Kidney problems after Rabies Vaccine in cats

The FDA has received 151 reports of kidney problems in cats after Rabies Vaccine. That is 5.8% of all reports for this medicine, compared with 4.5% across reports for all cat medicines.

151Reports

85%Marked serious

11%Recovered

39%Died or euthanised

1 daysTypical onset

How soon it started

Same day

40 30%

1–2 days

37 28%

3–7 days

21 16%

1–4 weeks

23 17%

Over a month

11 8.3%

How the animals did

Recovered

16 11%

Recovered with lasting effects

1 0.7%

Still unwell when reported

58 38%

Died

26 17%

Euthanised

33 22%

Not known

17 11%

Problems reported at the same time

90 60%

87 58%

62 41%

58 38%

52 34%

42 28%

37 25%

33 22%

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 kidney problems in cats?: 151 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).

Kidney problems with similar medicines

Kidney problems after Feline Core Vaccine 96 reports · 6.2% of its reports
Kidney problems after Feline Leukemia Vaccine 46 reports · 5.8% of its reports

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