My cat is tired and not eating after vet allergy shot, why?

Poor Sansa! It is possible these clinical signs are related to the injections. Steroids can make pets have many side effects and upset stomach is one of them. The antibiotic is typically better tolerated but it can also make pets have a upset stomach as well. It’s also possible this is coincidental. I recommend to call the veterinarian and alert them as to what you were seeing. They may ask to see Sansa to check her for a fever or other evidence of illness. Make sure Sansa eats and drinks today. You may try offering her some palatable canned cat food with some extra water added. If she continues to be a lethargic or not eating or drinking for 24 hours, she should be seen by the veterinarian as dehydration can settle in quickly. I hope she starts feeling better quickly and please feel free to post any additional questions.

Hi, thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! Poor Simba! He sure does look handsome though! I see the thick drool you are referring to. Was Simba sedated for the lion cut? If he was that could explain the lethargy, not eating and the drool as anesthesia can make them feel weird and nauseous. It can take 24 hours for that to resolve. Otherwise check his skin all over for any clipper burn that could be making him uncomfortable. I would assume that he should feel much better with in 24 hours. If he doesn't by Saturday morning make an appointment with your Vet before they close for the weekend for an exam. I wish Simba the best!

Hi and thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! Sorry to hear about Abby. Since I don't know more about this case and why a steroid shot was given, I would advise calling your veterinarian and letting them know what is going on. Steroids usually increase a pet's appetite but in Abby's case, it hasn't, at least not yet. Your vet will most likely want to see Abby for a recheck and reassess what is going on. There are many reasons for anorexia including fever, pain/discomfort, periodontal disease, internal organ disease, etc. Your vet may need to do a minimum database including fecal/blood/urine tests and imaging studies (x-rays/ultrasound). Once a cause is discovered a treatment plan can be put into place to address the anorexia. It is possible you may have to force feed Abby until she starts eating again. Your veterinarian should have some canned diets that can be fed by syringe. Good luck

Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! This is possibly due to allergies. It really comes down to figuring out what is causing his allergies so that they can be treated or the specific allergen avoided. Allergy shots are available in cases of environmental allergies. It seems like he is certainly adapting to his new environment and that is normal and expected. There are many things that can cause allergies though in most cases they can be broken down into 3 big categories: flea, food and environmental allergies. Allergies are usually worked up in a stepwise fashion starting with flea allergies as this is the easiest and cheapest to take care of. If not on a flea preventative, then it would be a good idea to get started on one. If already on one then it would be a good idea to change to something else (there are many new products out in the market). If not improved in 1-3 months then it is time to move on and check for food allergies by switching to a novel diet (new protein and new carbohydrate). If that does not seem to be the issue then you are left out having to check for environmental allergies which require blood and/or skin tests. Allergies can be very frustrating to deal with at first but so rewarding at the end when we are able to treat them effectively!

Some poor appetite can be considered normal after vaccinations. Vaccines stimulate the immune system to help protect your pet from common diseases they could be exposed to. Vaccines can sometimes cause minor changes in appetite or behavior. Usually I tell clients some decrease in appetite and decreased activity can be normal for 24 hours but for any issues lasting more than 24 hours they should call me ASAP. Some of the major issues (although rare) associated with vaccine reactions are trouble breathing and anaphylactic shock. If you notice any trouble breathing, severe lethargy or swelling of the face or at the vaccine site you should contact your veterinarian as soon as possible. If the poor appetite is still an issue after 24 hours or If any other issues are going on contact your veterinarian ASAP.

I think your vet's response was the correct one. All antibiotics carry a risk of intestinal upset and vaccines can certainly make pets feel "off". If he's not feeling better tomorrow, he needs to go back in to the vet.

Hi there and thank you for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach to address your concern. I would agree with the veterinarian that the blood work does not look concerning at this time. If his appetite has decreased with antibiotics, I would recommend discontinuing the antibiotics and seeing how his appetite improves. If he continues to be inappetant or is lethargic, I would have the veterinarian recheck him to ensure everything is ok. If he continues to be itchy, I would recommend using a topical shampoo such as Douxo PS shampoo which can be found online quite easily and bathe twice weekly until resolved. I would also recommend using Essential 6 spot on by Dermoscent, which can also be found online. If he continues to be itchy, it may be time to consider switching to a different food or even consider seeing a veterinary dermatologist. I hope this helps! Please let me know if you have any other questions or concerns and I would be more than happy to help you further!