vaccine reaction with vomiting and bloody diarrhea

Please anyone who has experience with this, I need help, or at least
reassurance.

I took Sweety - 2.5 year old ragdoll - to the vet today for her yearly
vaccination. She got something called Nobivac Tricat (for feline
herpesvirus, feline calicivirus and feline panleucopenia). 3 hours later
she started having diarrhea and vomiting. I rushed her back to the vet.
He gave her a shot for infection and to stop the vomiting, then told me
to take her home and keep her cool (we're in Spain and it's *hot* here
right now). He said her color (gums) was good. She was panting, but she
always pants when she's scared or excited, so we think that was not a
problem. He gave her Primperan for the vomiting, and I'm not sure what
the name of the drug against infection was. He gave me a syringe with
another dose of the same medicine to inject her with in 8 hours.

I took her home, and about an hour later she tried throwing up again.
There wasn't anything in her tummy so all that came out was a bit of
foamy liquid. But at the same time her read end started leaking bloody
diarrhea. It was just mucus and blood - there was nothing left in her
intestines by this point. I called the vet again, and told him this. He
told me to give her Flagyl (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Metronidazole)
and Sucralfate (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sucralfate). I am familiar
with both of these - I've given the Flagyl to her when she had bloody
diarrhea as a kitten, but then it was just a few drops of blood, not a
whole puddle of blood like now. He said to call him in a few hours again
to tell him how she's doing.

What else should I be doing? She's not drinking, and with the vomiting
and diarrhea she must be dehydrated (although she wasn't when I took her
to the vet - he checked her skin). I tried offering her water, ice cubes
in the water, freshly made chicken broth (cooled)... she won't even
sniff at anything. Should I syringe water into her?

What else do vets normally do in these cases? Should I take her to
another vet? Just treating the symptoms of vomiting and diarrhea doesn't
seem enough... but maybe that's what is normally done and I am just too
crazy with worry...

Nadia, Kotyo and a very sick Sweety

--
Little Monster pictures: http://picasaweb.google.com/nnakova/Kotyo
Sweety pictures: http://picasaweb.google.com/nnakova/Sweety
Kotyo and Sweety together:
http://picasaweb.google.com/nnakova/KotyoAndSweety

On Mon, 09 Aug 2010 18:14:24 +0200, Nadia N. wrote:
Please anyone who has experience with this, I need help, or at least
reassurance.

I took Sweety - 2.5 year old ragdoll - to the vet today for her yearly
vaccination. She got something called Nobivac Tricat (for feline
herpesvirus, feline calicivirus and feline panleucopenia). 3 hours later
she started having diarrhea and vomiting. I rushed her back to the vet.

Assuming she's not dead from inaction, get her to a pet emergency care
clinic, or another vet if you haven't one.

AZ Nomad wrote:
On Mon, 09 Aug 2010 18:14:24 +0200, Nadia N. wrote:
Please anyone who has experience with this, I need help, or at least
reassurance.

I took Sweety - 2.5 year old ragdoll - to the vet today for her yearly
vaccination. She got something called Nobivac Tricat (for feline
herpesvirus, feline calicivirus and feline panleucopenia). 3 hours later
she started having diarrhea and vomiting. I rushed her back to the vet.

Assuming she's not dead from inaction, get her to a pet emergency care
clinic, or another vet if you haven't one.

She is not dead. She hasn't vomited since the last time I posted. She
had one more incident of trying to poo where she just passed mucous
which was dark pink in color. It wasn't as bloody as the last time.

What exactly else is a vet supposed to do other than what my vet did? He
checked her heart and the color of her gums, and gave medicines to try
to stop the vomiting and diarrhea. She has no trouble breathing, so he
didn't give her an anti-histamine as I've read is done sometimes for
adverse reactions to vaccines. If you know what else is supposed to be
done, maybe you can post it instead of saying "if she's not dead from
inaction". I am trying my best to get her the best care I can.

--
Little Monster pictures: http://picasaweb.google.com/nnakova/Kotyo
Sweety pictures: http://picasaweb.google.com/nnakova/Sweety
Kotyo and Sweety together:
http://picasaweb.google.com/nnakova/KotyoAndSweety

On Mon, 09 Aug 2010 19:38:03 +0200, Nadia N. wrote:
AZ Nomad wrote:
On Mon, 09 Aug 2010 18:14:24 +0200, Nadia N. wrote:
Please anyone who has experience with this, I need help, or at least
reassurance.

I took Sweety - 2.5 year old ragdoll - to the vet today for her yearly
vaccination. She got something called Nobivac Tricat (for feline
herpesvirus, feline calicivirus and feline panleucopenia). 3 hours later
she started having diarrhea and vomiting. I rushed her back to the vet.

Assuming she's not dead from inaction, get her to a pet emergency care
clinic, or another vet if you haven't one.

She is not dead. She hasn't vomited since the last time I posted. She
had one more incident of trying to poo where she just passed mucous
which was dark pink in color. It wasn't as bloody as the last time.

What exactly else is a vet supposed to do other than what my vet did? He
checked her heart and the color of her gums, and gave medicines to try

I don't know. I'm not a vet nor do I play one on usenet. Vomiting is
serious business and I wouldn't spend the evening asking strangers on
usenet. Kitty'd be in the care of professionals instead.

AZ Nomad wrote:
On Mon, 09 Aug 2010 19:38:03 +0200, Nadia N. wrote:

What exactly else is a vet supposed to do other than what my vet did? He
checked her heart and the color of her gums, and gave medicines to try

I don't know. I'm not a vet nor do I play one on usenet. Vomiting is
serious business and I wouldn't spend the evening asking strangers on
usenet. Kitty'd be in the care of professionals instead.

I did take her to a professional. I took her to her vet - the same one
who gave her the vaccination. He gave her Primperan to stop the vomiting
and she has indeed stopped vomiting. I have the vet's emergency phone
number and he said to call at any time if I notice any change for the
worse. At the moment she is sleeping. Earlier she was even washing
herself, which to me is a sign that she is feeling better.

The reason I posted was because I was hoping to hear from other people
who have been in a similar situation with their cat, so I could have
some idea of what to expect, and to reassure myself that this happens
and cats get over it with the proper care. That was *AFTER* I had taken
my cat to the vet for the 2nd time, and after I had talked to him on the
phone. I was not looking for vet advice online. I said as much in my
original post, right at the top. Maybe you missed reading that part?

Again, does anyone have any advice how I can get Sweety to drink? She
still refuses any water or broth. She hasn't eaten or drunk since this
morning (about 12 hours ago), and she threw up the food she'd eaten
then. I am not concerned about her not eating, but I think she needs to
drink. I tried to give her water with a syringe and most of it ended up
on her fur. For a sick kitty she sure has a lot of fight in her. I don't
want to stress her too much by forcing water on her. It's bad enough
that I'll have to force bad-tasting medicine down her throat again. I
asked the vet about her not drinking and he thinks that she is still
feeling too nauseous to want to drink, and that she'll start drinking
when she feels better. He said that if she doesn't drink anything until
tomorrow morning it won't hurt her, and if she really hasn't started
drinking by then I should bring her back in. He repeated again that she
was not dehydrated when he looked at her the 2nd time (about 4 hours ago).

--
Little Monster pictures: http://picasaweb.google.com/nnakova/Kotyo
Sweety pictures: http://picasaweb.google.com/nnakova/Sweety
Kotyo and Sweety together:
http://picasaweb.google.com/nnakova/KotyoAndSweety

"Nadia N." wrote

Again, does anyone have any advice how I can get Sweety to drink? She
still refuses any water or broth. She hasn't eaten or drunk since this
morning (about 12 hours ago), and she threw up the food she'd eaten

Drinking is critical. Too dehydrated they will have to put her on an IV.

Try broth again, but water it down a bit and make sure it isnt to salty.

then. I am not concerned about her not eating, but I think she needs to
drink. I tried to give her water with a syringe and most of it ended up on
her fur. For a sick kitty she sure has a lot of fight in her. I don't

Keep trying. If 'most ended on her fur' that means some got in? Thats
important. Do not use milk (unless special cat milk) as older cats are
almost always lactose intolerant so it would cause more loss than gain.

They make a sort of margarine for lactose intolerant people and it's mostly
water. If she likes butter, she may accept licking some of that.

want to stress her too much by forcing water on her. It's bad enough that
I'll have to force bad-tasting medicine down her throat again. I asked the
vet about her not drinking and he thinks that she is still feeling too
nauseous to want to drink, and that she'll start drinking when she feels
better. He said that if she doesn't drink anything until tomorrow morning
it won't hurt her, and if she really hasn't started drinking by then I
should bring her back in. He repeated again that she was not dehydrated
when he looked at her the 2nd time (about 4 hours ago).

I agree she probably isnt too much so if she's normally well aquated. 12
hours is acceptable (not preferred obviously)

I've only had experience with one cat that had a bad reaction to a shot, but
it was a bit like this. He was allergic to something in that shot. If it
helps, he did indeed start drinking a bit in the night and by morning was
happy to be waited on hand and foot with little tempting treats in tiny
amounts every hour or so. The first thing he accepted with a little bit of
my roomate's 'special margarine for the lactose intolerant' (her idea and a
good one as it worked).

He was my roomate's cat and they moved on so I don't know if Chauncy had any
later issues. Just that he didn't have any while she was staying with me.

Sardine juice or tuna juice from a can with their own oil

"Nadia N." wrote in message
...
AZ Nomad wrote:
On Mon, 09 Aug 2010 19:38:03 +0200, Nadia N.
wrote:

What exactly else is a vet supposed to do other than what my vet did? He
checked her heart and the color of her gums, and gave medicines to try

I don't know. I'm not a vet nor do I play one on usenet. Vomiting is
serious business and I wouldn't spend the evening asking strangers on
usenet. Kitty'd be in the care of professionals instead.

I did take her to a professional. I took her to her vet - the same one who
gave her the vaccination. He gave her Primperan to stop the vomiting and
she has indeed stopped vomiting. I have the vet's emergency phone number
and he said to call at any time if I notice any change for the worse. At
the moment she is sleeping. Earlier she was even washing herself, which to
me is a sign that she is feeling better.

The reason I posted was because I was hoping to hear from other people who
have been in a similar situation with their cat, so I could have some idea
of what to expect, and to reassure myself that this happens and cats get
over it with the proper care. That was *AFTER* I had taken my cat to the
vet for the 2nd time, and after I had talked to him on the phone. I was
not looking for vet advice online. I said as much in my original post,
right at the top. Maybe you missed reading that part?

Again, does anyone have any advice how I can get Sweety to drink? She
still refuses any water or broth. She hasn't eaten or drunk since this
morning (about 12 hours ago), and she threw up the food she'd eaten then.
I am not concerned about her not eating, but I think she needs to drink. I
tried to give her water with a syringe and most of it ended up on her fur.
For a sick kitty she sure has a lot of fight in her. I don't want to
stress her too much by forcing water on her. It's bad enough that I'll
have to force bad-tasting medicine down her throat again. I asked the vet
about her not drinking and he thinks that she is still feeling too
nauseous to want to drink, and that she'll start drinking when she feels
better. He said that if she doesn't drink anything until tomorrow morning
it won't hurt her, and if she really hasn't started drinking by then I
should bring her back in. He repeated again that she was not dehydrated
when he looked at her the 2nd time (about 4 hours ago).

--
Little Monster pictures: http://picasaweb.google.com/nnakova/Kotyo
Sweety pictures: http://picasaweb.google.com/nnakova/Sweety
Kotyo and Sweety together:
http://picasaweb.google.com/nnakova/KotyoAndSweety

On Aug 9, 11:14*am, "Nadia N." wrote:
Please anyone who has experience with this, I need help, or at least
reassurance.

Hello Nadia,

I've been away for several days and just saw your post. I am hoping by
now that Sweety is doing fine. One of our cats had two bad reactions
when he was a young cat (one year) to a vaccine--also vomiting, loose
stools, and his ears and paw pads were bright pink. We took him to the
emergency vets and they gave him a shot of benadryl to stop the
reaction (it helped only a little).

I wanted to caution you, now that she's had this reaction--to NOT
vaccinate her again. It could be more dangerous of a reaction next
time she gets any vaccine. We have not vaccinated Benny since he had
the reaction. IMO it's just too dangerous.

Rene

Rene S. wrote:

I wanted to caution you, now that she's had this reaction--to NOT
vaccinate her again. It could be more dangerous of a reaction next
time she gets any vaccine. We have not vaccinated Benny since he had
the reaction. IMO it's just too dangerous.


Thanks Rene. Yeah, I was reading up on vaccine reactions yesterday and
read that if a cat has a reaction to a vaccine, if she gets vaccinated
again she'll get a worse reaction. Considering how scary it was this
time, I don't want to imagine what a worse reaction would be. So I will
not be vaccinating her again.

I am concerned though about her catching something that I bring in from
outside. There are tons of stray cats living outside here in Spain, and
I don't drive so I walk everywhere. I'm afraid I might bring in
something on my shoes that she won't be protected against. I know I
won't have to worry about this for at least a year, maybe not even for
the next 3 years (I think current vaccination protocols say that it's
enough to vaccinate cats every 3 years instead of every year). But
eventually her immunity will fade and then what? I guess I have 3 years
to think of ways to figure something out...


--
Little Monster pictures: http://picasaweb.google.com/nnakova/Kotyo
Sweety pictures: http://picasaweb.google.com/nnakova/Sweety
Kotyo and Sweety together:
http://picasaweb.google.com/nnakova/KotyoAndSweety

"Nadia N." wrote
Rene S. wrote:

I wanted to caution you, now that she's had this reaction--to NOT
vaccinate her again. It could be more dangerous of a reaction next
time she gets any vaccine. We have not vaccinated Benny since he had
the reaction. IMO it's just too dangerous.


Thanks Rene. Yeah, I was reading up on vaccine reactions yesterday and
read that if a cat has a reaction to a vaccine, if she gets vaccinated
again she'll get a worse reaction. Considering how scary it was this time,
I don't want to imagine what a worse reaction would be. So I will not be
vaccinating her again.

I am concerned though about her catching something that I bring in from
outside. There are tons of stray cats living outside here in Spain, and I
don't drive so I walk everywhere. I'm afraid I might bring in something on
my shoes that she won't be protected against. I know I won't have to worry
about this for at least a year, maybe not even for the next 3 years (I
think current vaccination protocols say that it's enough to vaccinate cats
every 3 years instead of every year). But eventually her immunity will
fade and then what? I guess I have 3 years to think of ways to figure
something out...

Nadia would you be US military associated? Doesnt really matter. One thing
you need to check is the vaccination requirements to bring a pet to the next
country. There is some controversy in how fast a vaccination fades, but
there is little doubt on what is required per country be 'current'.

Hawaii used to be very restrictive and so was England. Probably others as
well.