Side effects in cats after vaccination against rabies and other diseases

veterinarian Petstory

Side effects are any unwanted consequences (including lack of protection) associated with receiving a vaccine. It is now generally accepted that the vaccines we use are very safe and side effects are extremely rare. The benefit in the form of protection against serious infectious diseases far outweighs the risk of adverse reactions.

Why vaccinate an animal?

Despite advanced technologies in the field of medicine and science, today there are no true antiviral drugs that would target a specific virus and destroy it, as happens with bacteria. Therefore, in the treatment of viral diseases, prevention is the best treatment! Today, vaccination is the only reliable way to avoid infectious diseases and the complications they cause. If the pet is not vaccinated, it will be at risk for infectious diseases and can become ill at any stage of life, which is fraught with a deterioration in the quality and quantity of the pet’s life, financial costs for therapy and moral distress during the period of treatment and rehabilitation.

What diseases are cats vaccinated against?

Cats are vaccinated against the following diseases: rabies, feline panleukopenia, feline herpes virus infection, feline calicivirus infection, chlamydia, bordetellosis and feline leukemia virus infection. It should be noted that the basic (recommended) vaccines for cats are vaccines against rabies, panleukopenia, herpes virus and calicivirus. Additional (optional) vaccinations include vaccinations against chlamydia, bordetellosis and feline viral leukemia.

Rabies

A fatal viral disease of animals and humans, caused by the rabies virus after a bite from an infected animal, characterized by severe damage to the central nervous system and ending in death. In our country, legal requirements provide for mandatory vaccination against rabies, and, in addition, it is necessary for international travel with pets. The first vaccination is carried out at the age of 12 weeks, a revaccination a year later, then once a year for life.

A cat may feel unwell after a rabies vaccination, but this reaction is acceptable and goes away within 24 hours.

Feline panleukopenia (FPV)

An extremely contagious viral disease of cats, characterized by damage to the gastrointestinal tract. Mostly animals up to one year old are affected. Has a high mortality rate among kittens under 6 months. The virus is transmitted through the animal's natural secretions (vomit, feces, saliva, urine). Recommended vaccination regimen: first - at 6-8 weeks, then every 2-4 weeks until the age of 16 weeks, revaccination - once every 1 year, then - no more than once every 3 years. Females should be vaccinated before, not during, pregnancy.

Feline herpesvirus infection (rhinotracheitis) (FHV-1)

An acute viral disease of the upper respiratory tract and conjunctiva of the eyes, characterized by sneezing, nasal discharge, and conjunctivitis. Mostly young animals are affected. Even after recovery, it remains in the body for many years in a latent (hidden) form; during times of stress or weakened immunity, the infection is reactivated. Recommended vaccination schedule: first - at 6-8 weeks, then every 2-4 weeks until the age of 16 weeks, revaccination - once every 1 year. Then, for cats with a low risk of infection (domestic cats kept without walking and without contact), vaccination is permissible once every 3 years. It is recommended to vaccinate cats with an increased risk of infection (cats on their own, show animals, individuals involved in breeding, etc.) to vaccinate annually.

Feline calicivirus (FCV) infection

An acute, highly contagious infectious disease of cats, mainly manifested by fever, discharge from the nose, eyes, ulcers in the mouth, gingivitis, and in the case of an atypical course of the disease there may be lameness. In some cases, systemic calicivirus may develop, which has a high mortality rate in affected cats. Recommended vaccination schedule: first - at 6-8 weeks, then every 2-4 weeks until the age of 16 weeks, revaccination - once every 1 year. Then, for cats with a low risk of infection, vaccination once every 3 years is acceptable. It is recommended that cats at increased risk of infection be vaccinated annually.

Feline leukemia virus (FeLV)

An extremely dangerous disease that affects the immune system of cats, leads to anemia, and can cause tumor processes in the intestines and lymph nodes (lymphoma). Vaccination against feline leukemia virus is optional, but its use is determined by lifestyle and the perceived risks faced by each individual cat. Since the leukemia virus is transmitted through saliva through scratches and bites, it is extremely important to vaccinate cats that have access to the outdoors or live with animals that have access to the outdoors, as well as those involved in breeding. The first vaccination is administered at the age of eight weeks, revaccination after 4 weeks and then once a year. Only FeLV-negative animals should be vaccinated, i.e. before vaccination it is necessary to be tested for feline leukemia virus (rapid test and PCR).

Urgent measures

If the cat behaves somewhat unusually, especially if it is able to freely go outside the apartment or house, then it is advisable to urgently visit a veterinary clinic. A test for rabies exists, but is not routinely performed because a negative result does not guarantee the absence of the disease. Therefore, if rabies is suspected, the veterinarian will quarantine the animal and monitor the symptoms. If the doctor understands that the cat is not sick with rabies, then she will be given help. Otherwise, the veterinarian waits for the death of the animal to examine the brain tissue for the presence of Babeshi Negri bodies and make a diagnosis of RABIES. The owner must go to the clinic and undergo a course of anti-rabies or rabies injections.

It should be noted that treatment of rabies is prohibited, since there is a high risk of infection of veterinary clinic staff.

What are the vaccines?

There are various types of vaccines available on our market. The most common of them are modified live vaccines: Nobivac Tricat Trio/Ducat/Вв, Purevax RCP/RCPCh/FeLV, Feligen RCP and the domestically produced inactivated (killed) vaccine Multifel.

Nobivac

The Dutch vaccine from MSD, which is available in several versions:

• Nobivac Tricat Trio – modified live vaccine (MLV) against panleukopenia, herpes virus and calicivirus;
• Nobivac Ducat – MLV against herpes virus and calicivirus;
• Nobivac Bv – MLV for feline bordetellosis;
• Nobivac Rabies is an inactivated rabies vaccine.

Purevax

The French vaccine from Boehringer Ingelheim (Merial), which does not contain an adjuvant (immune response enhancer), according to the recommendations of veterinary associations, is available on the market in several versions:

• Purevax RCP – MLV for panleukopenia, herpes virus and calicivirosis;
• Purevax RCPCh – MLV for panleukopenia, herpes virus, calicivirus and chlamydia in cats;
• Purevax FeLV is the only vaccine on the Russian market against feline viral leukemia.

Rabizin

French rabies vaccine from Boehringer Ingelheim (Merial), inactivated, non-adjuvanted.

Feligen CRR/R

French vaccine from the Virbac company for the prevention of calicivirosis, rhinotracheitis and panleukopenia in cats, the second component of the vaccine is an attenuated (weakened) rabies vaccine.

Multikan 4

This is a domestic inactivated vaccine against calicivirus, rhinotracheitis, panleukopenia and chlamydia in cats.

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In what cases should vaccinations not be given?

Vaccination is carried out only to clinically healthy animals, therefore any symptoms (fever, vomiting, diarrhea, discharge from the nose and eyes, sneezing, mouth ulcers, general malaise, refusal to eat, etc.) are a contraindication to vaccination. Animals receiving immunosuppressive therapy (cyclosporine, glucocorticosteroids, chemotherapy drugs) cannot be vaccinated; the interval between the last administration of the drug and vaccination must be at least two weeks. To avoid disorders of the central nervous system (damage to the cerebellum - cerebellar ataxia), it is strictly forbidden to vaccinate kittens before 6 weeks of age with the feline panleukopenia vaccine (FPV). Pregnant cats cannot be vaccinated with a modified live vaccine against feline panleukopenia, as there is a risk of transmission of the virus to fetuses and the development of intrauterine pathologies in them. Cats with severe immunodeficiency (eg, feline leukemia virus or viral immunodeficiency) should not be vaccinated with live vaccines because loss of control of viral replication may result in the development of clinical symptoms after vaccination.

Well-being and normal reaction of the cat to vaccinations

Modern vaccines are quite safe, and adverse reactions from them are extremely rare. Normally, if all vaccination rules are followed, which include a mandatory examination of the animal by a veterinarian, anamnesis collection and an individual approach, the cat’s well-being after vaccination does not change, and the appearance of a lump at the injection site is acceptable. Also, the kitten’s behavior after vaccination most often remains the same, but in rare cases the baby is slightly lethargic.

After a rabies vaccination, a cat may be lethargic for the first day, a slight and short-term increase in body temperature is acceptable, and a lump may appear at the injection site for several days.

Recommendations for people infected with rabies

To achieve a complete cure, a person faced with a disease such as rabies must follow a number of simple rules. He needs not only to undergo a course of therapy, but also to avoid heavy physical labor, not to get overcooled, and to protect himself from overheating. Another important rule is to try to avoid overwork, strong emotional experiences, and, of course, completely remove alcohol from your diet for a while!

If you follow the recommendations of your doctor, you can count on a positive effect from the therapy. It is possible to fight the spreading virus! If you seek qualified help in a timely manner, you will definitely be able to defeat rabies, but alcoholic drinks can wait!

Treatment of alcoholism and withdrawal from binge drinking is carried out through an application on the website or by phone, and a specialist will also recommend a private drug treatment clinic for coding for alcoholism. We work around the clock.

Reactions and complications after vaccinations in cats

Post-injection fibrosarcoma

This is a very rare complication after vaccination in cats. It is caused by the administration of any drug subcutaneously, including a vaccine. It can cause local inflammation (a lump in the place after vaccination) and, if this inflammation does not go away, it can become chronic, and then into a tumor process. It has been proven that the likelihood of post-injection fibrosarcoma is absolutely not affected by the type of vaccine, its composition, the presence or absence of an adjuvant, but, to a greater extent, by the temperature of the injected solution. The colder the solution before injection, the greater the risk of developing local inflammation, the appearance of a lump after vaccination, transition to chronic inflammation, and therefore the higher the risk of developing a tumor process. If the cat’s lump does not resolve within a month after vaccination, it is recommended to surgically remove the formation and send the material for histology.

Lethargy, loss of appetite

These symptoms can occur in kittens and adult cats, but these reactions are not directly related to vaccination. If after vaccination the cat is lethargic or does not eat well for more than a day, this is due to stress after visiting the clinic and the manipulation itself, rather than a reaction to the drug. If the kitten is lethargic for more than a day after vaccination and does not eat well, then it is worth taking it to a veterinarian to find out the possible reasons.

Vomit

Also, if a cat vomits after vaccination, it is necessary to see a veterinarian, as this may be a symptom of some kind of gastrointestinal disease and has nothing to do with the recent vaccination.

Lameness

It can be observed in a kitten after the vaccine is administered if it was injected into the thigh muscles. Usually this condition goes away within a day. In some cases, if the drug gets into the area of ​​the sciatic nerve, prolonged lameness in the pelvic limb and paralysis may occur. In this case, it is recommended to show the pet to a specialist.

Development of an infectious disease after vaccination

The most common reason that a kitten gets sick after vaccination is that the animal was already infected before it and was in the incubation period when there are no symptoms yet.

Temporary increase in body temperature

This symptom after vaccination is a minor adverse reaction and is most often temporary (a few hours after vaccination). But if the cat feels unwell within 24 hours after vaccination, and the temperature remains high, it is necessary to show it to a veterinarian.

Cutaneous vasculitis

It is an inflammatory disease of the blood vessels of the skin, characterized by redness, swelling, hyperpigmentation, alopecia, ulcers and crusts on the skin. This is a very rare adverse reaction that can occur after receiving a rabies vaccine.

Type I hypersensitivity

These are various skin allergic reactions: swelling of the muzzle, itching, urticaria. Can be caused by any type of vaccine. This complication is a rapid type reaction and usually appears within the first hours after vaccination. This allergic reaction, of course, carries certain risks, but with timely detection and assistance, it quickly passes. The predominant antigen that causes these reactions is known to be bovine serum albumin. It gets into the vaccine during its production process. In modern vaccines, the concentration of albumin is significantly reduced and, accordingly, the risks of adverse reactions are also reduced.

It is important to know

If a kitten is bitten by a stray animal on the street, you should immediately contact a veterinary clinic. Perhaps the veterinarian will not wait until the time left before revaccination, but will do it on the same day. 10 days after the bite, the kitten needs to be re-examined, as the veterinarian may detect some symptoms that the owner will not even pay due attention to. In this case, the cat will be isolated from the family until the diagnosis is refuted or confirmed. Because if the disease is confirmed, it will not be possible to help the pet, but it will be necessary to protect the family from infection. Some owners are interested in how long a cat needs to be isolated? No less than 1.5 months. This is the time it will take to be sure how safe the animal will be in the family.

Of course, you need to vaccinate your cat against rabies, as this will not only protect the animal, but also its owner.