insulin and cat flu injection

[DaleW]

Hi, Dale here, owner of Puss, our lovely 14 year old laid back boy. Puss got diagnosed with diabetics 3 months ago and is now doing well, has put weight back on and looking very handsome. Puss is on a farm in New Zealand and loves the outdoor life however later this year we have to go away for a week and I have found a cattery with individual outdoor space who have 2 other regular diabetic cats stay so insulin injection is no problem.

In order for him to stay at the cattery he has to have a cat flu injection which is now out of date (this happened because when I took him to the vet to get it, he had lost weight so they did a blood test instead). I have asked the vet twice about giving Puss his cat flu injection but there is some resistance and I can't get a straight forward answer. I've asked if there are any side effects to Puss having a cat flu injection while also having insulin but she is unsure.

Is it ok for a diabetic cat to have a cat flu injection? Any known side effects?

Much appreciated, Dale & Puss

 

[Chris & China (GA)]

Is it ok for a diabetic cat to have a cat flu injection? Any known side effects?

I don't know of a specific "cat flu" shot, but the feline viral rhinotracheitis, calicivirus, and panleukopenia vaccinations often come in a combination shot (FVRCP) and Puss should have gotten these as a kitten. If Puss didn't have any reaction then, it shouldn't cause any problem now.

One caveat though....make sure they give vaccinations in the back leg, not the scruff. Although rare, injection site sarcoma's can happen and if it's in the rear leg, the cat may need the leg amputated. If it's in the scruff, you can't very well amputate there.

 

[DaleW]

I don't know of a specific "cat flu" shot, but the feline viral rhinotracheitis, calicivirus, and panleukopenia vaccinations often come in a combination shot (FVRCP) and Puss should have gotten these as a kitten. If Puss didn't have any reaction then, it shouldn't cause any problem now.

One caveat though....make sure they give vaccinations in the back leg, not the scruff. Although rare, injection site sarcoma's can happen and if it's in the rear leg, the cat may need the leg amputated. If it's in the scruff, you can't very well amputate there.

Hi, Just looked at Puss's vaccination record and FVRCP is the one, we just call it cat flu injection and it is given annually here. Puss was an abandoned cat that adopted us at about 5 years old but has never had a reaction with the annual FVRCP so that is a good thought. Thank you.

 

[Teetee (UK)]

Hi Dale
Duke had his booster injection for cat flu, leukaemia etc on 9th March and as normal for him when he has his anual injection he was off it for a few days, not eating etc and in the end the vet gave him an appetite stimulant to get him eating. If you take a look at his spreadsheet you will see that his bloods were high for about three days (6 cycles) before they settled down again.
I would recommend that if you are to get Puss injection then get them done asap so's that you can keep an eye on him before he goes into the cattery.
We did ask the vet at the time about the effect it might have she said it should have no effect, but it did.
I'm not saying the injections will affect Puss like it did Duke as every cat is different, but Duke did settle back down after a few days and as i said the annual injections have always affected him even before he was diagnosed with diabetes.

 

[Larry and Kitties]

Hi, Just looked at Puss's vaccination record and FVRCP is the one, we just call it cat flu injection and it is given annually here.

Where are you located? In the USA the FVRCP is given every three years vaccine after the initial kitten series (of every three to four weeks until they are 16-20 weeks old, then one shot annually before the every three years).

 

[DaleW]

Thank you to Teetee and Duke, Larry and Kitties. I did take Puss to the vet and he had his flu jab - no side effects so very pleased with that and he can now stay at the cattery. To Larry - we are in New Zealand and yes it is 3 years unless you want your cat to stay in a cattery, catteries here insist on the injection being given in the last 12 months.