Dr. Walt's happy tails: July 2003

Dear Dr. Walt: Our cat, Layla, is 11 years old and weighs about 8 pounds. The last two times we had her vaccinated she was sick for about a week. She was vaccinated again on May 31st. This time the veterinarian gave her an injection of Benedryl before her vaccination. Her vaccination was for feline rabies and feline distemper/leukemia. She is sick again, she threw up several times about 4 hours after her vaccinations. Can you think of anything that can be done to prevent this from happening again next year?

The majority of animals that receive vaccinations do not demonstrate any untoward effects and are benefited by developing an immune response that protects them against the infectious diseases vaccinated for. However, a small percentage of animals will experience side effects that can range from a brief period of malaise to more serious health concerns. You are right to inform your veterinarian of these concerns and he/she has taken appropriate steps by using Benedryl, an antihistamine that is often very effective at reducing these post-vaccinal symptoms.

When this doesn't work, consider other options such as splitting the vaccines (i.e., administering the individual components on separate visits at least 2 weeks apart) or trying a vaccine from a different manufacturer. Alternatively, there is growing evidence that the protection afforded to the pet by vaccines lasts longer than 1 year; therefore, in low-risk situations (e.g., indoor cat), going to less frequent booster vaccinations (e.g., every 3 years) may be a viable option to consider. However, all of these scenarios need to be discussed with your veterinarian, who has more intimate knowledge of your pet's ongoing healthcare needs.