Rabies vaccine - Page 1

Question about the Rabies vaccine.  After the last vaccine 3 years ago my beautiful boy came down with Immune Mediated Arthritis.  He was treated and never any reoccurance since.  I run titers on all the vaccines and recently did a titer for Rabies......showing that he is fully covered.  However it is a law and I can opt out for the vaccine with a waiver - but I am wondering if anybody could share their experience and if you have had a bad reaction and when you vaccinated again if  the same reaction happened.  Your information is very valuable.  I have done 7 consults with Vets and immunoligists - one being Dr. Dodds.  I am so scared to vaccinate and so scared if I don't.  HELP.

Renz,

     We had a client whose GSD had a similar reaction. Did your veterinarian notify the manufacturer of the vax? This dog did recover as did yours, the owner had a waiver, but it was with the understanding that if any incident, ie. wild animal bite, human being bitten that it was at the discretion of the health dept and animal control to decide how to proceed. Generally that could be as simple as a quarantine or as bad as euthanizing the animal. We did revax the dog 2  plus years later, it was given a Benadryl injection first and had no negative reaction. I had a pre-exposure vax done about 10 yrs. ago and was violently ill for a week, thank goodness my titer is still high enough. Dr.Dodds is in the process of a research project called the "Rabies Challenge Fund". Hopefully that is successful and the # of vax's can be reduced. I too titer my dogs, and have not had to vax my adult dogs for 4 plus years now.(except for Rabies) Good luck!  It is really a matter of what you feel comfortable with, and  what your state, or county laws are regarding the waiver. I would start by finding out what the options would be if you did/ or did not vax. Our county will under veterinary supervision do quarantine, but it is protacol that if a dog/cat is bitten by a wild animal or another pet that they recieve another vax for rabies immediately, even if they are current. Hope this helps in some small way:)

Thank you so much for that information.  Appreciate it. 

Katjo -
You are exactly right - when you vaccinate with combos it can be so dangerous!   I think I read more dangerous than the single vaccine.  That poor friend of yours -she was so smart to ask - but she should have kick her vets ass for giving a response like "normally they are fine with it".  You have to wonder.  They are suppose to be ethical and give you all the information.  I am going to see one last vet with all of my information - I have been trying to weigh the risks.  Did you know they give that same about of vaccine to a 2 lb pup that they do to a 90 lb GSD - that blows me away.
 

 

Yes, I'm aware of that-it looks like 1 to 1 1/2ccs per vaccination. That IS hard to believe that would be tolerable for a younger, smaller pup versus a normal adult. Most 'country' vets aren't seemingly up on things to even question an owner who brings in a dog to get multi-vaccinated and mention that there could potentially be serious risks to such. Heck, most country vets aren't even qualified to properly do OFA x-rays, either, sorry to say. 

That friend's male was an American showline with Champion points, too, by the way. Never got to finish for obvious reasons. But regardless of that, he was beloved with his family.

My female has a reaction to rabies vaccines. I waited until she was 15 months to give her first, even with the law and risk. Starting the next day she vomited, went off her food for a few days, and was just not her lively self. A bit lethargic but wanting to go on the normal routines, she had no fever. When a year went by I told my vet my suspision when I made an appointment for her. She said to give Benydryl the day before, the day of the shot, and the day after, both morning and night. I followed her instructions. She seemed fine. The day after stopping the Benydryl, the same symptoms, delayed reaction I think. The first time "maybe" she could have gotten into something but I don't think so, the second time I truly doubt a coincidence. I don't think I will chance it a third time....