Lameness after Rabies Vaccine in cats

103 reports to the FDA describe lameness in cats given Rabies Vaccine. That is 4.0% of all reports for this medicine, compared with 0.6% across reports for all cat medicines, so it is reported unusually often with this medicine.

103Reports

55%Marked serious

26%Recovered

11%Died or euthanised

2 daysTypical onset

How soon it started

Same day

19 20%

1–2 days

29 31%

3–7 days

14 15%

1–4 weeks

25 27%

Over a month

7 7.4%

How the animals did

Recovered

27 26%

Still unwell when reported

48 47%

Died

3 2.9%

Euthanised

8 7.8%

Not known

17 17%

Problems reported at the same time

Lethargy

52 50%

Loss of appetite

46 45%

Fever

43 42%

Injection site reaction

25 24%

18 17%

17 17%

14 14%

13 13%

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 lameness in cats?: 103 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 2 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).

Lameness with similar medicines

Lameness after Feline Core Vaccine 114 reports · 7.3% of its reports
Lameness after Feline Leukemia Vaccine 54 reports · 6.8% of its reports

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