Pain after Feline Leukemia Vaccine in cats

The FDA has received 52 reports of pain in cats after Feline Leukemia Vaccine. That is 6.5% of all reports for this medicine, compared with 0.7% across reports for all cat medicines, so it is reported unusually often with this medicine.

52Reports

35%Marked serious

46%Recovered

5.8%Died or euthanised

2 daysTypical onset

How soon it started

Same day

15 30%

1–2 days

13 26%

3–7 days

4 8.0%

1–4 weeks

11 22%

Over a month

7 14%

How the animals did

Recovered

24 46%

Still unwell when reported

15 29%

Euthanised

3 5.8%

Not known

10 19%

Problems reported at the same time

30 58%

29 56%

17 33%

14 27%

10 19%

9 17%

6 12%

6 12%

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 pain in cats?: 52 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 2 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).

Pain with similar medicines

Pain after Rabies Vaccine 73 reports · 2.8% of its reports
Pain after Feline Core Vaccine 71 reports · 4.6% of its reports

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