Anaphylaxis and death from Rabies vaccine

[Dunkhead]

My heart really goes out to you and I am so so sorry for such a sudden and unexpected loss. I have never had an issue with any vaccines for my horses, but I did get a severe reaction on my Birman kitten when she was about 6 months old. She too went into anaphylaxis and almost died, but the vet was able to save her. This has been 21 years ago now ( we lost her last summer right before she turned 20… still tears in my eyes as I type this… I LOVED that cat), but the vet told us to never have her vaccinated for anything again. He said it is usually not the actual vaccine itself that causes an issue, but the carrier that is used to administer the vaccine. I might be wording this last part incorrectly, but maybe you can get the gist enough to ask your vet about it?

P.S. Our event was sudden and probably only 30 mins elapsed after the vaccine until she went into shock.

[JB]

@Dunkhead

He said it is usually not the actual vaccine itself that causes an issue, but the carrier that is used to administer the vaccine. I might be wording this last part incorrectly

Adjuvants Kinda sorta a carrier, but really it’s an immune booster/stimulant to increase the immune response to the virus. And yes, some horses are sensitive to certain adjuvants, so they might react badly to the rabies vaccine from one company, but never blink an eye at the rabies vaccine from another company. Ft Dodge (now Zoetis) is infamous for this, many vets I know won’t use their vaccines unless the owner chooses.

[kashmere]

@JB

There was a thread not terribly long ago about this - the poster used that vaccine because of a shortage with other companies, and had real problems. But my brief search didn’t find it.

That was me - but I am terrible at thread searching, so cliff notes: It was the Merial vaccine in our case, administered sub-Q which was my vet’s first (and last) time doing it that way. It was previously only indicated IM, but when he couldn’t get ahold of his usual rabies vacc and saw the Merial indicated for Sub-Q he opted for that delivery since he’d seen so many horses get very very very sore muscles post IM rabies injection.

We had a whole saga, off all feed and water, 6 emerg vists, 5 oral tubes for fluids, 1 IV fluid, 6+ weeks of ulcer treatment.

The mare did bounce back from the reaction - but unfortunately (which I did not update on the original thread), we lost her a few weeks ago very suddenly to what seemed like an extremely severe colic. On necropsy it turned out she had an abdominal tumour which had become entangled in her intestine and killed her small bowel. Would not have been detectable via scope - only if we’d happened to do an MRI or ultrasound would we have seen it, and even then likely would not have been a surgical candidate.

Ultimately it’s impossible to say whether the tumour played any part in the issues we had earlier in the spring. My vet thinks that the vaccine reaction was a legitimate, separate incident - but very likely the severity was exacerbated by this tumour that was almost certainly growing at that point.

OP - I’m so sorry you lost your horse as well. It’s such an awful, awful feeling to have them go so suddenly. I am still gutted by the loss of my sweet girl and my thoughts are with you.

[JB]

@kashmere I’m SO sorry to hear you lost the mare Strangulating lipomas are a terrible thing, I lost the real JB to one years ago. They are so benign on their own, until they just wrap the wrong way, and then it’s a race to the table, and so often, you just don’t know that’s what you’re dealing with

[kashmere]

@JB

@kashmere I’m SO sorry to hear you lost the mare Strangulating lipomas are a terrible thing, I lost the real JB to one years ago. They are so benign on their own, until they just wrap the wrong way, and then it’s a race to the table, and so often, you just don’t know that’s what you’re dealing with

Thanks @JB - it really is a true heartbreaker. I hate that such a gentle and kind creature spent her last few hours in such pain. I try to find gratitude that she showed symptoms so soon after turn-in when there were people in the barn who could respond - and even if in the end she couldn’t be “helped” she was with people who loved her and she was given a peaceful exit. If it had happened through the night with no one in the barn I can’t imagine how awful it would have been. SO sorry you’ve had to go through the same experience. They take a lot when they go.

OP - sorry for the bit of a hijack. My vet went to bat hard for me when we had the rabies reaction in the spring - all of her treatment, including drugs and vet time, was covered. I hope your vet is doing the same - they have more traction with these companies than we do.

[Redemption3]

So, so sorry for your loss OP
and my condolences to the others here posting of their loss of a beloved friend…