Has anyone else experienced a reaction to a rabies vaccination?
I had the vet vaccinate my horses for rabies today since I live in Kansas and cannot purchase the vaccine. My old 27 year-old arab has developed a reaction; he is very stiff on all 4 legs, has a slight fever of 100.3, looks like hives are forming and he is lethargic. This is the first time I have vaccinated for rabies; our normal protocal is Rhino, 3 way+flu+tetnus and West Niles. All vaccines are given independantly 2-3 weeks apart to reduce possible reactions and swelling - so only the rabies was given today.
Called the vet back out 7 hours after the shot was given. The vet gave him banamine. Poor old guy, I try to do right by him by making sure he is vaccinated properly, trimmed every 6-8 weeks, frequent dental checks and even feed him a different kind of hay than my other horses eat because it is easier for him to chew (orchard grass and alfalfa). I just feel so bad! Never doing the rabies vaccine again with him.
Posted 2008-03-19 9:57 AM (#79883 - in reply to #79841) Subject: RE: Equine Rabies vaccination Reaction
Extreme Veteran
Posts: 303 Location: Grapeland, Texas
I vaccinate mine and so far haven't had any problems. If we didn't have so many cases of rabies in this area I probably wouldn't even do it. I didn't use to. I don't think it is required in Texas on horses. One of my dogs does have a reaction everytime she gets one. She gets a big knot in the area of the injection and it takes weeks for it to go down.
Posted 2008-03-19 10:39 AM (#79892 - in reply to #79841) Subject: RE: Equine Rabies vaccination Reaction
Regular
Posts: 91 Location: Small Town, Texas
My neighbors Sr. horse just had a reaction to Rabies this year. It got a big knot then it abscessed and all. He was sick for a while and is better now. This had been getting the shot eery few years. Which is what our vets in Texas are now starting to recommend, well depending on which one you go to.
Posted 2008-03-19 3:59 PM (#79915 - in reply to #79841) Subject: RE: Equine Rabies vaccination Reaction
Regular
Posts: 67 Location: Edinburg, Va.
My mare also got a reaction to the rabies vaccine this year. Not sure if it was the Rabvac or the Imrab vaccine that we used on her (had both). Same thing: large and tender to the touch swelling and moving stiff for about 24 hours. Gave some bute twice and watched her. Today, 2-1/2 days later, most of the swelling is gone and she is moving good. Usually it is the 5 way with the tetanus that makes them sore. Yes, we go out of our way to do everything we think is best for our horse and then when there is a problem that causes them discomfort, we all feel so bad for causing the pain. However, I still feel that some vaccines are very necessary and required. Hope your old guy is back to normal soon.
Posted 2008-03-19 9:50 PM (#79936 - in reply to #79841) Subject: RE: Equine Rabies vaccination Reaction
Veteran
Posts: 238 Location: West Coast
I vaccinate all of my horses for rabies, only one of them ever has a reaction, but then my paint horse has a reaction to most vaccines. He usually gets very body sore and has a little fever. I've found that giving the rabies vaccination alone and giving the other vaccines on another day helps. Also, giving it in the hindquarters seems to help a little to minimize the bodysoreness.
Posted 2008-03-20 2:04 PM (#79978 - in reply to #79841) Subject: RE: Equine Rabies vaccination Reaction
Member
Posts: 37 Location: alabama
The only reaction any of ours have had was to west nile, but the vet said it is normal. She got a swollen lump on her neck and was real stiff. My vet said to work her to get the soreness out quicker, and loosen her up again.
Posted 2008-03-20 3:27 PM (#79988 - in reply to #79841) Subject: RE: Equine Rabies vaccination Reaction
Expert
Posts: 1205 Location: Danielsville Georgia
Over the years I've been on trail rides that someone has commented their horse was stiff and feeling somewhat ill/rank cause it just got a 4 way and a rabies.One gal mentioned her big Paint/TB always got sore with vaccines.She said to her it was better to ride them lightly and work the soreness out.I use Rabies,West Nile,4 ways and up the nose Strangles vaccine pretty often around here with never a obvious issue.Same with Quest wormer.I've never had a issue or talked to anyone that had a first hand issue with it.
Posted 2008-03-21 1:08 PM (#80057 - in reply to #79841) Subject: RE: Equine Rabies vaccination Reaction
Elite Veteran
Posts: 781 Location: La Cygne, KS
Just a quick update - The ol'guy is doing much better. I know he is feeling good because he nipped at my old QH mare and pinned his ears at my MFT mare when coming out of his paddock. He was telling the gals the KING is back in the pasture so bow down to my greatness! - then he took off trotting to the new green sprigs of grass coming up. Glad to see him feeling so frisky!
Posted 2008-03-22 6:47 AM (#80106 - in reply to #79841) Subject: RE: Equine Rabies vaccination Reaction
Veteran
Posts: 282 Location: southcentral pennsylvania
I had my horses vaccinated Wednesday at 5:00p.m., rabies included. The vet checked temps, pulse, etc. as part of yearly exam. All O.K. After teeth floating, etc., vet left at 6:30p.m. Horses get 1 gram of bute as a prophylactic against soreness, etc., which they received at 6:30p.m. Horses then turned out and given hay. One horse not eating, temp was 99.2. Watched him, and after one hour, took temp again, 100.2. Called vet, and he instructed me to give another gram of bute and wait about 1 hour. At 9:00p.m., I took temp again, and it was down to 99.5. Horse not eating, but looking better. I started to offer him hay from my hand....yep....he ate, and continued to eat. He was fine. Next morning, another horse was slow to move, and temp 100.2 at 7:00 on a cold morning. I gave him bute, and he was fine. I was glad I caught them all early, and had given prophylactic bute to begin (vet recommends).
Posted 2008-03-25 11:45 AM (#80348 - in reply to #79841) Subject: RE: Equine Rabies vaccination Reaction
Extreme Veteran
Posts: 455 Location: Texas
The horse I ride had what sounds like a similar reaction to what the original poster mentioned. He acted like he was "Tying Up," but had none of the causes of Tying Up, like being worked excessively hard. He had a rabies vaccination the day before we discovered him like this in the pasture. The vet said it wasn't from the vaccination, but that vaccination was the only thing out of the ordinary that had happened to him. He came out of it within a day and was good as he ever was. We still don't know for sure what happened, but I figured I would post my story, anyway.
Equine Rabies vaccination Reaction
