topic Re: Rabies Shot Side Effects in Community Chat

Rabies Shot Side Effects

MyBoyRusty — Sun, 03 Aug 2014 15:26:30 GMT

I have to get my cat his rabies shot and I'm worried about the side effects that it might cause he's had one before but I don't remember if it made him sick or not. I wouldn't get him one but the complex where I live requires it. It'll be the 3 year vaccine. How has it effected your cat those who have them?

Re: Rabies Shot Side Effects

kittymomNC — Sun, 03 Aug 2014 18:17:35 GMT

For several years now, my vet has been giving the 1-year vaccine. You can get the 3-year but they recommend the other one...it's been a while and I don't remember why. The only time I ever had a cat have a reaction to a shot was when they combined the 3-year rabies with the distemper and/or the one for feline leukemia. The 1-year shots have given none of my cats any problems, but neither did the 3-year except for that combination shot.

Re: Rabies Shot Side Effects

MyBoyRusty — Sun, 03 Aug 2014 18:37:53 GMT

Thank you for your answer I'll probably go with the 3 year shot that way he won't to have it again for a few years.

Re: Rabies Shot Side Effects

kittymomNC — Sun, 03 Aug 2014 20:47:55 GMT

Catlover2, your post got me to thinking about this, because one of my cats is going in for her annual exam and rabies shot this week. I could not remember exactly why my vet had recommended changing to the 1-year vaccine several years ago. So I did some research, had to look at a lot of different sites, but finally came up with an abbreviated version of what the problem apparently is with the 3-year vaccine. I don't want to scare you because, as I said, I've had several cats and they got the 3-year vaccine up until a few years ago with no problems. But here is what I found.

Most all 3-year rabies vaccines are adjuvanted vaccines. A vaccine adjuvant is a substance that is added to the vaccine to increase the body's immune response to the vaccine. It makes the immune response last longer.

Apparently there is an increased risk of a cat developing a fibrosarcoma (cancer) at the injection site of a 3-year adjuvanted vaccine. Therefore, it is recommended that the vaccine be injected into the leg, because the cancer can be treated or the leg removed if necessary, and the cat can survive. If it is injected between the shoulder blades and the cancer develops, there is not much that can be done.

I couldn't find any information as to what percentage of increased risk is associated with the 3-year, but I thought I would go ahead and tell you about it so you will be informed. You might want to ask your vet about it before you get the injection, so it would settle your mind. It may be a very small risk, I don't know, but apparently a lot of vets have gone to the 1-year vaccine because it does not have the additives.

I hope this helps.

Re: Rabies Shot Side Effects

MyBoyRusty — Sun, 03 Aug 2014 21:14:29 GMT

Thank you that does help I will certainly ask the vet which one I should go with it's scary to think about I've read about that too and that's why I've delayed getting his updated rabies shot.

Re: Rabies Shot Side Effects

kittymomNC — Sun, 03 Aug 2014 21:28:09 GMT

On 8/3/2014 CatLover2 said:
Thank you that does help I will certainly ask the vet which one I should go with it's scary to think about I've read about that too and that's why I've delayed getting his updated rabies shot.

I can absolutely understand how you feel - after all, they're our babies! Mine that has to have her exam this week has to be sedated - two years ago I gave her a pill that was a mild sedative two hours before her appt - she was asleep when the vet came in the room and I thought it was a miracle. But as soon as the vet touched her, she exploded! Last year, I got her there without the pill, they injected her or gave her whatever kind of sedation (apparently pretty heavy) and it was 6 days before I felt like she was back to normal.

I've been procrastinating this year because they gave me a phenobarbital pill (a heavier sedative than the first one two years ago) to give her two hours ahead of time. I don't want to give it to her, but I told them they can't give her what she had last year, so I'm in a real quandary. I guess I'm going to have to give her the pill and see what happens - they said she should just go to sleep or be really sleepy, maybe a little wobbly, and the effects would wear off within a day or two - for me, that's still too long. I don't know what to do.....

Re: Rabies Shot Side Effects

MyBoyRusty — Sun, 03 Aug 2014 21:37:42 GMT

I just talked to a animal hospital in a near by town and they said that they haven't had any problems with either vaccine but really depended on the animal but I felt more easier with the 1 year that I should go with that. I hate to put him through that because he's going to be upset as it is.

Re: Rabies Shot Side Effects

kittymomNC — Sun, 03 Aug 2014 21:46:47 GMT

I guess if it makes you feel any better at all, just be thankful you can take him under fairly normal circumstances. I have one 16-year old that has been going 2X a week for fluid treatments for kidney disease, and now is going 3X a week, and I'm giving her blood pressure medication for high blood pressure. She is SO good about it, it's unreal. But the other one, as I said, she's a whole different ball game...She also has anxiety problems and is scared of everything. I always say I have 2 "special needs kitties"! Good luck with your appointment...I hope he does well!

Re: Rabies Shot Side Effects

MyBoyRusty — Sun, 03 Aug 2014 21:48:51 GMT

Thank you.

Re: Rabies Shot Side Effects

jaxs mom — Sun, 03 Aug 2014 22:53:25 GMT

The only cat I've ever gotten a rabies shot for was the stray I was feeding that was living outside. I don't give them to my indoor cats. If I was going to give one, it would be purevax because it's free from adjuvants which are linked to sarcoma in cats.

Re: Rabies Shot Side Effects

ID2 — Mon, 04 Aug 2014 00:24:38 GMT

I just took my 2 cats in for their yearly check up & rabies vaccine. My tuxedo girl had no issues with the shot but my boy just didn't feel good until the next day. He was ok but just slept and wasn't as social. But a day later he was back to his old self. HTH

Re: Rabies Shot Side Effects

ID2 — Mon, 04 Aug 2014 00:26:04 GMT

On 8/3/2014 jaxs mom said:
The only cat I've ever gotten a rabies shot for was the stray I was feeding that was living outside. I don't give them to my indoor cats. If I was going to give one, it would be purevax because it's free from adjuvants which are linked to sarcoma in cats.

Its against the law to house animals without a rabies vaccine. Call you city hall, they'll tell you the same thing.

Re: Rabies Shot Side Effects

kittymomNC — Mon, 04 Aug 2014 01:01:23 GMT

On 8/3/2014 jaxs mom said:
The only cat I've ever gotten a rabies shot for was the stray I was feeding that was living outside. I don't give them to my indoor cats. If I was going to give one, it would be purevax because it's free from adjuvants which are linked to sarcoma in cats.

Aren't you concerned about what would happen if one of your indoor cats got out? They would have no protection if they got into a fight with an infected animal. I know you may not think that can happen, but it can when you least expect it. One of mine slipped out a door that didn't latch, late at night, and she was solid black..we didn't have a chance of finding her that night. She was gone for 15 days with us spending every minute we could searching for her, following up leads. My son finally found her in the next block staying under someone's crawl space. I was so glad she was up on all her vaccinations.

Re: Rabies Shot Side Effects

spot555 — Mon, 04 Aug 2014 01:02:09 GMT

Yes, ONLY get a one year vac, & don't get any other vaccine's that visit. The side effects with that can be AWFUL.

Re: Rabies Shot Side Effects

MyBoyRusty — Mon, 04 Aug 2014 12:24:14 GMT

Thank you everyone for your advice I decided last night to get the 1 year rabies shot I think that will be the best choice.

Re: Rabies Shot Side Effects

Mominohio — Tue, 05 Aug 2014 21:35:49 GMT

On 8/3/2014 kittymomNC said:
I guess if it makes you feel any better at all, just be thankful you can take him under fairly normal circumstances. I have one 16-year old that has been going 2X a week for fluid treatments for kidney disease, and now is going 3X a week, and I'm giving her blood pressure medication for high blood pressure. She is SO good about it, it's unreal. But the other one, as I said, she's a whole different ball game...She also has anxiety problems and is scared of everything. I always say I have 2 "special needs kitties"! Good luck with your appointment...I hope he does well!

KittymomNC thanks for all the valuable info you posted above. I had no idea about the differences in the one and three year vaccines. I trust my vet completely, but I will be bringing this up with her on our next visit, as I think our cats are on the three year cycle. I have had cats live to 18 years with that treatment, but we are always learning new things in the field of medicine.

I was wondering if the fluid treatments you take your kitty in for are just the under the skin hydrating kind (not anything where you have to hit a vein)? I have done that at home with two cats. We kept a bag of fluids hanging in the spare shower, and would insert the needle just under the skin about every other day. The cats were very tolerant of it, and once you get the procedure down, it really isn't hard to do. It was so much easier than fighting to get them into a cage and transporting them. Just wondered if it was an option for you.

Re: Rabies Shot Side Effects

kittymomNC — Tue, 05 Aug 2014 23:10:00 GMT

On 8/5/2014 mominohio said:
On 8/3/2014 kittymomNC said:
I guess if it makes you feel any better at all, just be thankful you can take him under fairly normal circumstances. I have one 16-year old that has been going 2X a week for fluid treatments for kidney disease, and now is going 3X a week, and I'm giving her blood pressure medication for high blood pressure. She is SO good about it, it's unreal. But the other one, as I said, she's a whole different ball game...She also has anxiety problems and is scared of everything. I always say I have 2 "special needs kitties"! Good luck with your appointment...I hope he does well!

KittymomNC thanks for all the valuable info you posted above. I had no idea about the differences in the one and three year vaccines. I trust my vet completely, but I will be bringing this up with her on our next visit, as I think our cats are on the three year cycle. I have had cats live to 18 years with that treatment, but we are always learning new things in the field of medicine.

I was wondering if the fluid treatments you take your kitty in for are just the under the skin hydrating kind (not anything where you have to hit a vein)? I have done that at home with two cats. We kept a bag of fluids hanging in the spare shower, and would insert the needle just under the skin about every other day. The cats were very tolerant of it, and once you get the procedure down, it really isn't hard to do. It was so much easier than fighting to get them into a cage and transporting them. Just wondered if it was an option for you.

Hi Mom, I'm glad I could post something that someone can use. I try to answer questions whenever I feel like I have trustworthy information, because I need help myself lots of times!

The fluid treatments for my Baby Cat are the under the skin kind (subcutaneous). I had to do this for a little poodle I had years ago prior to losing her, and she just laid on the floor on some quilts and I never had a problem. However, Baby Cat is a different story. We (or maybe I should say "I") have been through blood, sweat and tears, literally, just trying to get a pill down her. She is small and so loving, but she is a feisty little thing, and if she doesn't like it, she will definitely let you know!

They showed me how to do it in the beginning, slightly different with a cat, but they said it would be best to have two people. In fact, they have two vet techs do it at the vet's office. One of them told me the other day that, after 3 years of this, she's gotten so she just settles down in her carrier (they leave her in it with the top off) and doesn't fuss. So they may only be using one tech now. But in the beginning, I didn't have anyone that I could count on to help me two times each week and she's so good in the car, that I just kept taking her to the vet..it's only a few miles). Now that she's on 3X a week, it's gotten difficult (not to mention even more expensive), but I know she will not let me do it by myself. I think if I came near her with a needle and had the fluid contraption hanging up, she would probably totally freak out! I have thought about trying it at the vet's office to see how she would react, but I just haven't gotten the nerve yet! But thanks for the suggestion---I may decide to try it, at my own peril!

Re: Rabies Shot Side Effects

Mominohio — Wed, 06 Aug 2014 00:19:08 GMT

On 8/5/2014 kittymomNC said:
On 8/5/2014 mominohio said:
On 8/3/2014 kittymomNC said:
I guess if it makes you feel any better at all, just be thankful you can take him under fairly normal circumstances. I have one 16-year old that has been going 2X a week for fluid treatments for kidney disease, and now is going 3X a week, and I'm giving her blood pressure medication for high blood pressure. She is SO good about it, it's unreal. But the other one, as I said, she's a whole different ball game...She also has anxiety problems and is scared of everything. I always say I have 2 "special needs kitties"! Good luck with your appointment...I hope he does well!

KittymomNC thanks for all the valuable info you posted above. I had no idea about the differences in the one and three year vaccines. I trust my vet completely, but I will be bringing this up with her on our next visit, as I think our cats are on the three year cycle. I have had cats live to 18 years with that treatment, but we are always learning new things in the field of medicine.

I was wondering if the fluid treatments you take your kitty in for are just the under the skin hydrating kind (not anything where you have to hit a vein)? I have done that at home with two cats. We kept a bag of fluids hanging in the spare shower, and would insert the needle just under the skin about every other day. The cats were very tolerant of it, and once you get the procedure down, it really isn't hard to do. It was so much easier than fighting to get them into a cage and transporting them. Just wondered if it was an option for you.

Hi Mom, I'm glad I could post something that someone can use. I try to answer questions whenever I feel like I have trustworthy information, because I need help myself lots of times!

The fluid treatments for my Baby Cat are the under the skin kind (subcutaneous). I had to do this for a little poodle I had years ago prior to losing her, and she just laid on the floor on some quilts and I never had a problem. However, Baby Cat is a different story. We (or maybe I should say "I") have been through blood, sweat and tears, literally, just trying to get a pill down her. She is small and so loving, but she is a feisty little thing, and if she doesn't like it, she will definitely let you know!

They showed me how to do it in the beginning, slightly different with a cat, but they said it would be best to have two people. In fact, they have two vet techs do it at the vet's office. One of them told me the other day that, after 3 years of this, she's gotten so she just settles down in her carrier (they leave her in it with the top off) and doesn't fuss. So they may only be using one tech now. But in the beginning, I didn't have anyone that I could count on to help me two times each week and she's so good in the car, that I just kept taking her to the vet..it's only a few miles). Now that she's on 3X a week, it's gotten difficult (not to mention even more expensive), but I know she will not let me do it by myself. I think if I came near her with a needle and had the fluid contraption hanging up, she would probably totally freak out! I have thought about trying it at the vet's office to see how she would react, but I just haven't gotten the nerve yet! But thanks for the suggestion---I may decide to try it, at my own peril!

If I was closer, I'd help!

And I do understand having a kitty that doesn't like to do something. We lost a most beautiful boy at only about 3 years old (he got hit in the road, only time that has ever happened to us, and so devastating) and he was terrible to travel with to the vet. He'd loose control of his bowels and vomit in his cage, to the point he'd pass blood. He was never afraid of anything or anyone (hence his lack of fear of the road), except that car ride. It was such an undertaking to get him to the vet once a year!

I'm glad you have the ability to get to the vet and get kitty's fluids. I know some people would have them put to sleep and not do what we have done. I'll do what I can for my animals, as we love them so much.

Re: Rabies Shot Side Effects

kittymomNC — Wed, 06 Aug 2014 00:36:48 GMT

On 8/5/2014 mominohio said:
On 8/5/2014 kittymomNC said:
On 8/5/2014 mominohio said:
On 8/3/2014 kittymomNC said:

If I was closer, I'd help!

And I do understand having a kitty that doesn't like to do something. We lost a most beautiful boy at only about 3 years old (he got hit in the road, only time that has ever happened to us, and so devastating) and he was terrible to travel with to the vet. He'd loose control of his bowels and vomit in his cage, to the point he'd pass blood. He was never afraid of anything or anyone (hence his lack of fear of the road), except that car ride. It was such an undertaking to get him to the vet once a year!

I'm glad you have the ability to get to the vet and get kitty's fluids. I know some people would have them put to sleep and not do what we have done. I'll do what I can for my animals, as we love them so much.

Most people don't understand why I do what I do and the expense I've incurred in the last three years, and for other pets as well -- I really could have used a newer car, but I joke and say I'm making my car payment to the vet (it's really not a joke). But they are my "children" - all I have to do is look at Baby Cat's face, and I love her so much it almost makes my heart hurt...

Re: Rabies Shot Side Effects

baddest_dog — Wed, 06 Aug 2014 13:41:39 GMT

I have one cat that had a terrible reaction to getting her vaccines. She had distemper and rabies at the same time and ended up in the cat hospital for a week on fluids and nursing care. After $1000 of that care, I finally got to take her home. The vet said the bloodwork and xrays were fine and could not decide if the vaccines caused this but to me that had to be the reason. I filed reports with both manufacturers of the vaccines and asked if they had reports from any other pet owners on file. Both companies did have reports filed but since she got both vaccines at the same time we did not know what caused the reaction. The vet said to give her the vaccines at different times from now on. My other cat had both and had no problems. They all react differently. And my vet does not give the 3 year vaccine, only the 1 year.