Swelling after Feline Core Vaccine in cats

The FDA has received 100 reports of swelling in cats after Feline Core Vaccine. That is 6.4% of all reports for this medicine, compared with 1.9% across reports for all cat medicines, so it is reported unusually often with this medicine.

100Reports

55%Marked serious

29%Recovered

21%Died or euthanised

1 daysTypical onset

How soon it started

Same day

37 39%

1–2 days

23 24%

3–7 days

18 19%

1–4 weeks

17 18%

Over a month

1 1.0%

How the animals did

Recovered

29 29%

Still unwell when reported

42 42%

Died

12 12%

Euthanised

9 9.0%

Not known

8 8.0%

Problems reported at the same time

48 48%

42 42%

41 41%

35 35%

Injection site reaction

23 23%

Death

21 21%

Lameness

19 19%

Breathing problems

18 18%

Age of the animals

Under 1 year

1–3 years

4–7 years

8–11 years

12+ years

About this medicine

Type: vaccine.

Mild, short-lived lethargy, soreness or a small lump at the injection site are the most commonly reported vaccine reactions.

Questions owners ask

Can Feline Core Vaccine cause swelling in cats?: 100 reports link the two, but a report alone does not prove the medicine was the cause: other illnesses, other medicines or coincidence can be involved. Your vet can judge it for your animal.
How soon after a dose was it reported?: In half of the reports with dates, it started within 1 day of the first dose.
What should I do?: Don't give another dose until you've spoken to your vet, and keep the packaging so you can tell them the product and dose. Your vet can also report it to the FDA (or you can, through the manufacturer or FDA form 1932a).

Swelling with similar medicines

Swelling after Rabies Vaccine 167 reports · 6.5% of its reports
Swelling after Feline Leukemia Vaccine 76 reports · 9.5% of its reports

All reported side effects of Feline Core Vaccine in cats · Medicines most reported with swelling