Weakness after Rabies Vaccine in dogs

The FDA has received 348 reports of weakness in dogs after Rabies Vaccine. That is 3.5% of all reports for this medicine, compared with 1.4% across reports for all dog medicines, so it is reported unusually often with this medicine.

348Reports

78%Marked serious

29%Recovered

23%Died or euthanised

1 daysTypical onset

How soon it started

Same day

150 48%

1–2 days

50 16%

3–7 days

30 9.6%

1–4 weeks

46 15%

Over a month

37 12%

How the animals did

Recovered

98 28%

Recovered with lasting effects

3 0.9%

Still unwell when reported

133 38%

Died

31 8.9%

Euthanised

50 14%

Not known

33 9.5%

Problems reported at the same time

173 50%

137 39%

112 32%

102 29%

81 23%

81 23%

75 22%

63 18%

Age of the animals

Under 1 year

1–3 years

108

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 weakness in dogs?: 348 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).

Weakness with similar medicines

Weakness after Bordetella Vaccine 358 reports · 3.8% of its reports
Weakness after Leptospirosis Vaccine 288 reports · 3.6% of its reports
Weakness after Lyme Vaccine 91 reports · 1.3% of its reports
Weakness after Distemper-parvo Vaccine 238 reports · 3.7% of its reports

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