Urgent advice needed. Kittens have had a reaction to vaccine

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My 12 week old kittens had their first set of jabs yesterday. Since then they have been lethargic, hot, breathing rapidly and off their food and water. Additionally, the male cat has got a very strange glazed, wonky look in his eyes...

I have syringe fed them water but I am really worried. The out of hours vets is MILES away and they want £120 per kitten to just see, let alone treat! I am at home with three kids and flu.

Please can someone give me some advice?

Nobody except a vet can help

rarely cats can catch flu from humans and there have been documented cases of cats catching swine flu from humans. They need to be seen I'm afraid.

Thanks...am on hold for an appointment.

What do you think a vet might do?

rehydration mainly, perhaps something to bring temp down if it is up. hope you can get them sorted quickly. the expense is horrid though

one of mine has a reaction to a jab - symptoms very similar to what you described. she seemed very poorly. the vet gave her two injections - one with some kind of anti-inflammatory as he reckoned her joints and tissues were swollen, and also a strong painkiller/anti-fever thing (probably a strong dose of nurofen!) she was better within a couple of hours - she did have a temperature when I took her in (about 24hrs after jab) but he said it was an allergic reaction to an ingredient in the vaccine, not a dose of flu. She has been fine since with vaccines as apparently they have changed the added ingredients since then but I am always a bit nervous about taking her now.

Hope your kittens are ok - it's horrible seeing them poorly isn't it xx

Injections of antibiotics, anti-inflammatories and rehydration therapy. Sometimes also a powder to clear congestion. Depends how bad they are, but very young kittens can die very quickly in these circumstances so they do need to be seen.

Best of luck.

link for you to take along if you want

The vet has just said it is very common and they do not need to be seen??!!! Just to offer them fluid, let them sleep and wait until tomorrow and if necessary see my own vet tomorrow.... Hewas very laid back and I feel like a loony.

I am seriously thinking of giving a teeny dose of calpol, I am really in a flap now.

DON'T GIVE THEM CALPOL!

Paracetamol is toxic to cats - do not give them any human medicines.

Cannot believe a vet doesn't want to see them in the state you describe. I would call another local vet for a 2nd opinion.

oh gosh, sorry I didn't come back. How are they now?

How are they?

My kittens had exactly the same reaction. Then they suddenly perked up and were perfectly fine. The vet said it was a reaction to the vaccine and gave them an extra injection with the next set of jabs. It worked as they were fine the second time. Hope they are better now.

Sorry it has taken me so long to come back. They are absolutely fine. They were awful for almost two days then popped up good as new!

I spoke to another vet and a few other cat owners who said it was VERY common...thanks everyone.