Lameness after Feline Leukemia Vaccine in cats

54 reports to the FDA describe lameness in cats given Feline Leukemia Vaccine. That is 6.8% of all reports for this medicine, compared with 0.6% across reports for all cat medicines, so it is reported unusually often with this medicine.

54Reports

37%Marked serious

41%Recovered

1.9%Died or euthanised

3 daysTypical onset

How soon it started

Same day

13 26%

1–2 days

7 14%

3–7 days

11 22%

1–4 weeks

15 30%

Over a month

4 8.0%

How the animals did

Recovered

20 37%

Recovered with lasting effects

2 3.7%

Still unwell when reported

23 43%

Euthanised

1 1.9%

Not known

8 15%

Problems reported at the same time

30 56%

27 50%

25 46%

19 35%

Injection site reaction

13 24%

Vomiting

11 20%

Pain

10 19%

Behaviour change

7 13%

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 lameness in cats?: 54 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 3 days 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).

Lameness with similar medicines

Lameness after Rabies Vaccine 103 reports · 4.0% of its reports
Lameness after Feline Core Vaccine 114 reports · 7.3% of its reports

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