My kitten is tired after shots and deworming. Is this normal?

He needs to be seen by a veterinarian for a wellness exam. He may not be able to poop and may be constipated, or he had so many worms that all the dead worms are making him ill. Keep him warm, entice him to drink water, and should he deteriorate he needs to be seen at a petER tonight.

This is very common after vaccines. Let him be alone tonight and let him rest. I would not be concerned unless he starts vomiting, having diarrhea, has hives or a swollen face. If any of these symptoms are noticed that I would contact your vet as this is likely a vaccine reaction. Also make sure he is still eating. He may not eat tonight but his appetite should pick up by tomorrow. If he isn't starting to act more normal in the next day or two, contact your vet for an exam.

It can be normal for kittens to be somewhat tired and sore after vaccination, just like human children. Some may run a low-grade fever and not eat well for the first day or so after their shots. What is NOT normal would be any of the following symptoms: repeated vomiting, pale gums, difficulty breathing, or collapse/extreme weakness - these are signs of a serious allergic reaction. This is very rare following vaccination, but if it occurs it can be life-threatening - so if you observe any of these signs, make sure to get your kitten to the vet right away. If she is just tired and sore, it should be fine to monitor her at home - she should be feeling better within the next 24-48 hours.

It may not be anything to worry about but I do recommend to call your veterinarian and them know. Pets are commonly very tired for about 24 hours and every pet responds differently. It is important to make sure Kipsico is eating and drinking. If she is not, she may need to go back in today for subcutaneous fluids. I hope this helps and please feel free to post any additional questions.

Lethargy can be concerning and indicate a medical problem, but it's encouraging to know that he is eating and eliminating well. Sudden lethargy is not too concerning in a kitten unless you are noticing other signs of illness, heavy breathing, or pale gums. Kittens can normally appear very lethargic at certain times of the day. It would also depend on how long this has been going on. If it's less than two hours, then I wouldn't worry. If it's longer than four hours then I would be more concerned. If it's been all day, then this would be a strong indicator that something is wrong. I would have to examine butterscotch to tell if this is an emergency. I would definitely recommend an emergency visit he is breathing heavily, or has pale gums. Otherwise, he's likely OK to wait the night and go to the vet in the morning if he's still lethargic. If you have further questions or need further clarification, then you may consider having an online consult with one of our vets on Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach. This way, you can send unlimited pictures and have a text conversation with a vet. I hope that helps and all is well with Butterscotch.

A side effect of the deworming treatment can be lethargy, which would be due to the vomiting and the movement of dead worms through Leo's intestinal system. This should pass in another 24 hours, but if it doesn't, I would have him seen by a vet for a heath check.

Some kittens will become lethargic if there is a high worm burden in their intestines. The sudden death of a large number of worms can slow things down in their GI tract and cause discomfort. If she goes longer than 24 hours without food, or is seen having vomiting or diarrhea, then Tessa should be re-evaluated by your vet.