Is my cat's swollen face and hot ears after vaccines a reaction?

It is extremely concerning that Peanut has a swollen face and ragged breathing, and I would be very concerned she could be experiencing an allergic reaction. It could also be that Peanut was attacked by another cat if she's allowed outdoors, and that could be causing the swollen face, breathing difficulties, and vomiting. When a cat is having problems breathing, it is a medical emergency and she has to be seen by a vet now. Please take her into an ER vet clinic; if there isn't one in your area, there will be a vet on call for emergencies. The information to reach that vet is found on a clinic's answering machine or website.

It sounds like Coco is having a local vaccine reaction. You should contact your vet and see if they want to examine him or if they would be able to prescribe medications, and if they agree it’s a vaccine reaction they might recommend medication prior to vaccines in the future. I doubt it’s related to the trouble giving the vaccine - it’s pretty common for the needle to slip out when giving injections to wiggly dogs and cats.

Thank you for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! There are very rare reactions to vaccines, that occur in a very small number of pets. These can include trouble breathing and swelling of the face/mouth. However, most pets do not experience these side effects. Some pets do have a little bit of pain at the injection site and feel a little tired, not much different from humans after they get vaccines.

Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! That is certainly a possibility. I highly recommend that you consider taking them to your veterinarian for further assessment and treatment. If they do think that this seems likely based on examination, therapy for an allergic reaction can be started usually with steroids and anti-histamine medications. Good luck and have a great day!

Hi, thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! Poor Temari! She is cute! The only way I could see the Oti pack being the cause of the swelling would be if she was having an allergic reaction to the medications. Other causes of facial swelling are a tooth root abscess, an abscess or mass behind the eye or if she goes outside an abscess from a cat bite. I highly recommend having Temari seen today by your Vet before the weekend. If it is the Oti pack then the Vet may want to rinse it out. I would at least call your Vet to discuss what you are seeing. I do not recommend giving cats any OTC or human medications, they can not metabolize human drugs and tend to react significantly. I hope this helps and I wish Temari a speedy recovery!

Aw, I'm sorry to see that Cat isn't feeling so great! It is highly unlikely that the vaccine actually caused this condition to occur. Vaccines can certainly cause immunosuppression, but I do not believe that this is the direct cause of vaccination. Vaccine reactions almost always occur within minutes to hours after the shot is received. It is likely that your kitty has come down with an upper respiratory infection that will require treatment. Antibiotics, ophthalmic medication, and immunosupportive care will all be required. If she has a fever, she may also require some anti-inflammatory medication and fluids. I would get her to the vet some time today, or tomorrow at the latest for care. Hope this helps.

I recommend calling a vet near you immediately, and having Linus seen, just to be safe. The epinephrine may have worn off by now, and in some cases allergic reactions require further care. If you notice any facial swelling, hives, or difficulty breathing, make sure to have him seen by a vet right away, as that could indicate a life threatening allergic reaction. I hope he feels better soon!