Bad side effects of rabies vaccine?

[vinhle68]

Hello SM family,

This article was shared to me in the NewGMEDogs Forum and I thought it is also valuable to share among our SM family so we can engage in discussion.

Has anyone had any bad experience with rabies vaccine?

http://www.dogs4dogs.com/JR_Articles/margo%20on%20rabies%20vaccine.htm


You know when your fluff get sick as an owner, you find yourself wondering if whether you had done something or had fed something you shouldn’t that could have contribute to the problem. I know you shouldn’t focus on this negativity but it is just natural that we go through this. With Biscuit we’re wondering if whether we have spoiled him too much and feed him too many random food that could have contribute to causing the autoimmune disease to progress rapidly. Biscuit also had his rabiew vaccine when he was very young.

[edelweiss]

Vinh, I am sure you read my posting in Nov. about Liesl's anaphylactic reaction to the rabies vaccine? She had the same sort of reaction last Jan. to the Lepto vaccine.
The ER vet told me that Lisi can have NO more vaccines or they may not be able to save her next time. It has presented quite a conundrum for us here living abroad where she cannot fly unless she has a valid rabies vaccine every year. I have a plan but will not make it public in order to protect us. She won't be getting any more vaccines period!
My new motto is: "If Uncle Sam wants it, let him come and get it!" or better stated "don't ask, don't tell."

[ladodd]

Vinh, I lost Luci in Dec 2011 due to complications related to a catastrophic reaction to the Rabies Vaccine. She was 2 1/2 yrs old. Unfortunately, it is a required vaccine for us. Had Luci survived our vet would have filed an exemption for her.

[edelweiss]

Originally Posted by ladodd

Vinh, I lost Luci in Dec 2011 due to complications related to a catastrophic reaction to the Rabies Vaccine. She was 2 1/2 yrs old. Unfortunately, it is a required vaccine for us. Had Luci survived our vet would have filed an exemption for her.

Laurie, I am so sorry to read this. Maybe you could post more so others can know how to recognize what might happen. I would be happy to add my experience to such a posting. Every situation is a bit different but being prepared is so important so that one can react as quickly as possible in the event of a catastrophic event.

[vinhle68]

Originally Posted by edelweiss

Vinh, I am sure you read my posting in Nov. about Liesl's anaphylactic reaction to the rabies vaccine? She had the same sort of reaction last Jan. to the Lepto vaccine.
The ER vet told me that Lisi can have NO more vaccines or they may not be able to save her next time. It has presented quite a conundrum for us here living abroad where she cannot fly unless she has a valid rabies vaccine every year. I have a plan but will not make it public in order to protect us. She won't be getting any more vaccines period!
My new motto is: "If Uncle Sam wants it, let him come and get it!" or better stated "don't ask, don't tell."

Sandi! I'm with you here. I'm a law biding citizen but to laws that only make practical sense to me. If these vaccines that required by laws have also been known to cause major harm to our pets, I will opt not to give it period. Like you simply put it...if uncle sam wants to come and get me, I'll be ready and waiting.

[vinhle68]

Originally Posted by ladodd

Vinh, I lost Luci in Dec 2011 due to complications related to a catastrophic reaction to the Rabies Vaccine. She was 2 1/2 yrs old. Unfortunately, it is a required vaccine for us. Had Luci survived our vet would have filed an exemption for her.

Hi Laurie, I am really sorry to hear this and I hope that this posting didn't bring you back sad memories of Luci. I'm with Sandi as well. If you don't mind sharing more detail with us it would help to educate a lot of new Maltese owners such as myself about the danger of certain vaccines, and I'm most interested to know about the exemption or alternative approve method that is acceptable by laws.

[edelweiss]

Lisi & I will join you behind that sofa Vinh---and we will, I am sure, be in good company!

[edelweiss]

Vinh, from my research only a number of states allow exemptions presently from the required rabies vaccine.
Since I am not state-side I fall into an entirely different category---and there are no international exemptions that I have been able to locate.
A vet signs a pledge to uphold the lives of animals (as in human medical care) and to do anything to harm them would violate that oath. It sure puts the vets who have seen such catastrophic reactions in a terrible predicament when there is no possibility of a waiver.

[ladodd]

I posted it before, but can't remember what thread. It was a horrible experience. Luci came from a puppy broker. She had kennel cough when we first got her, we almost lost her then. When I called the PB ( jerk) and told him that she was very sick, he wanted me to bring her back to him, not a chance. We adored her, she was really the one that reeled my husband in, he feel in love with that little girl. She had a slight reaction ( she just seemed very lethargic) to vaccines at 1 yr, but at the time I didn't know any better and had all vaccines given at the same time. So, at 2 yr, they thought it was the dp vaccine that caused the problem, they pretreated her with benadryl. She seemed fine until 10 days post vaccine. I happened to be home with her, she started rubbing her face on the carpet and shaking her head. I thought it was ear problems. I called the vet and they said bring her in. I did, as soon as the vet got a hold of her, she said OMG she in anaphylactic shock. She told me to leave her, but stay nearby in case we need you to make a decision. We thought we were going to lose her. But, she rallied. The next day it happened again. They did bloodwork and found her white blood count was very low. They put her on Prednisone for 5 days. I returned and they did bloodwork again, her count was lower. They told me to immediately take her to a ER with a specialist. They did ultrasounds, and a bone marrow biopsy. They diagnosed her with Immune Mediated Neutropenia. She was put on a course of Prednisone. I knew her quality of life would not be good on the Pred, we tried Atpoica, but it wasn't bringing her counts up. They put her back on Pref, but it didn't work. We lost her 12/22/11, three months after the vaccine. Immune Mediated Neutropenia basically wipes out the immune system. Rabies vaccine suck.

[Ladysmom]

Vinh, try not to blame yourself for Biscuit's illness. GME is thought to be genetic, in fact, the U of GA is doing a study right now to try to find a genetic marker for the disease.

Pam updated us about the study here:

Remembering Lola…an update on GME research