My Cat Became Unwell After Annual Shots

losna

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WOW, losna losna . The municipal policy SUCKS. I've seen that other places, too. Here, there is a limit of 6 cats but if your cats are well cared for and indoors only, who's to know? ;) Annual rabies vax are absolutely unnecessary according to experts in the know. Good on your vet. And best to your Sinbad :catlove:
Yeah, we didn't tell them for years because our cats were all indoor cats and thought it was stupid. Sadly that came to an end when Sinbad and Tempest got into a tousle on top of my husband and he ended up needing to go to ER. The medics marked it down as a cat attack on a human, and... yeah it was really stupid and we've had to deal with animal control and the town council every year since.
 

tarasgirl06

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Yeah, we didn't tell them for years because our cats were all indoor cats and thought it was stupid. Sadly that came to an end when Sinbad and Tempest got into a tousle on top of my husband and he ended up needing to go to ER. The medics marked it down as a cat attack on a human, and... yeah it was really stupid and we've had to deal with animal control and the town council every year since.
I inherited the beloved cats of a dear friend who took her own life. The male was VERY Siamese and VERY headstrong and when he started trying to dominate my Sun, who was ill, I would NOT have that, so I stepped right up in his face and wagged my finger in his face. Next thing I know, he had my wrist between his claws and gave me a chomp. I made the stupid mistake of mentioning this to our vet and he (vet) became very animated about "He needs to be quarantined!" I said NO WAY. He was NOT put in bite-Q, I was NOT compromised health-wise, and the whole incident was forgotten. *I never wagged my finger in his face again.*
 

losna

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I inherited the beloved cats of a dear friend who took her own life. The male was VERY Siamese and VERY headstrong and when he started trying to dominate my Sun, who was ill, I would NOT have that, so I stepped right up in his face and wagged my finger in his face. Next thing I know, he had my wrist between his claws and gave me a chomp. I made the stupid mistake of mentioning this to our vet and he (vet) became very animated about "He needs to be quarantined!" I said NO WAY. He was NOT put in bite-Q, I was NOT compromised health-wise, and the whole incident was forgotten. *I never wagged my finger in his face again.*
Yeah, we told the medics it wasn't the cat attacking, they got into a fight and my husband put his bare hand between them. Of COURSE he got clawed. But nooooooooo. They had to go and put a black mark on Sinbad's record. Sinbad is a siamese too
 

tarasgirl06

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Yeah, we told the medics it wasn't the cat attacking, they got into a fight and my husband put his bare hand between them. Of COURSE he got clawed. But nooooooooo. They had to go and put a black mark on Sinbad's record. Sinbad is a siamese too
That's pretty much my defense, too. I asked for it. I knew when I did it that I was asking for it. Most cats wouldn't have reacted that way, but I had known him from when my friend was alive, and I knew how huge of a cat he was, personality-wise.
 

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Yes, for your cat to be lethargic, feverish and not eat much for 2-3 days after receiving a rabies shot is unfortunately normal. But, in my experience that reaction was normal with the "annual" rabies vaccine. This time around, I asked the vet to give Katy the 3-year vaccine and she had absolutely no ill side affects what so ever. Plus, she will not have to be re-vaccinated for another 3 years. I was very pleased with the 3-year vaccine. If pet owners only knew about the 3 year vaccine, why would we go back to the annual? Not to mention, by cat had no side affects with the 3 year shot. I must mention that she also receives the FVRCP vaccine as the same time as the rabies. I always thought it was the latter shot that made her ill, but this year, as I mentioned she received the 3-year rabies along with the usual FVRCP and no ill effects at all! I apologize, one more added note. When Katy was getting the annual rabies vaccine, the vet would give her a steroid shot along with the rabies shot, in hopes that would help keeping her from getting ill, but the steroid did not work at all!
 
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Maria Bayote

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Yes, for your cat to be lethargic, feverish and not eat much for 2-3 days after receiving a rabies shot is unfortunately normal. But, in my experience that reaction was normal with the "annual" rabies vaccine. This time around, I asked the vet to give Katy the 3-year vaccine and she had absolutely no ill side affects what so ever. Plus, she will not have to be re-vaccinated for another 3 years. I was very pleased with the 3-year vaccine. If pet owners only knew about the 3 year vaccine, why would we go back to the annual? Not to mention, by cat had no side affects with the 3 year shot. I must mention that she also receives the FVRCP vaccine as the same time as the rabies. I always thought it was the latter shot that made her ill, but this year, as I mentioned she received the 3-year rabies along with the usual FVRCP and no ill effects at all! I apologize, one more added note. When Katy was getting the annual rabies vaccine, the vet would give her a steroid shot along with the rabies shot, in hopes that would help keeping her from getting ill, but the steroid did not work at all!
Thanks for this info. I will definitely ask the vet about this, especially that my other cat is scheduled for his shots by next month. I have been stressed by what just happened. Anyhow, she seems to be doing much better since last night and for the first time since Wednesday after she took the shots she ate a lot. Although she still walks like an elderly lady I believe she is now coming back to her normal self.
 

mazie

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I am glad she is feeling better, but it hurts us as cat parents to see them is such misery after receiving a vaccination that in most states is mandated, whether they go outside or not. About 2 weeks before Katy's annual visit to the vet, I read over the internet by chance about a 3 year rabies vaccine, but as of yet has not become terribly well known and popular by veterinarians in the US. I called my vet and asked them if they carried the 3 year and they said they did not, so I called another local vet to see if they used that particular vaccine, and was told me they did not. I was surprised and more than disappointed that neither carried this vaccine, BUT as luck would have it, when I took Katy for her examination/vaccines, my veterinarian DID have the 3 year vaccine and DID give her it. It saddens me to think that maybe they tell us no because they will not be receiving as much money from us because they only have to vaccinate for rabies once every 3 years instead of annually. Makes one sad to think this, but as we all know, its all about the money, sadly.
 
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Maria Bayote

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I am glad she is feeling better, but it hurts us as cat parents to see them is such misery after receiving a vaccination that in most states is mandated, whether they go outside or not. About 2 weeks before Katy's annual visit to the vet, I read over the internet by chance about a 3 year rabies vaccine, but as of yet has not become terribly well known and popular by veterinarians in the US. I called my vet and asked them if they carried the 3 year and they said they did not, so I called another local vet to see if they used that particular vaccine, and was told me they did not. I was surprised and more than disappointed that neither carried this vaccine, BUT as luck would have it, when I took Katy for her examination/vaccines, my veterinarian DID have the 3 year vaccine and DID give her it. It saddens me to think that maybe they tell us no because they will not be receiving as much money from us because they only have to vaccinate for rabies once every 3 years instead of annually. Makes one sad to think this, but as we all know, its all about the money, sadly.
Yes, makes perfect sense Maybe it is just all about the money.

I am currently in the Middle East and the reason why I bring back my totally indoor cats as per vet's schedule is because I am afraid that if I skip any shots for them I might not be able to secure a release or certificate paper from the local government's Department of Animals when the time comes when I have to bring them home to me to my own country. And it will really crush me if I leave any or both of them behind. I see a lot of expats leaving their pets and thus adding more and more homeless cats and dogs here.

In my own country I also have 3 dogs and a cat and also we bring them regularly for their annual shots and deworming. This is the first time I have heard of a 3-year vaccine. My vets there also have not informed us of this. We are probably over-vaccinating our furry babies and it is really not good. :(
 

mazie

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It is my understanding in researching the annual rabies vaccination vs the 3-year vaccination it has to do with injecting a "live virus vs a dead one", or something like that. I would have to go back and re-read the articles. Anyway, the 3-year must be just as effective otherwise I know my vet would not carry it and use it on their patients. It never occurred to me that the 3-year vaccination would have no side effects. My thinking was that my girl would only have to suffer through the side effects once every 3 years instead of annually. AND YES I agree, our pets are over vaccinated in my opinion as well. Too bad there is no "happy medium" where we know they are protected but not to the extent that on down the line they come down with cancer or failing kidneys. At least Katy is getting fewer rabies injections now that I have her on the 3-year vaccine and that is nothing but a win for her and a win for me knowing that problems down the line with cancer and kidney disease is lessoned for her.:)
 

myrnafaye

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I think in the future, the vaccines should NOT all be given in one visit.. separate them, even if it is inconvenient. Two or three vaccines are a lot for the immune system to handle at one time. Someone mentioned titers...I did not know that could be done but if so, that is a really good idea. Vaccines used to be vets' "bread and butter", and cats and dogs were and are overvaccinated. Moreover, if one has an indoor cat, I see no reason to vaccinate beyond the initial rabies and distemper. I had a lovely cat many years ago who became asthmatic after his annual vaccines. No more annual vaccines. No.

Oh, sorry, I just read that you are living in the Middle East and your reasons for the annual vaccines. That unfortunately makes sense. But for the rest of us - consider not doing yearly or even every other year vaccines. In a human, tetanus lasts 10 years.
 
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mazie

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No difference, 3 year is better because less is better, but the rate of sarcomas is not decreasing: Feline postvaccinal sarcoma: 20 years later
Understood, and I agree. All I can say is that where I live, which is not in a metropolitan area, when Katy was due her annual last fall, I suggested to my vet the 3-year rabies as opposed to the annual, and they told me they do not carry the 3-year. So, I called another veterinarian in the area, they too did not carry it. When I got to my vet, come to find out, they told me that DID have that vaccine on hand and my cat received the 3-year as opposed to the annual rabies vaccine. My point only being, living in a rural area of the states, come to find out, the 3-year rabies vaccine is apparently something new, and if it were not for an earlier thread by one of our members, I would not have even known that such a vaccine even existed, therefore would not have known to request the 3-year vaccine. So, to repeat what you said above, the 3 year vaccine is better only because, as you put it, "less is better." ;) By the way, why do we not hear of this problem with dogs?
 
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