Fever after Rabies Vaccine in horses

The FDA has received 24 reports of fever in horses after Rabies Vaccine. That is 31% of all reports for this medicine, compared with 4.8% across reports for all horse medicines, so it is reported unusually often with this medicine.

24Reports

83%Marked serious

38%Recovered

33%Died or euthanised

1 daysTypical onset

How soon it started

Same day

8 33%

1–2 days

12 50%

3–7 days

1 4.2%

1–4 weeks

3 13%

Over a month

0 0.0%

How the animals did

Recovered

9 38%

Still unwell when reported

4 17%

Died

4 17%

Euthanised

4 17%

Not known

3 13%

Problems reported at the same time

Lethargy

8 33%

Death

8 33%

Loss of appetite

7 29%

Swelling

6 25%

Diarrhea

6 25%

Colic

5 21%

Tachycardia

5 21%

Injection site reaction

4 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 fever in horses?: 24 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).

All reported side effects of Rabies Vaccine in horses · Medicines most reported with fever