Fever after Rabies Vaccine in cats

The FDA has received 417 reports of fever in cats after Rabies Vaccine. That is 16% of all reports for this medicine, compared with 3.2% across reports for all cat medicines, so it is reported unusually often with this medicine.

417Reports

61%Marked serious

38%Recovered

7.2%Died or euthanised

1 daysTypical onset

How soon it started

Same day

134 34%

1–2 days

94 24%

3–7 days

43 11%

1–4 weeks

99 25%

Over a month

19 4.9%

How the animals did

Recovered

158 38%

Still unwell when reported

166 40%

Died

13 3.1%

Euthanised

17 4.1%

Not known

63 15%

Problems reported at the same time

261 63%

230 55%

107 26%

57 14%

52 12%

49 12%

48 12%

46 11%

Age of the animals

Under 1 year

1–3 years

143

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 fever in cats?: 417 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 1 day 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).

Fever with similar medicines

Fever after Feline Core Vaccine 429 reports · 28% of its reports
Fever after Feline Leukemia Vaccine 170 reports · 21% of its reports
Fever after Distemper-parvo Vaccine 20 reports · 7.2% of its reports

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