By law in the United States, dogs are required to be immunized against rabies. The canine vaccine is dosed annually or every three years based on regional requirements. Vaccinations are given in an attempt to prevent clinical disease. However, single or annual vaccinations can cause numerous adverse reactions. These reactions range from immediate to delayed and mild to severe.
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The Disease
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Raccoons can transmit rabies. Rabies disease is transmitted by an infected animal biting a non-infected animal. Raccoons, foxes, coyotes, bats and skunks are the most common carriers of the virus. Rabies cannot exist very long outside a host (living creature) and dies in less than 24 hours in the carcass of an infected animal. A bite from an infected animal doesn̵7;t automatically cause infection. About 15 percent of humans exposed to the virus will contract the disease. Humans, cats and dogs are only mildly susceptible.
Vaccination
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Vaccines cause an inflammatory response. Vaccines are designed to help fight disease. They do so by forcing the body to develop antibodies to fight off a potential disease threat. However, during this process, the body responds with inflammation. This inflammatory response may be temporary or longstanding. Allergic reactions to the vaccine are the problem. Anaphylactic shock occurs when an individual has a fatally massive reaction to the vaccine. If adrenaline or its equivalent is not administered immediately, death results within minutes.
Nervous System Disorders
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The rabies vaccine is a neurogenic protein, affecting the nervous system. Nervous disorders resulting from a rabies vaccine usually manifest within a few weeks. Seizures, epilepsy or seizure-like disorders such as stumbling, ataxia, dementia and demyelination (destruction of nerve tissue) are often seen after vaccination. An equally crippling reaction results in autoimmune dysfunction. This involves the destruction of tissues, skin, blood, joints, the liver or kidneys.
Short Term
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General short-term symptoms include vomiting, fever, facial swelling, lethargy, circulatory shock or loss of consciousness. Deaths also have been reported shortly after vaccinations. Epilepsy has been seen within days and up to months after injection. However, most of these reactions occur immediately after the injection and up to three days afterward.
Long Term
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Hind-end paralysis may result from a rabies vaccination. Long-term adverse reactions to a rabies immunization can occurs days, weeks or months after vaccination. Skin disease and allergies may gradually emerge after vaccination. Digestive problems, blood disease, muscle weakness (particularly hind end coordination problems), and even paralysis are symptoms of an adverse reaction. Cancer or fibrocarcinoma (slow-growing tumor) at the infection site may manifest as well. Behavioral problems including separation anxiety, aggression, obsessive compulsive disorders and destructive behavior are signs of an adverse reaction.
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