Breathing problems after Feline Leukemia Vaccine in cats

The FDA has received 65 reports of breathing problems in cats after Feline Leukemia Vaccine. That is 8.1% of all reports for this medicine, compared with 4.7% across reports for all cat medicines, so it is reported unusually often with this medicine.

65Reports

82%Marked serious

40%Recovered

25%Died or euthanised

Same dayTypical onset

How soon it started

Same day

47 73%

1–2 days

6 9.4%

3–7 days

2 3.1%

1–4 weeks

6 9.4%

Over a month

3 4.7%

How the animals did

Recovered

26 40%

Still unwell when reported

17 26%

Died

8 12%

Euthanised

8 12%

Not known

6 9.2%

Problems reported at the same time

23 35%

23 35%

20 31%

18 28%

16 25%

14 22%

11 17%

Hypothermia

11 17%

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 Leukemia Vaccine cause breathing problems in cats?: 65 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 the same 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).

Breathing problems with similar medicines

Breathing problems after Rabies Vaccine 254 reports · 9.8% of its reports
Breathing problems after Feline Core Vaccine 154 reports · 9.9% of its reports

All reported side effects of Feline Leukemia Vaccine in cats · Medicines most reported with breathing problems