Cat vaccinations are a great way to protect your cat from contracting feline diseases.
Following your local veterinarian on the schedule of vaccinations for kittens and the subsequent vaccinations for booster shots, you will be saving time and money from bringing your cat to the cat clinic more often.
This will also lessen your cat's exposure to the clinic especially if it does not particularly like the place.
Though cat vaccinations are generally helpful, they can also bring risks to your pet.
Side effects from these vaccines will go away in time but some can be fatal if not treated.
Cats will not be able to tell you when they feel something bad so you have to take the time and observe your pets especially after getting vaccinated.
Some of the common side effects are listed below.
Read through and be prepared to look out for them when you get your cat vaccinated.
• More often than not, cats will feel discomfort on the vaccination site.
They will feel sore on the place injected with the vaccine and redness, irritation or swelling may also be observed.
The cat may even limp is the vaccine is administered near the limbs.
Vets may prescribe pain relievers to cats that are experiencing severe pain.
• One mild side effect of getting vaccinated is the decrease in appetite and physical activity of your cat.
Lethargy accompanied by a slight fever may be expected and will eventually go away on its own after a couple of days.
Chlamydia psittaci is a bacterium that causes Chlamydiosis in felines that causes eye and lung problems.
The vaccine for it causes lethargy, appetite loss and fever which may last for a few weeks.
Some cats manifesting these side effects may need treatment with corticosteroids to alleviate the symptoms faster.
• Cat vaccinations may also result to a type of cancer.
Sarcomas or benign lumps may develop in some cats on the area where the vaccine was injected.
A sarcoma will invade the deeply into the underlying tissue.
Some benign lumps will not be harmful and will eventually disappear, but if a lump grows more than two centimeters and persists for more than three months then you should consult your veterinarian about it.
Just like in humans, removal of a sarcoma is surgical and may need chemotherapy or radiation.
• Allergic reactions from cat vaccinations can also be experienced by cats.
These include itching, redness, hives, and swelling round the lips, eyes and neck.
These moderate signs still need to be checked by a vet.
Severe allergic reactions include vomiting, diarrhea, difficulty breathing and a sudden drop in blood pressure that may cause fainting.
These symptoms need immediate care from a professional.
• Another risk connected with allergic reactions is an anaphylactic shock.
This is an adverse and fatal reaction to cat vaccinations that can result in shock, cardiac failure and ultimately, death.
Symptoms of anaphylactic shock include swelling of the face, pale gums, cold limbs, and a fast heartbeat.
Immediate care from a physician may include administration of intravenous fluids and epinephrine.