No more shots, EVER!

Well, I just got back from my third trip to the vet with Ginger today - she started having what looked like mini seizures, with involuntary but somewhat violent twitches in her legs, and she couldn't stop licking at her paws, especially after her leg would twitch.

So, back we went. I was relived to hear that she was only suffering a case of the severe "creepy-crawlies" as a result of the rabies shot, and was given a shot of benadryl to relieve the itching. So far, that seems to have done the trick.

Poor girl, she's completely exhausted, hasn't slept in a day, her territory has been infiltrated by a newbie, and three trips to the vet in the same day with lots of needles stuck in her. She's one miserable little furball, bless her little self.

The vet said that she doesn't want Ginger to have any more shots, ever, period, and that she would do a write up for future rabies vaccine waivers. She said she hasn't seen this severe a reaction in a while, but that they can be even more severe, sometimes resulting in death.

It's been a scary day - I'm really, really hoping that Ginger will be okay now! I have to go keep an eye on her...

Oh man i'm sorry you and ginger had to go through all that. I have heard many stories like this and it is so sad. I only ever vaccinate my cats up to one round of adult shots. Then I never vaccinate them again. Overvaccinating and having bad reactions is getting more and more common.

poor kid, she must be just wiped out.

hopefully tonight she will pass out and get some rest, wake up and be good as new!

Poor kitty - I know how bad you feel too - I had my kitty hide for two days after a trip to the vet last week for her tummy trouble. I was worried sick myself. I am glad she is better.

As for vaccinations, I too am leery. I am going to have Astrid vaccinated for her yearly shots, but since she is an only, indoor cat I wasn't going to do more after this year. But I also volunteer at an adoption center and come in contact with a lot of cats every week and my co-worker vaccinates her cats yearly because of that. I guess I will see how she does on her shots. I never realized how sick kitties can get from vaccinations.

I'm sorry to hear about your kitty Benadryl causes drowsiness so her lethargy and need to sleep is probably related to that. It will wear off.

My kitties are both indoor only, so I only had them receive their round of first shots and that's it. If I ever have to travel overseas, which I doubt I will, but if I do then I'll get them updated.

Poor little love. Feel better soon, Ginger! After a great deal of consideration and weighing the possible risks as well as state laws, I made the decision a couple of years ago that Sierra would no longer receive vaccinations. Our Vet supports this, and we have discussed writing up a formal waiver stating the they would potentially jeopardize her health. Serenity will have her one year boosters, and we will then go to the three year protocol.

Ginger, as it turns out, had the opposite reaction to Benadryl - she got got hyper for a while last night, but she was over-tired to begin with. This morning she seemed more normal, and she's been pretty much deep-sleeping the day away.

Fortunately, she's been receptive to loves and kisses and scritches, so every time I check on her I've been giving her lots of love. She's hissed and growled at Ferris today, but a lot less aggressively. More like a strong reminder who's the boss kitty in the house.

I'm very relieved that's she's okay - I don't know who was more scared yesterday, Ginger or me! I checked in with the vet this morning, and they are relieved along with me!

This is quite a relief. Sleep it off, Ginger, you'll feel much better very soon!

Originally Posted by Forget-Me-Not

Poor kitty - I know how bad you feel too - I had my kitty hide for two days after a trip to the vet last week for her tummy trouble. I was worried sick myself. I am glad she is better.

As for vaccinations, I too am leery. I am going to have Astrid vaccinated for her yearly shots, but since she is an only, indoor cat I wasn't going to do more after this year. But I also volunteer at an adoption center and come in contact with a lot of cats every week and my co-worker vaccinates her cats yearly because of that. I guess I will see how she does on her shots. I never realized how sick kitties can get from vaccinations.

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most vaccinations are affective for life and boosters do not add any extra immunity, doing more harm and zero good.

besides that, i think the cat has to come in direct contact with an affected cat to become infected with the diseases that there are vaccines for. and if you wash your hands before going home, there should be no risk anyway.

One of my cats had kittens about six months ago. I kept 2 kittens. To be honest, they have never been to the vet before and they are the healthiest cats I have ever had. I just had to take them to the humane society because my hubby and I moved and coudn't bring them. When I told the vet they hadn't ever been to the vet she looked at me like I had committed the greatest sin in the entire world! My goodness, if looks could kill, I would have been dead.

Goodness! I'm soo sorry to hear about Ginger's reaction to her vaccination! Poor baby! I hope she is feeling better tonight. I have been fortunate enough never to have my kitties have a reaction to their vaccinations. That is a good thing- i foster constantly, so i vaccinate my girls for just about everything as a preventative. Feel better soon Ginger!!!

That's really scary. The only shots my cats get are the FVRCCP every 3 years. They're indoor only and I never give rabies or leukemia... hope your kitty will be ok.

Sending good healthy, positive and calming thoughts to Ginger!! Some kitties do react very intensely. Please keep us updated on her~!

Hi all,

I'm VERY happy to report that Ginger has completely recovered with no apparent lingering effects. The vet called me yesterday just to check in again - I like this new vet very much!

It was so scary to have to actually rush Ginger back to the vet twice on that same day. She had had about enough as well - the last time I tried to get her back into the carrier, despite how lousy she felt, she put up a fuss, like, "Please, no! No, Meowmy, please don't take me back there AGAIN!!!"

I'm so glad that recovered completely - I did some research on vaccine reactions in cats, and I have to say, it looks like Ginger is one lucky little girl!

This new vet was VERY kind to me as well, complimenting me by saying that she was very glad that I was paying close attention to Ginger and that I knew what to keep an eye out for - especially after Ginger started getting the twitchy limbs that looked like micro seizures.

So between the IV fluid given within two hours after the vaccine was administered and the benedryl given within three hours, Ginger made it through with flying colors.

Thank you all so much for your caring and your healing vibes!!! The support of the TCS family has been tremedous and I can't tell you enough how much I appreciate it!!!

Thank goodness!!!

I am so GLAD Ginger is feeling better... Zoey has simliar trouble and also wont be getting any more shots...

I ammm soo happy Ginger is okay!! That was very very very scary!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I am glad Ginger is OK!! I too, volunteer at the shelter & have been considering whether or not to continue vaccinating or not....

Yeah! I'm so glad to hear she's better!

I'm glad Ginger is ok and that her vet isn't going to try to give her more shots in the future. My kitties had their first adult shots a few weeks ago but I told the vet I didn't want to do their rabies shots yet. It's a good thing too. April Joy had a reaction to the FVRCCP. Her tongue was swollen the next day and I could tell she felt awful. The vet said to watch her for breathing trouble and fainting. I called off from work and an appointment I had that night. I wasn't about to leave her side for anything in the world. Thank God the stuff finally wore off and she was ok.