Cat Vaccination - Reactions

Vaccination reactions in cats are most often associated with sarcomas, but these tumors are just one of the possible reactions. Adverse reactions to vaccinations have been studied for several years in humans, but they can also occur in your cat. The age of your cat as well as the type of vaccine that is used play major roles in a reaction, but it is widely held that the benefits far outweigh the potential risks. Although it is still considered for a vaccination reaction to be uncommon, it will be anything but uncommon if it affects your cat. For this reason, it is very helpful for an owner to understand the possible risks.

Anaphylaxis:

Vaccination reactions in cats start with what is referred to as Anaphylaxis, which is a relatively rare but extremely dangerous condition. In fact, if it does occur and is not treated immediately, it can rapidly take the life of your cat. Anaphylaxis is an allergic reaction to something that your cat has ingested, or in this case, to something injected. This reaction will occur very quickly in your cat, but there is some misconception on the time frame. It can occur within just a matter of minutes in some cases, but it can also take as long as twenty four hours for it to appear. If it does take several hours, it is much more dangerous.

The reason for this is that if it does occur within minutes after a vaccination, your cat is still at your veterinarian and they can react very quickly. However, if it takes several hours and you are not totally aware of what is happening, you may not have time to get professional help. Anaphylaxis can cause shock, respiratory failure, as well as cardiac failure in your cat. If it is severe enough, it can also cause a sudden death. However, it is estimated by the medical community that only one case in every 15,000 vaccinations results in Anaphylaxis, but this is just that; an estimate, as there are no exact numbers.

This form of vaccination reactions in cats is almost always associated with what is referred to as a killed vaccine, and the two most common are Rabies and Leukemia vaccinations. The reason for this is that a killed vaccine has a lot more virus or bacterial particles per dosage, as well as chemicals that are added and designed to help your cat's immune system. However, all of these combined can also increase the chances of your cat having an allergic reaction.

If your cat is about to have either of these types of vaccinations, there are several possible symptoms that you should watch for very closely. If you see any of them, you will need to react as quickly as possible. The first symptom will be a very sudden onset of diarrhea or vomiting that will happen so fast your cat will not make it to their litter box. If this does occur, check their gums as well as their limbs immediately. If their gums are pale and their limbs are cold, it is an extreme emergency.

By now, your cat's heart rate will be extremely rapid but their pulse will be so low you may not be able to detect it. If your cat is not treated as soon as possible, you will begin to see the next symptoms; shock that is followed by a seizure. Sadly, this may also result in the death of your cat.

Sarcomas:

Vaccination reactions in cats next possible treat is perhaps the best known; sarcomas. A fibrosarcoma in your cat is a tumor of their connective tissues that have a tendency to go very deep into their skin. In recent years, this form of tumors has dramatically increased and there is a lot of speculation in the medical community that they may be the result of vaccinations, especially the FeLV vaccine. Since this is either strongly recommended or required in some parts of the world, it has led to an entire re-evaluation of the process as well as new sets of protocols. It is this sudden growth of fibrosarcoma that has prompted the medical community to now recommend that adult cats that have very limited exposure to FeLV not be vaccinated.

However, if your cat has had this vaccination, there are several things that you can watch for. The first is a very small swelling that will start to appear at or near the site of the vaccination. There will be no pain associated with this in most cases, so your cat will not notice it and chances are, you will also miss it unless you are looking for it. It is not uncommon for a slight bump to appear with all vaccinations, and these are not considered to be reactions as they will usually go away in a few weeks.

But if they do not, look even closer. If it does persist for more than three months and starts to grow, something is definitely not right and the chances are now very high that it is this form of vaccination reactions in cats. These tumors are considered not only very dangerous, but also very invasive as they go very deep into your cat tissues. They can be surgically removed, but this will also require removing a lot of healthy tissue surrounding the tumor as well. In the vast majority of cases, they will also require radiation as well as chemotherapy treatments.

Other possible reactions:

Vaccination reactions in cats do not stop there, as there are several other potential reactions. The next list includes neurologic diseases, especially cerebellar diseases. These types of diseases are much more common in kittens that are less than five weeks old when vaccinated and include Ataxia, which is a failure of motor coordination, as well as Dysmetria. Dysmetria is a situation where your cat cannot regulate the rate, the range, as well as the force of any type of movement. It will result in what is called high stepping as your cat cannot judge any type of distance.

These types of reactions are almost always associated with what is referred to as modified live vaccines.
The next possible set of vaccination reactions may be discomfort at the injection site as well as fevers. However, these are not considered to be anywhere as dangerous as the other possible reactions. If the swelling is normal, it will be cause pain, redness, as well as irritation to your cat, and this can easily occur within a few hours or days after the vaccination. In most cases, they will gradually go away, but if they do not, you need to have your cat examined.

Fevers are also common within a few days after the vaccination, but this should also resolve itself on its own. Fevers are most common with Chlamydia vaccinations.

Lameness may also occur, and can be caused by several different vaccinations including the modified live calicivirus vaccine. This symptom can occur within a few days or a few weeks and can easily be treated with fluids and antibiotics and will generally not become a long term problem.

Protecting your cat:

There are some steps you can take against vaccination reactions in cats. The first form of protection is to use cold compresses as soon as your cat is vaccinated. You should use ice packs or other forms of cold compresses for at least two to three hours directly after an injection. Compress the area for 30 minutes and then allow time for their skin to breathe; than repeat the process. There are other methods of protection, especially if your cat has any type of an immune compromised condition.

Once you know when your cat will be vaccinated, start these well in advance. They include supplements of both Omega 3 as well as Omega 9 fatty acids, but avoid Omega 6 in this case only. You can also use Echinacea drops which are natural immunity boosters, but the key to both is to give them at least two to three weeks in advance to help booster your cat's immune system,

Summary:

Vaccination reactions in cats are considered to still be rare, but they will be anything but rare once they occur in your cat. Understanding what they are and how to recognize and react to them, may save your cats life.

I am an avid lover of pets and my wife and I have had several pets throughout our years. We are especially fond of dogs, and we have a 12 year old Dalmatian (our 3rd) and a "mutt" that we rescued when someone threw him away to die in a vacant field.

He found us, nearly starved to death, and weighed about 2 pounds.

After severe bouts of mange and severe dehydration, and over 1,000.00 in veterinarian bills, we saved the little guys life, and he is one of the best, if not the best, dogs we have ever had and today is a muscular, fit, and firm 70 pound best friend.

After finishing my MBA, which at middle age was not easy, I decided to keep the research work ethics that I acquired, and devote about two hours each night in understanding the health benefits of supplementation for both humans and pets and how they might strengthen our, as well as our pets, immune system in a pre-emptive approach to health rather than a reactionary approach.

Both of my daughters are avid cat lovers, and asked me to help them with health concerns and challenges with their cats.

I am not a veterinarian nor claim to be, just a lover of pets that loves to research and pass on some knowledge that might be helpful, or at least stimulating to the thought process.

Several of the articles that I have written can be found on my website;

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Nutrition for older cats

Since your cat will live over half their life as a senior, it's important to understand how you can best to meet the nutritional requirements of older cats. It's common for older cats to put on weight because they are a lot less active and even though there have been some major advances in cat care both by vets and in education cat owners, cats still have problems with optimum nutrient absorption and therefore don't always get the most benefit from their meals.

One of the major problems you'll encounter when looking after an older cat is the battle to keep their weight at a suitable level. Cat's are classed as seniors from the age 7 to 11. After the age of 11 they become a mature cat. So from the age of 7 your cat is classed as an older cat and therefore will have different nutritional requirements.

Many brands of cat food such as Whiskers and Iams have cat food ranges which have been developed to take your cat from a kitten to an older cat. While it might be easier for your pocket if you choose a cheaper cat food, it will be better for you and your cat, if you can help your cat live a long and happy life. Cat food tailored to each of the cat life stages will help do this.

Just like humans as cats get older, their ability for their body to repair itself decreases, this is the same for their ability to look after themselves such as cleaning and grooming. Unfortunately in older cats illnesses and problems with weight become more of an issue.

When a cat reaches the age of 7 they begin to put weight on. You'll may find that they spend more time sleeping, less time hunting, this with the combination of a slower metabolism results in the weight gain.

However as they get a little older, around the age of 11 their senses tend to go, so they become less interested in food. If they can barely taste and smell their food they won't get much enjoyment out of eating it. Due to this they don't eat as much and they begin to lose weight. Not only do they take less interest in food but their bodies are less able to absorb what they need from it. As a result less food is actually digested properly meaning less is available to be converted to energy. Therefore your cat will use energy stored in their muscles, which is harmful.

It's very important to keep an eye on the amount your older cat is eating, encourage them to play and groom themselves and if there are any differences in their behaviour to report them to your vet as it may save their life.

Older cats do require a little more care then they did when they were younger but I'm sure they have provided you with years of love and affection so it should be easy to return the favour.

You can find more information on cat care over at Cat Party such as information on cat life stages plus much more.

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Cats on Heat

Usually female cats attain sexual maturity by the time they are 6 months old. However, there are some breeds that get sexually mature when they are just four months old. The age when a female cat comes into heat varies from one breed to another, but generally the first time it happens is somewhere between 4 and 10 months.

The duration of the heat cycle varies from cat to cat, but once the female enters this cycle, the cat will come in heat every 2 to 3 weeks. This will continue until the cat is either spayed or it becomes pregnant.

If you have a female cat, you should be aware of the heat symptoms. Then you can take appropriate steps to handle the situation. A cat in heat will show more affection. Invariably it will rub its neck, head or posterior against people, objects and even other cats. The call of the cat will change. It will have a long and loud howl. This call is to attract a tom cat. You will also notice the cat taking a mating position by lowering its front end and pointing its bottom in the air with its tail held high in the air. You will also notice the cat's urine smelling stronger than usual. This is mainly because of high levels of estrogen in the urine. In addition, the cat will also keep licking its genitals quite often.

If all the aforementioned symptoms are present in your female cat, then it is in heat. Usually the cat may not have any visible discharge from the vagina or even show signs of discomfort. However, the cat does experience discomfort when it in heat. This discomfort can be alleviated by spaying the cat or allowing it to mate and become pregnant. If you do not take one of these steps, then the cat will keep getting the estrus cycle every 2 to 3 weeks. You can pet and cuddle your cat to give it the sensory stimulation it is looking for. In addition, you should try to keep the cat busy and distracted to help it get rid of the excess energy it has during this period. A vet may also give the cat hormone shots to prevent it from reaching the estrus cycle. This is a temporary solution though.

The other alternative is to spay the cat. While spaying will not stop the discomfort experienced during estrus cycle, it will help to prevent uterine infection and breast cancer. If you intend spaying the cat, it should be done when it is about 6 months old. If the cat is in heat, spaying can be done, but be prepared to shell out more money.

The last alternative is to allow your cat to mate and let her have kittens. This should be done only when the cat is one year old and has had a few estrus cycles.

About Author:
Kum Martin is an online leading expert in animal care. He also offers top quality articles like:
Feed a Gecko , Leopard Gecko Breeding

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Is Your Cat ill?

Thinking that your much loved cat might be ill is a worrying time, they can't tell you what's wrong and unless you're a trained vet you're not going to know if their illness is serious or just something simple like a common cold.

Symptoms to suggest that your cats maybe ill

If they have a complete change in behaviour such as spending even more time sleeping, being aggressive, not wanting to interact and hiding out in quiet dark areas of the house then there's a possibility that your cat might be ill.

It's important to think about the changes in behaviour as certain behaviours or symptoms indicate more serious illnesses such as feline diabetes. Symptoms such as increased urination, weight loss, vomiting and increased thirst would indication diabetes. But unless you're looking closely at their behaviour you may miss the increased thirst and urination.

Keep an eye on their litter tray especially when they are using it, do they seem to be in pain when they urinate as they may have a urinary track infection that need to be dealt with immediately.

If they are healthy this will shown in their fur so if there coat isn't as shiny as normal or they seem to be loosing a lot fur as opposed to just malting, get them checked out at the vet as it may be a sign of something more serious.

When stroking your pet pay attention to their joints as lumps on these areas could indicate serious illnesses such as cancer.

The better you know your cat the easier it will be to spot changes in behaviour and appearance and if they are ill, it will allow you to take them to the vets early and hopefully in time to deal with any serious health issues.

If you're looking for more information on cats whether that's how to car for them or finding great gifts for cat lovers you can visit Cat Party and join in the fun.

Author CL Kerrie

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Cat Fleas

If you own a pet you will have fleas in the house from time to time. In some cases you may become infested with fleas. We have had as many as four cats at our house and we have been infested with fleas a few times. We only have two cats now so it is not as bad, but we still have to use the process I am about to tell you about.

You really don't have any control if your pet goes out of your yard, but you will need to spray your own yard about two times during the summer months with a good flea insecticide. If you kill all the fleas in your house with out killing the little pest in the yard you will continue to have a problem inside.

One of the main reasons a house will become infested with fleas is, after you vaccum your house and put the vaccum away, every flea that was in the vaccum bag will crawl right back out of the vaccum cleaner and into the house and start multiplying.

The way to stop this is to take the bag out, spray some flea insecticide in the bag and tape the hole of the bag up. Then spray the insecticide around the house. If you will repeat this process every two or three days for two weeks you will not be infested with fleas any more.

You can resume your normal schedule of vaccuming after you clear up the infestation, but you will still need to tape the vaccum bag up just in case you pet brings a couple of fleas in from outside.

About The Author

Clint Pollard is the webmaster of http://ncave.com/sites/germanshepherd.html.