Hypokalaemia after Rabies Vaccine in dogs

The FDA has received 65 reports of hypokalaemia in dogs after Rabies Vaccine. That is 0.7% of all reports for this medicine, compared with 0.1% across reports for all dog medicines, so it is reported unusually often with this medicine.

65Reports

97%Marked serious

12%Recovered

35%Died or euthanised

7 daysTypical onset

How soon it started

Same day

15 25%

1–2 days

9 15%

3–7 days

12 20%

1–4 weeks

14 23%

Over a month

10 17%

How the animals did

Recovered

8 12%

Still unwell when reported

21 32%

Died

6 9.2%

Euthanised

17 26%

Not known

13 20%

Problems reported at the same time

39 60%

36 55%

32 49%

29 45%

25 38%

23 35%

22 34%

20 31%

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 hypokalaemia in dogs?: 65 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 7 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).

Hypokalaemia with similar medicines

Hypokalaemia after Bordetella Vaccine 56 reports · 0.6% of its reports
Hypokalaemia after Leptospirosis Vaccine 86 reports · 1.1% of its reports
Hypokalaemia after Distemper-parvo Vaccine 41 reports · 0.6% of its reports

All reported side effects of Rabies Vaccine in dogs · Medicines most reported with hypokalaemia