what she would do, she wasn't sure, so i thought better not to traumatize Lulu any more than she already is. i don't know what to do. thoughts? how long will this last?
IZ, a dog with a history of reactions should have never gotten rabies plus Bordetella (which is useless) at the same time. That the vet doesn't know what to do now is further proof: You need a new vet. You need someone with training in hommeopathy. Take a look at www.dogs4dogs.com/vet for referrals. My homeopath, Willow, is not a vet but treats animals by phone for $70, which includes remedies. http://www.ajamed.com/about-us/practitioners.php You can also try maria at naturalrearing.com You can't just do nothing. Your dog is in distress and may get worse. Learn more about the shot at www.dogs4dogs.com/truth4dogs Oh, and read more about vaccinating small dogs: http://www.dogs4dogs.com/blog/category/preventing- There are lots of articles there.
Robert says:
12 months ago
Three years ago my rat terrier (then 3 years old) received his rabies vaccine. About 5 minutes later he laid down and couldn't move. He then vomited and had diarrhea. I carried him back into the vets office. He was given diphenydramine (po) and dexamethasone by injection. The following day he urinated in the house (which he never does). He was lethargic for a few days which was obvious in a usually energetic dog. He recovered after a few days. His next vaccine is now due and I am apprehensive about it.