My Dog Died from his Vaccinations

[oscarsmom522]

My healty, almost 9 year old standard poodle received his annual vaccines on Friday, May 27.  Saturday, May 28, he was unable to walk.  Over the course of the next 8 days, we visited 3 vets (5 visits) and 1 vet neurologist (2 visits).  The official diagnosis was "vestibular disease from vaccinosis."   Every medical professional told us he would snap out of it and get better.  Initially, we were told to wait it out, then he was put on a steroid regimen, and was on steroids with a holistic support approach and, in the end, immodium.  We finally put him out of his misery on June 5.  With all the professional help, I felt helpless as I watch my first born die.  No one seemed to acknowledge he was so sick.  I'm struggling for answers as to what happened and how it happened.  I do believe it was the shots that killed him.  Has anyone heard similar stories?  Was there anything we could have done to save him or make him comfortable?  RIP OSCAR.  

[sorrymom]

I am so sorry for all who lost their babies because of vaccinations. March  of this year I lost my mini doxie Peabody, she died from renal failure at 15 yrs. old. In all my 15 yrs. with her I learned so much about vets. They DO NOT tell you what you need to know, you have to research. I never let her outside, she used pee pads, because I did not want to give her heart worm, poison in it! And also ONLY the rabies shot , none of the other CRAP!!!  I heard that vets make most of their money from vaccines. The vet also knew I cooked for Peabody but never told me I needed ground eggshell in her food because of the phosphorus. She was diagnosed with kidney failure in Jan. of 2014. I then realized I should have been giving her the eggshell powder in her food all along. But I kept her alive for another 15 months by researching about her diet with kidney failure.  One other very, very important thing you should do is get those annual BLOOD TESTS, which I did not do, because they show up almost everything about your dogs health. Also my vet said she does not do cholesterol tests on dogs. WHY NOT!!! When Peabody passed away she had high LIPIDS. What are lipids, same as cholesterol, fat in your dogs blood. We did get another dachshund, I was so heart broken and lonely and we already started blood tests for him. So how to beat this STUPID "WE DON'T TEST A DOGS CHOLESTEROL" COMMENT FROM MY VET, AFTER THE TESTS COME BACK ASK THE VET  HOW HIGH THE ----LIPIDS---ARE AND YOU WILL FIND OUT HOW MUCH FAT IS IN YOUR DOGS BLOOD, HOW HORRIBLE THEY DON'T TELL YOU THESE THINGS!!!  I hope I helped someone, please research everything do not trust your vet and do get those BLOODTESTS yearly and when they are seniors(7+ YRS) 2 TIMES A YEAR. I SWEAR BY THEM NOW!!!  That is why I am a sorrymom

[tonyb286]

Hi Janet. I am very sorry for your loss. There's not much else I can say, other than please do not feel guilty about what happened. Most owners, like yourself, do everything within their power to do the right thing, to love and care for their best friends. Sometimes, the advice we get is inappropriate or incomplete, but that's just the way things are. All vaccinations and medications involve risk - and it's really down to the vet (and owners) to make a reasonable risk-assessment about these treatments. Maybe with hindsight, things would have been different, but then most things are easy with hindsight.

Molly was in the twilight of her life. Please try to remember that - and the many years of love and happiness you provided her with.

Run free Molly.

Tony

[ForMolly]

My sweet girl, Molly, age 13,died yesterday after going into cardiac arrest approximately 45 minutes after receiving the rabies/liptospirosis/bordatella vaccines.....I wish I had seen this site earlier as I would never have taken her in to have these vaccines.  She had cushings disease, we chose not to put her on medications for that as she was doing okay for a number of years with it...she was doing well for her age, and was quite happy to go for a ride and go to the vet...oh how I wish I could turn back the clock.  She had the vaccines, seemed fine when we left, but when nearly home, she deteriorated...panting heavily, lost function in her legs...I phoned the vet and told them to be ready for an emergency as I was bringing her back in...once there, her temp was 103.8, panting bad, they rushed her back...I waited for about 5 minutes when the vet came back out and said that they had administered epinephrine 3x, but she had crashed and they did chest compressions and brought her back....at that point I went back with the vet and they were again doing chest compressions...my heart just broke....she died there and then.....my heart is literally breaking and the guilt I feel is enormous....I wish with all my heart I had researched this...I trusted my veterinary office and their expertise....if anyone can learn from this...please,  please, please do not give elderly dogs the liptospirosis or bordatella vaccines....and definitely not all together with the rabies shots....I miss my sweet Molly so much...she was my child I could never have....I pray her spirit runs free now....thank you...I needed to get this out there to help unburden my heart a little and to help those who are searching for answers...Janet

[ginger899]

I used to get my dog titer-tested for immunity every year when her boosters were due. That is almost unheard of here (UK) It also costs considerably more.
The only one apparently which doesn't 'titer' well (according to my vet) is the Leptospirosis. I don't understand the biochemical side of this, but always had to let her have the Lepto shot.
I thought she needed it really, as we live in the countryside with lots of standing water, rodents, etc about.

[tonyb286]

Hi. I am so sorry you went through all that with your fur babies. Vaccinations and follow-up boosters are a hotly debated subject. In the UK, we do things slightly different to the US, so it's hard for me to give any precise suggestions. Vets here still do give annual boosters as a routine, but not the same vaccines - so in other words, not all vaccines are given every year, which is how many problems arise. There is a good argument for some vaccination boosters not to be given at all after a certain age, because the dog by then usually has more than enough immunity. However, this is not the case for all dogs or for all types of infectious diseases. Much depends on the risk-factor of where the dog is living, the prevalence of a particular disease or infection and the cleanliness and control (restriction on roaming) of its home environment.

It is fair to say all vaccinations and boosters have their risks. Equally, there are risks in not giving the vaccinations. An owner, in conversation with their vet, needs to consider the level of risk on both sides and reach a rational conclusion. Some vaccinations, such as for rabies, are mandatory in many parts of the world, so failing to have your dog vaccinated under these circumstances will often mean you are breaking the law and leaving yourself open to having the dog confiscated and possibly euthanised if the authorities find out.

Most owners simply aren't aware of the facts on both sides of the argument, which means we often leave it to our vets to make the decision for us. Maybe we should spend time making ourselves more aware of the facts and the risks, and ask questions of our vets, before we blindly inflict annual vaccinations on our dogs.

Tony

[Njsharona]

Reading all these posts makes me wanna start to cry again... It's been almost a year, still searching for the answers WHY.. My 11 yr old Bichon, best boy Simon , one week after having a Lepto Vaccine for the first time , had a heart attack in front of me and died.. Vet never instructed me about new vaccine, why offer an older dog something new!!
At the same time, my then new born pup also given the vaccine had to be returned to breeder because he started to develop signs of retardation after the shot... From two to none... We are proud owners of now 9 month Sammy and Lilah brother / sister Havanese... This doesn't replace the heartache I have over losing my best friend.... Naturally the vet will stand by his belief that he did anything wrong to the dogs