Blood problems after Rabies Vaccine in cats

The FDA has received 117 reports of blood problems in cats after Rabies Vaccine. That is 4.5% of all reports for this medicine, compared with 1.9% across reports for all cat medicines, so it is reported unusually often with this medicine.

117Reports

81%Marked serious

17%Recovered

25%Died or euthanised

9 daysTypical onset

How soon it started

Same day

22 21%

1–2 days

18 17%

3–7 days

10 9.4%

1–4 weeks

41 39%

Over a month

15 14%

How the animals did

Recovered

20 17%

Still unwell when reported

50 43%

Died

9 7.7%

Euthanised

20 17%

Not known

18 15%

Problems reported at the same time

77 66%

77 66%

49 42%

38 32%

33 28%

28 24%

27 23%

25 21%

Age of the animals

Under 1 year

1–3 years

4–7 years

8–11 years

12+ years

About this medicine

Type: vaccine.

Mild, short-lived lethargy, soreness or a small lump at the injection site are the most commonly reported vaccine reactions.

Questions owners ask

Can Rabies Vaccine cause blood problems in cats?: 117 reports link the two, but a report alone does not prove the medicine was the cause: other illnesses, other medicines or coincidence can be involved. Your vet can judge it for your animal.
How soon after a dose was it reported?: In half of the reports with dates, it started within 9 days of the first dose.
What should I do?: Don't give another dose until you've spoken to your vet, and keep the packaging so you can tell them the product and dose. Your vet can also report it to the FDA (or you can, through the manufacturer or FDA form 1932a).

Blood problems with similar medicines

Blood problems after Feline Core Vaccine 117 reports · 7.5% of its reports
Blood problems after Feline Leukemia Vaccine 48 reports · 6.0% of its reports

All reported side effects of Rabies Vaccine in cats · Medicines most reported with blood problems