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Lump after vaccination

Posted: Fri May 31, 2019 4:11 pm
by lilynmitz
Toby had his vaccinations last week, and since then I've found a soft lump under his skin about thumb nail size which is obviously tender as he doesn't like me checking it. I suspect the injection caused this, as I can't think of anything else and there's no broken skin. Has anyone else come across this in their cats? Does it go away, or is it back to the vet?

Re: Lump after vaccination

Posted: Fri May 31, 2019 5:52 pm
by booktigger
It is quite common but think if it doesnt go after 10-14 days a call to the vet wouldn't hurt. Lovely to see you back, who have you got now? I now have three!

Re: Lump after vaccination

Posted: Fri May 31, 2019 5:56 pm
by Ruth B
Some cats do react to the vaccinations, several of mine have always been under the weather for a day or so afterwards, but I've never seen any lumps from it.

My advice would be either to ring the vet, or better yet make an appointment to get it checked out, he could have had a reaction to the vaccine or the carrier, or it could even be that while they use sterile needles something on his fur or skin got carried with the needle and has caused a small infected lump.

Hope it's sorted soon.

Re: Lump after vaccination

Posted: Fri May 31, 2019 6:41 pm
by lilynmitz
Thanks both, I’ll keep an eye on it for a bit longer. He had a really bad reaction to his vaccinations last year just before I picked him up from rescue, so he arrived with a nasty gunky eye. He was good as gold letting me treat it though. Luckily we didn’t get that this time. Mitz was off colour for a few days after one of his jabs, but not much holds Toby down!

Hi Desley, I’ve got just two, 6 yr old Elsie joined us nearly 4 years ago, a small chunky long haired ginger and white bundle of love, and Toby, who’s been with us a year, 2 yr old very petite tuxedo puss, who is a complete and utter Herbert! He’s such a nitwit we finally took the decision to fence the back garden to make it cat safe, as we have to keep rescuing him from the scrapes he gets into in the house, never mind outside. I think he’s part ferret, part spider monkey, part gazelle. We did have Ziggy with Elsie before Toby, but we lost him suddenly to spinal embolism, which was heartbreaking. I hope you and your crew are doing ok. X

Re: Lump after vaccination

Posted: Fri May 31, 2019 7:13 pm
by booktigger
Aww, bless! Well, the plan was for Lucy to be an only cat as she gates other cats, but fostered semi feral mum and daughter, who haven't come round, so had no option, but can't really integrate them. I also had to give up my voluntary work after 14.5 years. There is a thread somewhere about them, they are called Coco and chanel

Re: Lump after vaccination

Posted: Fri May 31, 2019 7:43 pm
by Mollycat
Injection site lumps are common, I suspect more so now that a lot of vets don't seem to massage the area for a minute or so after giving it any more as they always used to. The massage was to help the injection disperse under the skin, also I think vets used to give it more slowly whereas now it always seems rushed to me. These should go in a few days.

In rare cases the most serious vaccine site complication can be a sarcoma. This is very rare, and I believe it's associated with some vaccines more than others and research into these Feline Injection Site Sarcomas (FISS) is ongoing. Don't panic, but do see the vet again if it's not gone in a week or two.

There is also a lot of debate now about the main routine vacs and whether they should be given every year. Some believe every other year, some think 5 years then stop ... boarding catteries usually want to see a certificate of vaccination in the last 12 months. I stumbled on this debate because over-vaccination is being researched as a possible factor in increasing cases of hyperthyroidism which my cat's just been treated for.

Re: Lump after vaccination

Posted: Fri May 31, 2019 7:49 pm
by lilynmitz
Hi again Desley, hank heaven there are people like you who are prepared to take on the “problem” cats, give them each a fuss from me. Everyone said when I went looking for another companion for Elsie “get a Normal One this time!” I thought I had.....

I hope Coco and Chanel come round eventually, but it really is tricky when you can’t integrate them. We had to keep Elsie and Toby apart for about a month as madam lost her cool over the new arrival and the whole household was a nervous wreck for weeks! They're fine together now, but it was hideous for a while.

Re: Lump after vaccination

Posted: Fri May 31, 2019 7:55 pm
by lilynmitz
Thanks Mollycat. Interesting what you say re vaccination updates, my vets have always been pretty relaxed if they’re a bit overdue. I will try to follow the vaccine vs HyperT debate.

I’ve often wondered the same about flea and worm treatments. I only do mine if they look like they’ve actually got fleas and worms (unlikely with my two as they don’t hunt or meet other cats etc), as I really don’t like “toxifying” them unnecessarily. Elsie being long haired is a bit of a flea magnet, so I treat her about 3 or 4 times a year, but do Toby even less.

Re: Lump after vaccination

Posted: Fri May 31, 2019 8:41 pm
by Mollycat
My two indoors are not vaccinated, never wormed and deflea'ed as needed which has so far been twice in 6 years. That might change now there's a dog - which swallows a lot of soil and has regular wormers. My previous 3 outdoors were also pest treated as required, although one thought wormers were treats. But my one before that had to wear a potent flea collar always!

One rule doesn't fit all. I wouldn't overworry about the thyroid thing, there are 3 possibilities being looked at, overvaccination is one, canned cat food especially fish varieties is another, and household fire retardants is the third. Nobody knows anything at the moment they are just lines of research.

Re: Lump after vaccination

Posted: Fri May 31, 2019 9:04 pm
by Ruth B
A vet once told my parents that the normal annual boosters were good for at least 18 months when they were concerned their cats were over due but things were happening at the time that meant they couldn't get in easily to get them done (in an emergency a neighbour would have taken them, but they didn't feel it fair to ask just for the boosters). Mine often go 13 months (or even 14 with Freyja if I fail on my attempt to get her in a carrier). Fortunately they never go in a cattery so it doesn't matter so much. I'm sure my vets do still give the neck a rub for a bit after giving the injection, which is possibly why i've never had the problem of the lump forming.

Flea and worm treatment gets done every few months. I use Stronghold so that does fleas, ear mites, and some worms, if i notice they seem to be scratching more than normal then Saturn and Tiggy get done, if I can get some on Freyja it's a bonus.

I hate to be cynical but if the manufactures told us that the vaccines only needed to be given every 2 years and the flea and worm treatment only every 3 months or so, they would lose out on a lot of money. The annual nature of the vaccines also means the cats get an annual check up, and while any good owner would take them in at the first sign of a problem, an annual check up can pick up things like weigh loss or dental problems before they become too serious.

Re: Lump after vaccination

Posted: Sat Jun 01, 2019 6:44 am
by booktigger
lilynmitz wrote: Fri May 31, 2019 7:49 pm Hi again Desley, hank heaven there are people like you who are prepared to take on the “problem” cats, give them each a fuss from me. Everyone said when I went looking for another companion for Elsie “get a Normal One this time!” I thought I had.....

I hope Coco and Chanel come round eventually, but it really is tricky when you can’t integrate them. We had to keep Elsie and Toby apart for about a month as madam lost her cool over the new arrival and the whole household was a nervous wreck for weeks! They're fine together now, but it was hideous for a while.
All 3 are, Lucy spent 18 months in rescue - she's a pretty cat, but am sure she is a tortie in disguise! She still has lots of quirks and hisses at me on a daily basis after 3 years, but I love her. I'll give her a fuss, but still can't touch Coco and Chanel, it's only been 20 months, still early days! Yes, keeping cats separate is tricky, luckily I'm used to it with fostering.

Re: Lump after vaccination

Posted: Wed Jun 05, 2019 1:42 pm
by lilynmitz
Update, lump gone, all ok now. Thanks for the reassurance everyone

Re: Lump after vaccination

Posted: Wed Jun 05, 2019 7:27 pm
by booktigger
Glad to hear it

Re: Lump after vaccination

Posted: Mon Feb 17, 2020 10:19 pm
by mr_frisky
One of my cats had her annual vaccinations on the 5th (12 days ago) and I noticed a lump under her fur around the vaccination site last night.

Obviously I'm worried about fibrosarcomas, but realise that it could be a vaccination lump.

Do you think it's worth getting her checked out at the vets, or to wait?


I found this on the internet: https://veterinarypartner.vin.com/defau ... id=4951408

Lumps commonly form in the weeks following vaccination due to the immune stimulation and inflammation centered on this area. These lumps are usually normal and do not represent fibrosarcomas (which generally take years to develop, not weeks). If your cat develops one of these lumps under the skin (they are generally noticed by owners 3-4 weeks after vaccination), the lump may be left alone to resolve naturally. If the lump is still there three months from the time of vaccination, it should be removed and biopsied. Any lumps greater than 2 cm in diameter (approximately one inch) should be removed no matter how long a time has past since vaccination. Also, any lump should be removed if it is felt to be getting larger rather than smaller one month after its discovery. (3-2-1 refers to three months post vaccine, two cm in size, and growing bigger after one month.)

Re: Lump after vaccination

Posted: Mon Jun 15, 2020 7:00 am
by Felis-Felidae
mr_frisky wrote: Mon Feb 17, 2020 10:19 pm One of my cats had her annual vaccinations on the 5th (12 days ago) and I noticed a lump under her fur around the vaccination site last night.

Obviously I'm worried about fibrosarcomas, but realise that it could be a vaccination lump.

Do you think it's worth getting her checked out at the vets, or to wait?


I found this on the internet: https://veterinarypartner.vin.com/defau ... id=4951408

Lumps commonly form in the weeks following vaccination due to the immune stimulation and inflammation centered on this area. These lumps are usually normal and do not represent fibrosarcomas (which generally take years to develop, not weeks). If your cat develops one of these lumps under the skin (they are generally noticed by owners 3-4 weeks after vaccination), the lump may be left alone to resolve naturally. If the lump is still there three months from the time of vaccination, it should be removed and biopsied. Any lumps greater than 2 cm in diameter (approximately one inch) should be removed no matter how long a time has past since vaccination. Also, any lump should be removed if it is felt to be getting larger rather than smaller one month after its discovery. (3-2-1 refers to three months post vaccine, two cm in size, and growing bigger after one month.)
Hello, new member here. I just joined because my own cat has developed a tiny (barely even visible -- it's only palpable) lump under her skin following an injection. Did you get yours checked already?

Re: Lump after vaccination

Posted: Sat May 01, 2021 5:54 pm
by mr_frisky
Hi, yes, sorry for delay.

I did, vet did a fine needle aspiration, said he thought it was a cyst. Turned out to be nothing, just a reaction to the injection.

It went down after a week or so.

She had her jabs again a few weeks ago, nothing this time.