Anyone else get reactions to rabies shots?

[ChrystalPaths]

Last Wednesday the vet came to do Rabies on the girls. She used Merial Imrab 3 and used a tiny needle to give it subQ. 5 days later they are SO lame and sore. No absesses, no neck swelling, just so very gimpy. I called Merial and they said some do react and use an anit-inflam. I went and got some banamine paste and gastro-gard and just gave them both. Can anyone tell me how long the reaction takes to go away? I really felt this would go sooner. Both eat and drink and graze and slowly roam but are just ouchy. Feet are also cool to the touch and no fever. Thanks. Like I need more to worry over eh?

:

 

[crponies]

Mine were vaccinated for rabies this year but I'm not sure what the vet used. They didn't seem to have any reaction so I can't help you. I hope your babies are better soon.

 

[ThreeCFarm]

The only reaction I've had from Rabies was swellings on their necks. I don't believe I've ever sued the Merial kind, though.

 

[Marty]

Rabies must be a very ruff shot as a rule because in Florida, I had all my quarter horses react severely

two years in a row plus some of my friends horses did the same thing. I don't remember what company it was at all either, the vet gave the shots.

I can see them getting a bit sore for a couple of days, but not like this. I think too many days has passed and is way too long for this reaction to linger like that and you need to step it up and start raising cane with somebody.

 

[backwoodsnanny]

Debs

Im not sure what type of rabies vaccine my vet uses but I had 3 out of 15 who also reacted about 3 days after the shots were given. Nothing the first two days on the 3rd and 4th day they seemed a bit listless and though they did eat they werent voracious as they ususally are. Roy in particular just acted off. I tooo was surprised at the delayed reaction as in the past if they were going to have a reaction it was immediate or at the latest the next morning. I even called my vet and he was sure it was shot related.

 

[Aggravation Acres]

I have noticed that the older horses have the worst reactions.

So I have let some of then go without a year, then the next year they are a lot better.

But that is what I do. I am not a vet but found out it works for me. Also, rabbies are not found that often in our area and my guys are not out at night.

Deb

 

[Ridgerunner]

I've had reactions like that to rabies shots. Usually only one or two horses, but last year almost the whoe herd reacted. It's not just a sore neck. It's like they're sore all over. I talked to my vet about it, and he was shocked, to say the least! This year he added something to the shots. Sorry I can't remember what it was. But it helped tremedously! Only one yearling filly had a reaction. She was sore for about a week. Enough that I gave her banamine, orally, for a few days. Here in Missouri, a vet has to administer the rabies vaccine, and we have a lot of rabies in this area, so all my animals get the shots yearly.

Melba

 

[wildoak]

I had two or three yearlings react this year - first time I've ever noticed a reaction to a rabies shot, and I've been giving them for a number of years. I didn't see outright lameness, but they were very sore, achy and depressed for several days as well as off feed somewhat. I ran it by the vet and she related it to the vaccine. I don't honestly know what kind it was - vet drew them up and I didn't see the bottle.

Jan

 

[ChrystalPaths]

Update: well I went with the oral banamine with a side of gastro-gard today and tonite they are walking much better. Will continue in the morning and tomorrow nite and hope for a happy 4th!

 

[Matt73]

Update: well I went with the oral banamine with a side of gastro-gard today and tonite they are walking much better. Will continue in the morning and tomorrow nite and hope for a happy 4th!

Your avatar pic is too cute

:

Loooong story short. My vet came to give Emily her pre-foaling vaccinations in January and asked why I didn't want her to have her rabies shot too :new_shocked: . Everything I've heard since pony club (not that long ago...well maybe

: ) and books and from other vets says never give an in-foal mare a rabies shot. My girls aren't out all day (half the day) and they get the five way vaccine (EEE, WEE, Tetanus, Flu, Rhino). And they get another flu shot in the fall. I just tell that story to let you know (as I'm sure you already do) that even vets don't know everything. Unless I get a notice telling me that there is an alert for rabies, I'm not giving it. Your area is probably different though.

Thanks for letting me blab! he he.

Hope your girls feel better soon!

 

[Bozley]

My gelding also had a reaction. He had his shots on a Thursday but didn't show signs of being stiff, sore and lethargic until Monday. By Tuesday he was much worse. I gave him some Banamine paste and by Wednesday he was much better. Last year he didn't have a reaction at all. The year before he did but it was immediate so I really didn't suspect the shots for awhile. But that is what it had to have been.

 

[Sandee]

Last year my old gelding had a reaction. Hip was hard and stiff and he was out of sorts and stiff. I thought it might be that she gave a lot of shots at one time (different areas but all in one day). Since I wasn't sure which shot caused it, I asked that she split the spring shots up into 2 visits. This year we had no problems. My vet nearly always gives shots in the hip or lower part of the hip. I don't like the neck shots since if there is a reaction it can cause them to not be able to bend their necks to eat and drink.

 

[ChrystalPaths]

I can't help but wonder why dogs can go 3 yrs with rabies shots and equines are expected to go yearly. My vet agrees with me but follows state mandates. We do have a higher rate of rabies here in southern NY so I do like to have it but do it only every 2 yrs. This morning the girls were much more flexible and got up easily, had breakfast and walked out without being pulled. They then asked for their cookies then walked, albeit a bit slowly but steadily, to pasture. I did repeat the oral banamine with a shot of gastro-gard (cuz I'm paranoid) this morning. I'll do it again tonite and hope that will be that! Thank you for all your sharing and input. :saludando: