
Following the vaccination schedule in cats saves many lives every year, both in the feline species as in many others, and keeps serious diseases under control, especially in cats that go outside or that are in colonies or collectivities.That is why they are vitally important.
However, as occurs with most drugs, may present a series of adverse effects or unexpected reactions that should be known, without forgetting that the beneficial effects are much greater than the possible damages in most cases.To minimize possible adverse effects, we will always comply with the vaccination schedule according to the age and environment of our cat, according to the indications of our veterinarian and, of course, always complying with the appropriate safety measures, so only you can manage them A qualified professional, after scanning the animal to be able to detect any possible signs of illness that could discourage vaccination.
In this article of Animals and Pets Online we will detail the side effects of vaccines for cats , so that you have the most information at your fingertips at the time of vaccinating your feline companion.We have classified the vaccine reactions according to their severity into 2 large groups:
1.Slight reactions
They are the most frequent and are characterized by having a favorable prognosis, that is, they are those that usually disappear by themselves and do not usually require any type of treatment .They usually appear within a few hours or a few days after vaccination and usually last from a few days to several weeks.They are related to the activation of the immune response and inflammatory processes.
The main Mild reactions are as described below:
Swelling at the point of inoculation
It is usually a small painful nodule in the area where it has been administered the vaccine and usually disappears spontaneously between 2 and 5 weeks post-vaccination.They are usually associated with adjuvants, proteins or stabilizers that contain the vaccines.We can relieve the area and help the inflammation disappear more quickly by applying damp heat jes.
It has no greater clinical importance than the slight discomfort it causes in the animal, except in cases where it is complicated by necrosis, fibrosis and/or the appearance of an abscess .In these cases we must go to the veterinarian to treat these complications.In addition, if we observe that the nodule does not decrease after the expected time, or even that it increases in size or changes its appearance, it is advisable to perform a puncture to rule out granulomas (for chronic inflammation), abscesses (secondary infection) or even the appearance of a malignant tumor called fibrosarcoma, which we will discuss in more detail at the end of the article.
Fever
Fever in cats appear, as we have commented previously, for the activation of the immune response and, unless it compromises the quality of life of the cat, it is not necessary to treat it.The day of the vaccine and a couple of days later, it is advisable not to exercise the patient much or overwhelm rlo, providing a comfortable and quiet place where you can rest and recover without problem.
Lethargy and anorexia
It is usually a consequence of fever and usually disappears when it disappears.Once again, we will let the cat rest and we will not force him to eat if he does not feel like it.We can offer moist and temperate food to make it more palatable and consult with our veterinarian if shows very apathetic or does not want to eat anything in more than 24 hours.
Vomits and/or diarrhea
It is another of the systematic signs related to the response of the animal's immune system and the associated inflammatory process.In general it is mild processes , but as we will see later, it can occur acutely prior to a more serious reaction, so if you observe these digestive symptoms, the most It is advisable that the veterinarian explore the animal to assess its status and treat it in case necessary.
Regional lymphadenopathy
It is part of the normal immune system response and as the days go by, the size of the lymph nodes should return at its usual size.
Sneezing
They can occur in the case of vaccines that are inoculated intranasally (PIF vaccine) and usually last a few minutes or at most several hours after the administration of the same.They can be accompanied by sniffs and rubbing of the snout against surfaces.

2 serious reactions
In this case they are very infrequent and usually have a prognosis of reserved for serious .They may appear from the minutes following the vaccination to the following weeks.The main serious reactions are the following:
Hypersensitivity reaction
These are exaggerated reactions of the immune system against substances that would normally be considered harmless.The hypersensitivity reaction most common after vaccination is type I or allergic , whose effects are immediate (between 30 minutes and 2-3 hours after administration of the vaccine).The immune system can trigger this reaction against any component of the vaccine .
The symptoms associated with this type of hypersensitivity are caused by an elevated release of histamine, which is an inflammatory mediator, which increases vascular permeability and causes contraction in smooth muscles.If this type of reaction occurs, we can observe from generalized itching, with the appearance of hives or skin redness (erythema and urticaria) to inflammation of the face and neck due to the appearance of a facial and periorbital edema known as angiedema, and/or respiratory signs due to inflammation of the airways (which may become clogged), reaching in the worst case an anaphylactic shock , which can lead to respiratory failure and fulminant vascular collapse.
In the cat, in addition, it can be seen prior to acute anaphylaxis, vomiting and diarrhea, sometimes hemorrhagic, followed by extreme lethargy, hypovolemia and respiratory and vascular failure, and can be fatal.If we observe any of these symptoms, we should urgently go to our veterinarian to start treatment as soon as possible.
Fibrosarcoma at the point of inoculation
This tumor has been related I swim with some components of vaccines and other injectable drugs, and it usually appears after months or even years of vaccination, being more likely the older the animal is.It becomes very rare and does not tend to form metastases, It is a very aggressive malignant tumor locally, which requires removal with wide surgical margins and has a high tendency to recur, so in the long term it usually has a poor prognosis.
Position which usually appears at the point of inoculation, it is recommended to rotate that point and prioritize areas such as the limbs or the tail, which allows amputation if necessary and reduces the risk of recurrence.There are cases in which the surgical treatment is combined with the chemotherapeutic , according to its evolution and according to this advanced or extended.

This article is purely informative, at Animals and Pets Online we have no power to prescribe veterinary treatments or make any type of diagnosis.We invite you to take your pet to the veterinarian in the event that it presents any type of condition or discomfort.
If you want to read more articles similar to Side effects of cat vaccines , we recommend that you enter our Vaccination section.
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