While cats are not natural carriers for the disease, they can be infected by a bite from any infected mammal and then pass it on to others. You can seek guidance and advice from your vet regarding such behavioral transformation. Put simply, lethargy is a cat slowing down when they dont feel good. FCV is thought to be associated with chronicgingivitis/stomatitis, a very painful inflammation of the gums and teeth. The panel comprisesdedicated feline veterinarians and scientists and is regarded as a reputable source of cat vaccination standards. Get practical pet health tips, articles, and insights from our veterinary community delivered weekly to your inbox. You can try feeding the cat to see if it helps. Most cats want to sleep for a few hours after getting their shot. Affected cats can be treated successfully with appropriate antibiotics, but vaccination may be helpful in some circumstances as part of a control programme in an infected household, For further information onChlamydophila felis, seeChlamydophila felisinfection in cats. After the cat recovers from the initial infection, the virus enters a latency period in the nerves. This behavior can last for about a day and your pet should start eating in few hours. It is not entirely clear why cats experience FISS. Lethargy After vaccination, it is normal for your pet to exhibit a few symptoms like fever, lameness, swelling, and 2. So, it was with a heavy heart I had to leave again without an answer. TheFeline Vaccination Advisory Panelregularly evaluates and researches cat vaccination developments to make science-based recommendations. The virus can also survive for long periods in the environment so vaccination is the only real way to protect cats. Cat Enema Side Effects What To Expect After Cat Enema? Most cats will need booster shots every one to three years, but always double-check with your vet to make sure because thats something youll want to stay on top of. Rabies is a zoonotic disease (it can be transmitted from animals to humans), so it is a public safety issue to keep your cat up to date on their rabies vaccine. Dr. Debra, Recently, my kitten (2 months old) had her first installment of vaccinations. Again, this is normal behavior. I dont know how long after the vaccines that the signs start. If your elderly cat has a chronic illness, then you should avoid vaccination. Get the latest updates on your choice of veterinary topics delivered straight to your inbox. FeLV is an important disease, causing a wide variety of problems in persistently infected cats including immunosuppression, anaemia, and lymphoma. The core vaccines are considered essential for all cats (including indoor-only cats) because of the widespread and/or severe nature of the diseases being protected against. He told us she had a screw loose and that she had a shot knot. With FHV-1, even after the initial signs subside, most cats will remain permanently infected with the virus and some go on to develop recurrent eye infections or other signs. In comparison, healthy kittens are never lethargic. Rabies vaccination is given every year or every three years, depending on state laws and the brand of vaccine used. Adult cats need shots less often, usually every year or every 3 years, depending on how long a vaccine is designed to last. This is partly because, should a fibrosarcoma develop at these sites, limb amputation is possible and offers a better chance of complete removal than trying to remove an invasive tumour from the neck region. This means that the neck should always be avoided. Woman Tries Every Day For A Month To Rescue This Dog. A trip to the vet for vaccination is never a pleasant experience for your cat. In comparison, healthy kittens are never lethargic. But for cats who are older than 1 year and are at low risk of exposure, the FeLV vaccine is considered a non-core vaccine. Just as in humans, vaccinating your cat helps to protect him or her against several serious and/or life-threatening diseases. A small, firm swelling under the skin may develop at the site of a recent vaccination. We took her to our vet. Both of these viruses are ubiquitous in cat populations, and because infection is so common, and can often be quite severe (especially in younger cats), vaccination is considered important for all cats. On the other hand, you can give a cat that is only mildly lethargic and otherwise okay a little time to see if they return to normal on their own. All rights reserved. WebDecreased appetite and activity. This is more likely for older cats with arthritis or joint pain. In addition, vaccines can cause allergic reactions. Which shots they need. Because of this, after your cat receives any vaccine, it is sensible to monitor the injection site regularly and if a swelling at the site persists for several weeks and/or continues to enlarge, get it checked immediately by your vet. Although the experience is never pleasant, felines must be vaccinated against rabies by law. Better yet, schedule routine visits to the clinic so that you can bring your cats together. Vaccination causes a chemical reaction in the cats brain that lasts 24-48 hours. After a latent period lasting months or even years, the disease often progresses to a variety of associated conditions:lymphoma, anemia, or immunosuppression resulting in secondary disease. Other vaccines are regarded as non-core and used when vaccination would provide valuable protection for an individual cat. If your cat has little energy or limping syndrome, the walk can feel like a long journey, especially for an older cat with joint problems or arthritis pain. All vaccines have to undergo rigorous safety and efficacy testing before they are licensed for use in cats by regulatory authorities. Ondansetron For Cats (Zofran) All You Need To Know, Mini Hippo Dog - Everything You Need To Know. WebHow will your cat feel after receiving a vaccine? The initial vaccine course is often started at 8-9 weeks of age, with a second injection 3-4 weeks later. These treatments can aggravate problems with the heart and kidneys. You should call the vet for advice if your cat feels ill after 48 hours of vaccination. These effects should subside in a few hours or days. Anemia (low red blood cell count)A cats body needs the oxygen that red blood cells carry to make energy. While the rabies vaccine is not listed as a core vaccine by the AAFP guidelines, it is required by law in most regions. If your cat belongs to the second camp, there are a few things that you can do to make him feel better while recovering. Some cats even exhibit lingering fear and anxiety days after coming from the vet. This is a temporary lump that goes away after a couple of weeks and nothing to worry about. Here at MyCuteAnimals.com we cover everything from training, care, health, nutrition, breeds, products, and much more. Then the next day I called him back because Very few cats may be allergic to one or more components of the vaccine and have more serious side effects such as difficulty in breathing, vomiting, or diarrhea. After getting injected with a vaccine, you may also experience the same symptoms. WebYou may notice your cat has a temporary loss of appetite or is less lively a day or two after a vaccination, but this should resolve within 24-48 hours. Did they do routine blood work including a complete blood count, diagnostic profile, feline leukemia and feline aids tests? It only means that your cat is experiencing these symptoms due to the interaction between his body and the vaccine. Transmitted through body fluids including saliva, urine, and feces, FeLV is spread when an infected cat comes into close contact with another cat that they groom or share bowls with. It might be tempting to sit beside your pet to give him comfort. After an incubation stage, clinical signs of aggression, disorientation, and death rapidly progress. Her eyes have a hazy cloudy look and she is still stumbling around, however, her strength and will to keep her balance has greatly improved. However, it is normal for cats to feel ill for a few hours or days after vaccination. The most alarming reaction to vaccination is Feline Injection Site Sarcoma (FISS). Vaccines are necessary for most cats, especially those that spend most of their time outdoors. Not all cats experience these problems after vaccination. I didnt feel that I had enough evidence of rabies and that it could also have been some other possible diseases but significant testing would have to be done which would end up costing us over $5,000.00. Heart diseaseA heart that isnt pumping normally cant move blood around the body well. Cat booster shots That can upset your cats stomach. Its rare, but it does happen. Many illnesses will also make a cat lethargic, so its quite likely that a sick or recently vaccinated cat will be lethargic. CancerDifferent types of cancer affect cats in distinct ways, but lethargy is a common clinical sign. Chlamydophila felisis a type of bacteria that mainly causes conjunctivitis in cats. You can discuss all these issues with your vet. He gave her a shot of cortizone. The same isnt true for lethargy. 1. Cats that struggle with this side effect bounce back as quickly as they experienced the issue. Some cats may also have trouble walking and experience stomach upsets. WebMany pet owners and some animal scientists believe that we are over vaccinating our pets. Since then we noticed her behavior changed. **Click here to see the full list of Ask Dr. Debra Questions and Answers! There is always risk involved in vaccinating a cat. If your cat seems to have undergone a complete personality transformation, seek further guidance from a vet. The effectiveness of these vaccines should be evaluated carefully, and none of these should be regarded as core (or essential) vaccines. Now, I am here on the internet trying to get answers. As the cat receives its shot, its body starts adapting to the vaccine, causing some changes in the body and function. It usually depends on theirage, overall health, and lifestyle. After an incubation stage, clinical signs of aggression, disorientation, and death rapidly progress. Call your veterinarian immediately if your cat is extremely lethargic or if their lethargy occurs in combination with other serious symptoms like difficulty breathing or severe vomiting or diarrhea. You have to understand that cats that share a home pass each others scent to one another. However, after that, the frequency of booster vaccinations may be only every 1-3 years depending on the vaccine, disease and risk of with the individual cat. Some symptoms you can expect to see include sneezing, nasal congestion and discharge, andconjunctivitis. Though rare, your cat may undergo a complete personality change. Copyright 1999 - 2023. Documented reactions in these cases include behavioral aggression and separation anxiety; destruction and shredding of clothing and bedding; obsessive behavior such as barking, fearfulness, self-mutilation, tail chewing; pica (eating wood, stones, earth, and feces); seizures and epilepsy; fibrosarcomas at the injection site; and autoimmune It sounds like your cat is having some neurologic symptoms that are very abnormal. Every topic on our website is thoroughly researched and professionally written. Lower urinary tract problemsDiseases affecting the bladder and associated structures lead to lethargy, discomfort, and sometimes an inability to urinate. WebThe vaccine protocols that are being questioned are those for the core vaccines administered to adult dogs and cats. It should start to disappear within a couple weeks. Try to assess the cats condition if it is not eating. Make sure that food and water are readily available to him. Find whether it does not have an appetite or it is not willing to walk to its bowl. Future vaccine recommendation will be based on the cat's lifestyle.Feline leukemia cannot be cured, so prevention is a priority. And if youre about to adopt a cat, some rescues and shelters will include the costs of the vaccines he already got in your cats adoption fees. WebThere are usually three distinctive stages with rabies in cats. FISS can cause a cancerous tumor at the site of the vaccination. This is because the immune system has started reacting to the vaccine. As a cat owner, you need to be aware of your pets fear at the clinic. While most cats behave normally after vaccination, it is common to see some changes in behavior of your feline friend for a few hours once it gets its vaccine shot. This is a cancerous tumor that develops following inflammation around the site of the injection. However, these adverse effects should subside after 24 to 48 hours. They include: If your cat stays inside all of the time, you might think they areautomatically protected from these kinds of diseases. In comparison, healthy kittens are never lethargic. FVCRP, FIP, and Bordetella can be inhaled nasally but may not be as effective as injections. A feline that has been vaccinated will want to be on its own to get some sleep for several hours. If so, your cat is showing the classic signs of lethargy. Youll need to make an informed decision about whether to vaccinate your cat based on the available medical evidence. Very few cats may be allergic to one or more components of the vaccine and have more serious side effects such as difficulty in breathing, vomiting, or diarrhea. Diarrhea is also a possibility for the same reasons. In the early stages the affected cat may suffer from lethargy and pain in the affected area. Many illnesses will also make a cat lethargic, so its quite likely that a sick or recently vaccinated cat will be lethargic. This tumor would need to be removed, and this is not easy around the neck. A small, firm swelling under the skin may develop at the site of a recent vaccination. WebAfter a vaccine, around one-in-ten cats experience a soft swelling at the injection site. Very few cats may be allergic to one or more components of the vaccine and have more serious side effects such as difficulty in breathing, vomiting, or diarrhea. Sneezing, mild coughing, "snotty nose" or other respiratory signs may occur 2-5 days after your pet receives an intranasal vaccine. They should be left alone to rest and you should see improvement in their condition in a few hours. 1. A vaccine is usually given by an injection under the skin, although sometimes may be given as drops into the eyes or nose. If your cat refuses to eat after getting a shot, you should not worry about it. This happens because the immune response generated by a vaccine can make cats feel tired, achy, and generally unwell. Start your day with heartwarming and hilarious animal stories that will make you fall in love. Limping syndrome in cats is a temporary problem. However, these shouldneverbe used they have no scientific basis and cannot provoke the specific immune response that is needed to provide protection. Fever, lethargy, reduced appetite, and swelling are all common. However, in colonies of cats with repeated outbreaks of disease, vaccination may play a role in helping protect cats. After those initial rounds of vaccinations are finished, all youll have to do to keep your cat vaccinated is periodically get him booster shots. Your vet always tells you how important it is to get your cat vaccinated, but you might still be wondering if its worth it. When to give vaccines. Your cat may experience a small amount of swelling at the injection site, making it more difficult for your cat to move. The rabies virus targets your cats central nervous system, causing aggression, paralysis and coma. Cat vaccination recommendations are among the most contentious debates in veterinary medicine. Like any other medical treatment, vaccinations have their risks and adverse effects. Neurologic disordersDisease or injury affecting the neurologic system, especially the brain, can lead to lethargy in cats. This was due to the flexibility of the skin in this area. I'm experienced in all cat health-related matters, behavioral issues, grooming techniques, and general pet care. Some data suggest that adult animals may maintain immunity for 5-7 years after their initial vaccinations as young animals, suggesting that the annual revaccination veterinarians had recommended for years is not necessary. What You Need to Know About Rabies Vaccines for Cats. Then they must be boostered a year later.. Cats lack the fat reserves to sustain them. A number of other vaccines may be available in certain countries but not others. Feline panleucopenia virus(also known as feline parvovirus or feline infectious enteritis) is a severe and frequently fatal cause of haemorrhagic gastroenteritis. You should note all the changes you see in the cats behavior and find the pattern. Save my name and email in this browser for the next time I comment. Many pet owners report their cats not eating after getting their vaccines. It should start to disappear within a couple weeks. When the underlying cause can be successfully treated, the lethargy should resolve as well. It is possible to perform blood tests to identify cats that are infected with this virus, and isolating such cats and preventing them from coming into contact with others is one way of preventing infection. Basic lab work will often be needed as well. After an incubation stage, clinical signs of aggression, disorientation, and death rapidly progress. Sneezing, mild coughing, "snotty nose" or other respiratory signs may occur 2-5 days after your pet receives an intranasal vaccine. A number of FeLV vaccines are also available and are effective in protecting cats. Another sign of FISS includes the lump exceeding 2cm in diameter, especially if it keeps growing. Affected cats typically show sneezing, nasal discharge, conjunctivitis, eye discharge, and mouth ulcers. If youre up too late, youll be tired the next day but will feel fine once you get some extra sleep. If you go to the vet, you can probably expect an office visit charge in addition to the cost of the vaccine.