23. June 2008 by Carol.
I have a four year old tabby who just showed up one day and opted us. She stayed outside until it started to get cold outdoors and I couldn’t bear to leave her out there. So I took her to the vet and got a clean bill of health for her and brought her in. The rest, as they say, is history. She has insinuated herself into my life and is all tangled up in my heartstrings now!
Lo and behold, this year she got her booster shots at the Vet’s and a week or so later she took ill. She was in Intensive Care with a fever of 105.8. They gave her all kinds of tests and determined that her fever is the result of an adverse reaction to her distemper booster shot. She was in two different animal hospitals and thus far I have spent approximately $2,100.00 on her care.
She seemed to be doing very well after she finished her course of treatment and was playing like a kitten again. It did my heart good to see her so healthy and playful.
The bad news is that two weeks later the fever is back. They give her fluids and anti-inflamatory medication as well as antibioltics but they don’t know why it helps because they don’t know what it is in the shot that causes this reaction. They just call it “fever of unknown origin.”
I rue the day I ever let her receive this distemper shot and indeed I think it is incumbent upon vets to let owners know the risks of such serious side effects. I have been told by the vet since this happened that since she is an indoor cat she really doesn’t need the distemper shot but nobody asked me whether she was an indoor or outdoor cat before her inoculation nor was I warned about the possible side effects of such a shot.
The vet told me yesterday that “worse case scenario” the cat’s fever would reach 106 degrees at which point brain damage occurs and her organs will begin to shut down. So this is a warning to anyone who has an indoor cat – think long and hard before you get a distemper shot for your cat!
Carol-God bless you and your cat. I trust this will find you both in good health. I don’t know what I would do if something happened to my ally cat that now lives in my house. She is beautiful solid black. If I just imagine that something happened to her I go int fits of grief.
She was about 4 months old when we got her. She had been living out side for 2 or 3 months. She still drinks water from the faucet in the bathroom or kitchen. we have had her for about 2 years now. Since she started living in the house she has not been outside—she won’t go –she will sit and look over the threshold but will not cross it. She has a little fat but not a lot–weighs 13 1/2 lbs.
For some reason she touches me inside in a place I can not describe or explain.
Dear Carol.
It is so sad to hear of your little furry friend’s illness & the anxiety this is causing you.
My big “bruiser” [miniature "Bengal Tiger"] like your little lady, came in from the cold, [having been homeless for "weeks/months?” & being the worst for wear at that time] took over heart & property. He changed his name from “Toughy” to “Toffee” [thanks to TLC.] & taking him to the vet is like trying to get hold of an eel.
I am in thoughts and prayers with you and I wish her prompt & full recovery. God bless you and kitty.
Kindest regards.
Annik C Lidou
Thanks, I found this post to be actually quite helpful.
Dear Carol,
I am going through a very similar situation with my one year old. He received a distemper booster, and showed descreased appetite and lethargy a week later. I took him in immediately and was shocked to find that he had a temperature of 105.5. He was given subcutaneous fluids and an injection of Durapen/Dexamethasone. Within 8 hours, we was eating normally, and mostly back to his normal behavior – just not as energetic. This was just yesterday, so I don’t know if this has resolved the issue for good or not. If you have anything to share with me from your experience that you thing would be helpful, I would really appreciate hearing it. My vet thinks that it is a reaction to the vaccine and has recommended I not vaccinate in the future, but I need to deal with what is going on now.
Thanks for your help, and please let me know how your tabby is doing.
Karen
my friend just had to put her cat of eight year down she is devistated and it happened two days after her cat received the distemper shot he could not walk or move when she called the vet they took him in and promised to do a xray but waited and gave him a shot of cortizone for the reaction they said when the cat got the shot in his hip the vet that gave the shot did not get blamed but my friend feels they hit a nerve when they gave the shot but the vet denies this he finally did the xray and it showed no problems with his spine or anything else he could not find anything so he told her that the cat would be like this for good she responeded by putting him to sleep and she could not bare the though of him suffering she loved him she is on a fixed income and the vet knows this he could care less i guess i know her pain and reported this vet to the human society for her because she is to distrot over this my cat also had a fever and joint pain years ago there should be a law for cats and enforced that you are informed about things that will effect your animal and more education for people on diseases i have three cats and check on everything done to them involving there health because i want to know what the side effects will be they are almost like people family to some if my cats dont need it they dont get it and they are fine and growing old healthy the way it should be and happy and they are ten, eleven, and fourteen years old
Thank you for writing about this. I just got a notice from the vet that my indoor cat needs this shot. I had a previous cat that lived for 21 years without getting shots and so I was thinking about whether this shot is necessary or not. Your article helped me decide. I am so sorry to hear about your cat!
I took my 1 year old cat to the vet on Nov 18th for her rabies shot. While we were there they told me that she needed a distemper shot. The rabies shot they gave in her back. The distemper shot they gave in her back hip. Two weeks later she started sleeping all day, laying around and not acting at all like her usual self. She is always at the door to greet me when I come home. Yesterday she was not at the door. I found her sleeping on the bed. Then this morning when I got up to get ready for work, she stayed in bed and never got up to follow me around as usual. When I got home from work today she again was not at the door to greet me. She was on the bed. When I prepared her food, she didn’t come out to eat. I went and picked her up and took her to her dish. She ate her food and then went to use the litter box. I noticed that she is walking like her back leg hurts. She is not acting like her usual perky self. Do you think this is a reaction to the distemper shot? I don’t know what to do.
Many vets use cheap vaccines that can commonly cause reactions. Fort Dodge is my least favorite of all vaccine brands, and I will not let my cats be vaccinated by that brand ever again. Working as a veterinary technician, I know all too well the risks associated with vaccines. I encourage pet owners to study up on their animal’s before getting them. Finding out what vaccines are needed in your area, and for your cat’s lifestyle is very important. Also knowing what are good quality vaccines, and finding a vet that carries those. They are usually more expensive, but worth the money.
Merial is the best for rabies vaccines.
Intervet makes good vaccines, too. Purevax, I believe is the line.
Make sure you read up on all your options before deciding to forgo vaccines all together. There is a reason the AVMA recommends certain vaccines for your animals. Distemper is a very deadly disease and those that do recover from it will always have it in their brains. Some will show neurological signs the rest of their lives.
Dear Carol.
I do hope by now your darling cat is well and with you. I will pray for you and her no matter.
I wanted to share my experience with shots with the others as well. I have no proof of course BUT… after feeding a sweet white female kitty stray under our pine tree for over a year (!) thru winter, etc., we finally got her to come indoors one November. We had a 14 yr old male cat so we had her (named Mew) checked by our Vet right away. She did not have any diseases but she was given shots for rabies, distemper, etc., as a “normal course of action.” We did not know any better, and because she had been outside, we figured we were doing her a favor. She had been neutered, though, which surprised us (pleasantly).
She was a pure angel — and still is in heaven with her friend Elmo — the most loving and affectionate cat I have ever known. She would jump on my lap and sit for hours and let me pet her. She would sleep with me, with Elmo at our feet. Well, about a month later, she developed an infection with pain in her stomach. She barely ate and slept all day. After pain meds and antibiotics she regained her zest for life. Another month passed and the same thing. This time our vet determined her thyroid was the problem and she had a serious case of hyper-thyroidism. We spent the $1,000 gladly to give her the radium treatment after which she was good for another seven months.
During this time our dear older cat Elmo developed heart trouble and died. She was devastated but struggled on and helped us to bear the loss. Well, 5 weeks later while we were away at our lake house, she began to sleep all the time, not eat and miss her litter box. We rushed her in to a strange vet who said she had renal failure. I nearly died myself. After we were assured she was not in pain, just “shutting down,” we took her home and I held her all night until she passed into heaven about 5:00 am that morning.
All of you dear people know the grief of losing a precious pet – and some of losing two like we did – 5 weeks apart. My husband and I were indeed devastated. I have since read that the increase in Distemper shots occurs with an INCREASE of hyper-thyroidism in cats, and renal failure is a side effect also!
We have two kittens now – brother & sister – totally indoor and we will NOT give them shots ever. Love to all people on this blog who are such caring humans and who have brought some comfort to people like me by sharing their stories, however difficult to bear, with kindness and charity.
Linda
Has anyone else heard anything about Fort Dodge? My puppies chart stated that he was not to have any vaccines by this company, and the Vet gave it to him anyway. She then acted like she didnt give it, nor would she. I later find out that she did indeed give it to him (She admitted it to me, saying that it was fine). One hour after my dog was vacinated he ended up in emergency and I almost lost him.
They took over $300 from me for a ‘puppy plan’ and when I asked they give me back my money for the treatsments I never got, they told me no … Is there anywhere I can report them? Do yous have any opinions? Thanx
Melissa, hope your puppies are ok now. sorry i didn’t see your note sooner. Search the internet via google or some engine and also try your local rescue/humane group. Also any chapter of Humane Society or ASPCA. The locals are really good about helping I think. (The national groups are too busy with disasters, etc.) Even PETA might be able to direct you. Lots of people get down on them, but they have helped a great deal even in local events like our summer carnival – they send people out to personally investigate if ponies are ok and get water, shade, rest, etc. Let us know if you have any luck. Linda
We have 3 cats, 9 yr old siblings, all of which had rabies and distemper boosters at the same time. One of them became sick 6 days later. Symptoms include fever, 105, lethergy, wont eat, groom himself, difficulty walking initally, especially the hindquarters, crying pitifully when having vet examine his lower quadrants. After IV meds, antibiotics only improvement so far has been no more fever and ability to walk better. Now his paws are swollen. Cat has much slower reflexes than usual, still has to be fed with a syringe and physically placed in litter box, which he does not always use. Will not even scratch his litter around. Just sits in the box like he doesn’t know what it is used for. Not normal behavior for our cat
Update on our beloved black kitty. He improved only slightly as the week progressed, and the vet could still find nothing wrong; however, he was beginning to show interest in food and was once seen actually getting into the litter box on his own steam; his gait was improving, and even though he looked around at everything, the lights were on, but no one was home; he was becoming increasingly short of breath and noted to be hiding under the bed all of the time; yesterday evening he began howling the most pitiful heartbreaking sounds you could ever hear and began having respiratory difficulty; he was rushed to the vet but died in my arms after having a seizure in the parking lot at the vets office while waiting for them to arrive; we will never know whether he ate something toxic ( tried to rule out everything) or if it was the boosters; he had never been sick a day in his life, was in his prime, and was my loving little wild man who woke me up every morning by laying on my chest making biscuits reminding me it was time to get up
Dear jthomas- my heart goes out to you for your sweet, loving black kitty. I am so sorry. Your little sweetheart is at peace and not in any pain now. I may be crazy but I firmly believe you will see him again when you cross the Rainbow Bridge. Believe and continue loving him as I know you will. Linda xo
I recently took my two five-year old indoor cats to the vet for a check-up and shots. They both received rabies and distemper in the hip area. One of the cats, Sunny, threw up for about 24 hours, but seemed to recover to his usual playful self afterwards. It’s been about two weeks, and I’ve just noticed a lump about the size of a quarter under the skin near his hip. Has anyone experienced something simliar?
I just came back from the vet and they mistakenly gave my cat a dog distemper, they said that he should be fine, just watch for any reactions. Has anyone heard of this happening and if you have can you give me advice. I am nervous. So far my kitty seems ok, but he just got the shot today.
Lauren & Kathy –
I have not come across either problem, but hope you have also posted the concern/question on some other message boards and blogs on the Internet to get as much traffic and exposure as possible – and thus as many answers as possible.
Good luck. Sounds like they should be ok BUT need close watching. And I would certainly take Sunny back to vet if the lump by his hip did not go down…
I’m very worried hearing about these distemper problems. We’ve had a stray cat hanging around and we began to grow attached to him. He started coming inside a lot, but one day came in and had a punture wound on his side where he must have been in a fight.
I took him to the vet to get the sore cleaned up. They required he have a rabies vax (which I totally agree with) and a distemper five-in-one vax (which I didn’t want to do because he’s already fighting an infection from the wound, why compromise his immune system). Even though I didn’t want the distemper, they said it was required. So, I signed off on it.
I brought him home a few hours later and he was super lethargic all night. I figured it was stress, but the next morning he could hardly walk. Mostly his hind legs looked very weak. He wouldn’t eat either. I let him outside to use the bathroom, but all he wanted to do was lay in the pine straw. I took my eyes off him for a moment and he was gone. I’m so worried about him and worried he’s gone somewhere to die. All I know to do know is pray he’s ok, or at least not in pain.
I wish so badly now that I hadn’t taken him to the vet at all, and certainly wish I had found someone who didn’t require a distemper vax.
Larua, I’m so sorry about your little stray cat. I do hope you found him ok or that he has, in fact, crossed over and is at rest now. It is so very difficult to make decisions when you are faced with a vet or nurse telling you that you must do this as it is the law, etc., etc. It totally depends on the vet I’ve found. But you did your very, very best for the little cat and gave him love and compassion. As you said, the best thing is to pray and leave him in God’s hands. Thank you so much for helping. No love given is ever lost.
I to took my 2 yr old cat to get his distemper shot on Jan. 12th 2010. After two weeks he was sleeping all day and limping on both his back legs… I took him back to the vet, all they gave me was pain medication and told me that he’ll be fine in a few days… It’s day 2 after the vet appt. and he is still sleeping on his heating pad and not walking very good. .. I’m afraid that this is permament condition. The vet didn’t seem concerned… Well, I’m scared… Please help me with any information and what should I do now??
Tracey, I’m so sorry that your little cat had this awful reaction. I hope by now he is doing well. I also am sorry I was not able to respond sooner but hope that the prayers I always offer up for the animals on this site did help him and you also. If you visit this site again, please let us know how your kitty is. It is difficult to know what to do especially if the vet tells you “everything is ok” and you know it isn’t. Just be sure that your kitty knew and knows even now – no matter what – that you love him and always do what is best for him. With fond wishes and God’s love always.
Hi
I came across this blog. I’m sorry I didn’t see it sooner. My cat had a similar reaction (down to the symptoms exactly) and the virus came back every few weeks.
The meds that helped were an antibiotic (given orally) and basically ‘dog tylenol’ in a smaller dose. They said they didn’t know why that helped but I just know that it did, along with the fluids. DON’T let them give a steroid or an immune suppressant, it almost killed my cat.
For Carol whose cat sounds like it recovered, thank god, I was wondering do you currently vaccinate your cat for rabies? Mine was given distemper and rabies simultaneously when this happened and I was wondering if you had the similar thing.
Thanks
E
my cat Maui was fine she took a booster of distemper and rabies two days ago now she is sick well i am planning to sue the vet because she never comunicate w/me side effects this was done at woodbridge animal hospital in virginia i am planning to open a docket fin the court or investigation on the vaccine and if i need support please if somebody wants to join me e mail me at micasahome@yahoo.com i can collect signatures this need to stop and if Maui dies i will make sure that they will pay somehow.
HELP!! I took my 9 yr old cat in for a wellness exam/blood panel everything good except they gave her a distemper shot. Had bad reaction within 2 hrs., lethargic, walking funny in hind, fever etc. Vet gave Dex shot and she was vomiting for a few days. 2 weeks later my cat worse, still high fever, lethargic, unresponsive, walking really slow & sore, barely eats or drinks, can’t jump. Put on antiobiotics, & ran $1000 of testing, xrays etc. all negative. I feel reaction to distemper shot cause cat was healthy active prior and now down hill, but vets say this is impossible for any reaction to last more than 2 days, even called Pfizer shot manufacturer. Did anyone prove that distemper can cause long term issues and did what did they do for treatment. Can my cat be saved?? Please help with your responses.
Hello E,
As you can see I don’t check this site too frequently but still keep it on my desktop as you never know when it might help.
I’m just responding to your question to Carol about shots because I am adamant about this. We NEVER give our cats multiple shots at one visit. Our little stray Mew did not do well when this vet gave her a bunch of shots at once – just because she was a stray.
Thanks
Thank you all for the comments I have read concering the distemper vaccine for cats. Frankly, Rugby does not like to ride to the vet, let alone be in the cat carrier which is seat belted in. He yowls the entire way and back and usually wets and occasionaly has a bowl movement, which then requires a bath (that he doesn’t like) when we arrive home. I don’t like to take him in just because of this. Last year he did have a reaction from this shot…very sleepy/lifeless and the vet said to keep and eye on him, let them know. He did recover but received a card from the vet the following year to get this shot. I have decided not to do this and all of your comments have confirmed my decision. Thank you so much!
Hi, I had a siamese burmese mix that was allergic to all his vaccines…he almost died from his rabies vaccine at 6 mos old.
I was told that if the mother and father were vaccinated that the kittens may have enough antibodies to fight any illness.
Siamese are particularly prone to vaccine allergies…so beware!! Vaccinating your cats is not the best idea if they are soley indoor cats…
I have a 12 week old simease kitten who has a 2 reactions to distemper shots. The first time was the day after I got him and took him to the vets 2 days after his shots is was in the emergecy room he vomitted all nite and would not eat or drink. The hydrated him and ran all kinds of test 800 dollars later they said he had an upset stomach. He did get better and was eating and drinking. 2 weeks later he had his second distemper shots and again 2 days later is not eating or drinking. I took him back the vet and they said now they think its a reaction to the distemper shot. He was hydrated subQ 2 times and is still sleeping and won’t eat or drink we are going back in the morning to get hydrated again. If he throws up again they won’t try him back on food. I am worried he isna’t going to get better has any one had this happen
Thanks to all you caring animal lovers for you input. our cat, which we found at the humane shelter and which had been caged for over a year,..They think she is about 2-3 years old. It took us a year to really gain her trust and devotion. Then yesterday we took her in for her yearly checkup and the vet said she needed a rabies and distemper vaccination. She Was fine last night and this morning, but this afternoon she is listless, can hardly walk and is afraid if we reach to touch her. The shots were given in her right leg. I wish I had seen this site before taking her in for these vaccinations. Our other cats lived to be 22 and 21 years old. They did fine, after we decided they were indoor cats and didn’t need these injections. I just pray she does alright. I am sick about it. Say a prayer for Daisy, if you will. Thanks
my very healthy 1 yr old cat recently had his yearly rabies shot & distemper. he has not been the same cat since. he is displaying much of the same symptoms noted above. it’s been about 12 days now and he is SLOWLY making some progress. all testing from vet is coming back normal (close to $1000 of testing). it HAD to be the vaccinations. he’s an indoor cat with no other contact to other animals. wish i found this site BEFORE hand but i will NOT be getting him vaccinated again. i just hope this condition is not permanent or lethal. any suggestions for getting them back to normal????
My 8-month old (pedigree) kitten is now ailing after generally being FORCED to have the distemper and rabies vaccine on the day of his neuter. I have NEVER had 2 vaccines done at the same time but was in a pinch to adhere to the neuter contract timeline. Breeder gave 2 distemper shots but clinic wouldn’t “recognize” the validity. Kitten is feverish, mega lethargic, some vomitting. Will be ringing them shortly to get him in. One of my others experienced actual “distemper” symptoms on his 3rd of 4th Merial vaccines.
Vet alledged kitten “could catch pano” (distemper) AT THE CLINIC. What ?? Yes I know there’s sick pets there, but …!
For an eye opener on the pure mercenary nature of many vet practices, check out the Veterinary Practice Newsletter online.
I will say that I DO have a good vet practice, but I am livid about my ailing kitten now. I do take blame for cutting his neuter op so close to the deadline, but still.
hey guys……we put my cat down today……24 hours after getting this distemper shot……..i feel guilty for taking him into the vet and getting this damm shot……if i thought i could sue the vet i would……until i read some of the things here i would never have guessed………i have lost two cats……..and now i believe it was after that damm distemper shot……..poor papi and negro………i am sorry for doing this too you……….i loved you both
Honey the 2nd has been a joy and wake up call to my life. honey the second was named after my dearly beloved sisters cat. they are identical in each and way. colors and behavior. honey the second I am afraid is cursed to honey the firsts same fate. God took my ssister’s life and then her cats and now he wants to take my cat who reminds me of my sister who died so sudden. I am poor and now I have to watch my cat die. I will hold him till and after his last breath. jbmonsterfish@yahoo.com
My cat went in to be spayed and got a rabies and distemper shot. She now has epilepsy with severe seizures. Could this be a reaction to the vaccines?
I took my 5 1/2 year old cat – Mylo – to the vet on 1/24/12 where he received his FVR-CP/FELV booster. He seemed fine until a week later where I noticed he wasn’t eating and seemed kind of down, disinterested in everything and then I noticed he seemed to be walking funny. I took him back to the vet on 2/2/12 and he ran blood tests, did a urinalysis, checked his blood pressure, temp etc. Every single test was fine and normal. The next 3 days he seemed to be improving although he still wasn’t jumping up onto things like before. Sunday night, 2/5/12 – during half time of the Super Bowl – my daughter walked into the office and noticed his head laying funny and yelled for me. He was dead! We are devastated! Our baby is gone. I’ve been going over his medical records after doing an internet search and finding all of the problems with the vaccines! I never knew. I do remember that last year after his booster he was walking funny but no other problems. I just chalked that up to him scrunching down and trying to get away during his exam. He did improve after a couple days and I never gave it another thought. Sadly, I guess I’m a late learner. I did ask the vet for the brand and lot/sn so that I can report it. It is from Fort Dodge. I am positive that the vaccine killed my perfectly healthy baby. I just wish I had been informed at the possible side effects instead of just taking the vets word for it that he needed it. I will however not keep this to myself and spread the word through family, friends and facebook as to make others aware and spare them the pain of losing a pet.