This thread has gone off the deep end - Part 1
There is always a chance that a vaccine may cause a severe allergic reaction such as anaphylactic shock, or as this thread started out with hemolytic anemia. There could also be localized skin reactions. Some dogs react to any vaccine as their immune systems are hyper active, while most dogs will never have a reaction.
Rabies vaccinations are required in most of the states in the U.S. If you wish to disobey the law, endanger your dog's health, and open yourself up to lawsuits if your dog becomes infected and bites someone, then that is your choice. But it is an irresponsible choice.
A rabies vaccine is a killed virus preparation and as such has absolutely no ability to infect the dog's brain or cause neurological side effects.
Parvo due to its lethality in puppies presents a confused picture. If you do not vaccinate your puppy, then you are trusting that it will never encounter an adult dog which is shedding the virus during that first critical first year. Even a puppy just over a year can get a severe and possible fatal infection from Parvo. On the other hand if you vaccinate too early then maternal antibodies received through the milk will neutralize the virus before an immune response can be mounted. That is why there are usually multiple vaccinations for Parvo to make sure the immune response occured. What happens if you vaccinate a puppy just after it has been exposed to Parvo, or just before it is exposed to Parvo? It will get Parvo as it takes at least a week to 10 days for immunity to build up from the vaccination. There are many occurances where the owner vaccinated and a few days later the puppy got sick. The puppy did not get sick from the vaccine. It got sick because it had been exposed to Parvo before being vaccinated or just after.
(due to thread length end of Part 1)
Thread off the deep end - Part 2
Distemper. If you want neurological problems and/or organ failure problems in later life then skip the distemper shot for your puppy. Why would you want to?
The vaccine schedule I'm following on my current two dogs (now age 3) are:
1. They recieved their "puppy shots" for parvo-distemper, bordetella, and of course rabies.
2. At year 1 and 2 they recieved booster shots for the parvo-distemper.
3. From here on out they will receive a booster once every 2-3 years. The rabies re-vaccination once every 3 yrs.
In addition since my female enjoys wallowing in one particular mud hole in the woods, I'm researching the prevalence of Leptospirosis in my area. Doubtful they will ever get lyme vaccinations, as the disease is easy enough to treat, and has not been a problem here for dogs. In another words some vaccination decisions are a matter of common sense.
The choice for puppies is clear. Vaccinate or take the risk of death or life long serious complications. Once the dog is an adult, give the one booster shot to ensure Parvo-distemper immunity. Then you can decide whether to vaccinate once every 2-3 years, or possibly longer. There are some studies suggesting life long immunity.
Per rabies - vaccinate. Note there are studies to indicate that even dogs undergoing Chemotherapy for cancer, can mount an immune response that is protective to a rabies vaccination. If your dog had an allergic reaction to a rabies vaccine (e.g. hives, breathing problems), then pre-loading with Benedryl is a way around the problem.
