Wobbliness (ataxia) after Feline Leukemia Vaccine in cats

The FDA has received 68 reports of wobbliness (ataxia) in cats after Feline Leukemia Vaccine. That is 8.5% 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.

68Reports

72%Marked serious

25%Recovered

8.8%Died or euthanised

1 daysTypical onset

How soon it started

Same day

21 33%

1–2 days

15 24%

3–7 days

11 17%

1–4 weeks

9 14%

Over a month

7 11%

How the animals did

Recovered

17 25%

Still unwell when reported

24 35%

Died

1 1.5%

Euthanised

5 7.4%

Not known

21 31%

Problems reported at the same time

27 40%

25 37%

14 21%

12 18%

11 16%

9 13%

7 10%

6 8.8%

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 wobbliness (ataxia) in cats?: 68 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).

Wobbliness (ataxia) with similar medicines

Wobbliness (ataxia) after Rabies Vaccine 206 reports · 8.0% of its reports
Wobbliness (ataxia) after Feline Core Vaccine 101 reports · 6.5% of its reports
Wobbliness (ataxia) after Distemper-parvo Vaccine 37 reports · 13% of its reports

All reported side effects of Feline Leukemia Vaccine in cats · Medicines most reported with wobbliness (ataxia)