My sisters kitten, Bob, had his first set of vaccines last week. On the way home from the vet's, he began panting and acting strange. They drove him back to the vet's, where he was treated for a reaction to the vaccine. Bob also had an elevated temp. He was kept overnight and under 24 hr watch, and given supportive care. His leg became swollen where they had the catheter, so the cath was removed.
After 3 days, his temp was down and they sent him home. At home, he was listless, and then began having diarrhea. The vet was called, wait and see, then the diarrhea became bloody, and off to the vet's again, where Bob again stayed a couple of days.
Bob is home again, his temp is normal, his diarrhea has stopped, but he is listless (ok, who can blame him!) and my sister puts food on his tongue for him to eat.
Is this "normal" for a reaction to a vaccine? They don't know which vaccine it was, so no more vaccinations for Bob, ever again! Is the recovery time a couple of weeks before Bob is back to normal? His nickname is Bob, The Devil Kitten, and he is not feeling like his old self yet.
Any help, ideas, or suggestions would be appreciated.
Thank you.
Bob, the ragdoll kitten & severe vaccine reaction !
Re: Bob, the ragdoll kitten & severe vaccine reaction !
Too many variables to consider....
How old is the kitten? You said they didn't know what vaccines or how many were given, but the vet does, and he better have it all recorded in kitten's health chart. The following should be noted in the chart: types of vaccines, lot numbers, exp date, manufacturer's peel-off label, injection site location, and full report of the reaction plus treatment given. The vet also needs to contact and file an adverse reaction report to the manufacturer of the vaccines, no matter which ones were given, (if he can't pinpoint which one caused the reaction)
Not knowing what supportive treatment was given, can't comment much more, other than generally, a reaction such as this should respond to emergency treatment within 24 hours-3 days, no longer. The bloody diarrhea could have been caused by stress or could be a condition altogether unrelated to the vaccinations, her vet could have determined that at the time of treatment.
I'd get this kitten back to the vet for a recheck, or to a new vet with kitten's records in hand. You need to know that any other conditions not related are not surfacing, other conditions such as coccidia, giardia, salmonella, even distemper, should have been ruled out at the time of treatment. My concern is your saying he is still "listless" and not eating on his own, this demands further investigation from your vet or a new vet. Don't wait on this....get him seen today.
How old is the kitten? You said they didn't know what vaccines or how many were given, but the vet does, and he better have it all recorded in kitten's health chart. The following should be noted in the chart: types of vaccines, lot numbers, exp date, manufacturer's peel-off label, injection site location, and full report of the reaction plus treatment given. The vet also needs to contact and file an adverse reaction report to the manufacturer of the vaccines, no matter which ones were given, (if he can't pinpoint which one caused the reaction)
Not knowing what supportive treatment was given, can't comment much more, other than generally, a reaction such as this should respond to emergency treatment within 24 hours-3 days, no longer. The bloody diarrhea could have been caused by stress or could be a condition altogether unrelated to the vaccinations, her vet could have determined that at the time of treatment.
I'd get this kitten back to the vet for a recheck, or to a new vet with kitten's records in hand. You need to know that any other conditions not related are not surfacing, other conditions such as coccidia, giardia, salmonella, even distemper, should have been ruled out at the time of treatment. My concern is your saying he is still "listless" and not eating on his own, this demands further investigation from your vet or a new vet. Don't wait on this....get him seen today.
..........Traci