Are these people for real?

[stafinois]

Stan got his rabies vaccine when he was 3-4 months old. Then he got bigger!! Is that a side effect, too?

[crazedACD]

I would be interested in serious studies done to see if there is a causation between the vaccines. I do believe with some behaviors it is plausible, but there has not been enough research done to say for sure. I believe the vaccine might exasperate underlying issues.

With Skye, I did the rabies vax one year and she immediately (within a day or two) started with a little hair loss around her eyes. They were a bit swollen and watery. It took probably a month to go away. The next year I had to do another rabies jab...same thing, except it hasn't really gone away but gets better and worse. I've just been told it's allergies. Now I did do the vax in March each year (Springtime, stuff is starting to bloom, causes allergies) so who knows.

A few days after rabies vax for Zoie one year in particular, her lyme disease flared up majorly. It didn't happen the next year.

[Oko]

Gawd, I feel so all over the place on this issue. I don't believe the extremist viewpoint, but ehhh over-vaccination is scary. It honestly gives me a headache to think about. I'm planning on minimal vaccinations.

I've never been vaccinated for anything. 2 of my older siblings had severe reactions to vaccines, and from then on in all five of us were not vaccinated. Not sure what the laws are in other places, but here in Massachusetts you can opt out for 'religious' reasons. We're, uh, the least religious people ever, but I didn't say that.

[DenoLo]

This people spreading panic and misinformation about vaccines are benefiting very much by the fact that the majority of the population DOES get vaccinations. Herd immunity is a wonderful thing.

[LilahRoot]

Originally Posted by Saeleofu

This all sounds very similar to the vaccine-induced autism crap. That is NOT what causes autism, but people are looking for things to blame, so they blame vaccines - even though the studies linking vaccines and autism were falsified, and there is no link. (I'm of the opinion that autism is genetic. That's quite apparent in my family.) Same thing, though - I don't doubt vaccines have side effects in kids, its just that autism isn't one of those. If I had to guess, the age kids are usually vaccinated is the age autism becomes apparent. And the age puppies get vaccinated for rabies is the age their true temperament/personality is starting to become apparent. It's coincidence, with a bit of panic thrown in.

I haven't read the entire thread, but this was my first thought after reading the article.

[Flyinsbt]

Originally Posted by crazedACD

I would be interested in serious studies done to see if there is a causation between the vaccines. I do believe with some behaviors it is plausible, but there has not been enough research done to say for sure. I believe the vaccine might exasperate underlying issues.

With Skye, I did the rabies vax one year and she immediately (within a day or two) started with a little hair loss around her eyes. They were a bit swollen and watery. It took probably a month to go away. The next year I had to do another rabies jab...same thing, except it hasn't really gone away but gets better and worse. I've just been told it's allergies. Now I did do the vax in March each year (Springtime, stuff is starting to bloom, causes allergies) so who knows.

A few days after rabies vax for Zoie one year in particular, her lyme disease flared up majorly. It didn't happen the next year.

A vaccine challenges the immune system, so it can certainly trigger immune system-type issues. ie; an allergy flare up, or flare up of an existing condition. This is why a pet should not be vaccinated when it is sick. The rabies vaccine does seem to cause more issues than some. OTOH, the disease it prevents is a particularly deadly one, and is a health risk to humans, so I'm not personally willing to gamble with it. My dogs are vaccinated for rabies. (also for distemper and parvo)

I had a dog have a mild reaction to the rabies once. And I was disgruntled about it, because he hadn't needed that vaccine. The year before, I'd taken him to a cheap veterinary chain to get his rabies, because I was low on cash, and didn't want to skip it. They vaccinated him, I went and paid, they handed me the certificate, and it was only good for a year. Which is wrong, he was an adult dog who had been vaccinated before, it should have been good for 3 years. I figured it was too late to do anything, but the next year when I had to get him a gratuitous rabies vaccine to stay legal, I went to my usual vet and paid the extra $50 or whatever it was. Anyway, we went to an agility trial the next day, and he couldn't run. Poor guy didn't feel good. He was okay the next day, but I've always kept it in mind since then that the rabies vaccine is a toughie.

[Saeleofu]

Which is wrong, he was an adult dog who had been vaccinated before, it should have been good for 3 years.

If the vaccine they used was labeled for 1 year, they legally CANNOT say it's good for 3 years, even if in reality the immunity lasts for 3 years (or longer). It's a good idea to specify you want a 3 year vaccine and confirm that's that the dog is getting before the dog gets stuck with the needle. It sucks that it happened that way, though

[release the hounds]

It's the same vaccine. All you probably would have had to do was bring in the paperwork showing his last rabies vaccination and they would have changed the paperwork to a 3 year. I've done it multiple times with multiple dogs, there's no issue other than documentation and if there's a break in the paper trail, they will only issue a year long license

[Saeleofu]

Originally Posted by release the hounds

It's the same vaccine. All you probably would have had to do was bring in the paperwork showing his last rabies vaccination and they would have changed the paperwork to a 3 year. I've done it multiple times with multiple dogs, there's no issue other than documentation and if there's a break in the paper trail, they will only issue a year long license

I know they're the same vaccine. But if the package states "1 year" there's legally nothing they can do to make it a 3 year. We ONLY use the 3 year vaccines at work, even if it's the dog's first vaccine, because we don't want to deal with that crap.

[Emily]

Originally Posted by stafinois

Stan got his rabies vaccine when he was 3-4 months old. Then he got bigger!! Is that a side effect, too?

Yes. It's called rabies giganticism. 100% of dogs given the rabies vaccine before 12 months of age will get taller or heavier after being vaccinated.

But I'm guessing he already suffers from high prey drive and obsessive tendencies. Poor Stan.