Swelling after Rabies Vaccine in cats

The FDA has received 167 reports of swelling in cats after Rabies Vaccine. That is 6.5% 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.

167Reports

68%Marked serious

25%Recovered

24%Died or euthanised

Same dayTypical onset

How soon it started

Same day

77 52%

1–2 days

20 13%

3–7 days

23 15%

1–4 weeks

22 15%

Over a month

7 4.7%

How the animals did

Recovered

41 25%

Recovered with lasting effects

1 0.6%

Still unwell when reported

59 35%

Died

23 14%

Euthanised

17 10%

Not known

26 16%

Problems reported at the same time

54 32%

51 31%

40 24%

40 24%

37 22%

33 20%

31 19%

Injection site reaction

28 17%

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 swelling in cats?: 167 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 the same 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).

Swelling with similar medicines

Swelling after Feline Core Vaccine 100 reports · 6.4% of its reports
Swelling after Feline Leukemia Vaccine 76 reports · 9.5% of its reports

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