The vaccinations your dog requires to protect them against life-threatening illnesses and diseases will depend on their age, health status, and lifestyle. Today, our Ceres vets discuss the importance of vaccinations and the small risk of potential side effects your dog may experience.
The Purpose of Vaccines for Dogs
To have the very best chance at a long and healthy life, your dog should start receiving vaccinations as a puppy. Vaccine boosters are also required on a regular basis to protect your dog against diseases. Some of the most important vaccinations for puppies include the rabies, hepatitis, and parvovirus vaccines.
While our vets believe that vaccines are critical for all dogs, not all dogs need the same vaccines. Which shots your dog will require will depend on where you live (since some diseases are more prevalent in some areas than in others), your dog's age, and your pup's lifestyle.
These factors combine to determine your dog's risk of contracting diseases that can be prevented with vaccinations. your vet can help you determine which immunizations are right for your pet.
Mild Vaccine Reactions in Dogs
Any medical procedure has the potential to lead to an adverse reaction. While dogs do not often experience side effects from vaccinations, when they do occur they tend to be very mild and not last very long.
Knowing the symptoms of a reaction can help you to spot them if your dog does experience a reaction, and may help to make vaccination time less stressful for you and your dog. Common side effects dogs may experience from vaccinations include:
Lethargy
Your dog may appear lethargic or sluggish, and they may have trouble walking after receiving their shots. This may also be accompanied by a mild fever caused by your dog's immune system responding to the vaccination.
These mild symptoms are perfectly normal and should only last a day or two. If your dog isn't back to himself within 48 hours, contact your veterinarian, who can advise you whether to bring your pooch in for an exam.
Sneezing & Cold-Like Symptoms
While most vaccines are administered via injection, the parainfluenza and Bordetella bronchiseptica virus vaccines are administered in the form of nasal drops or sprays. Reactions to these vaccines tend to be similar to basic cold symptoms and may include sneezing, coughing, and a runny nose.
Your pup should recover from these symptoms within one or two days. If these symptoms become more severe or it's taking your pooch longer to recover, contact your vet for advice.
Soreness
You may notice your puppy is yelping after receiving their vaccinations or crying when you pick him up after his shots. This is normal, as the injection area may be feeling a little sore and tender. This discomfort should ease fairly quickly.
Serious Vaccine Reactions in Dogs
As mentioned above, most dogs who have vaccinations and experience side effects will only have mild and short-lived reactions. In some rare cases, pets can have more severe reactions that require immediate medical attention.
Anaphylaxis
This severe allergic reaction can involve symptoms including facial swelling, diarrhea, itchiness, hives, vomiting, and breathing difficulties. This type of severe reaction will usually occur very soon after your dog receives their injection, (typically while you are still at the vet's office), but can happen up to 48 hours after the vaccine is given.
Shock
Symptoms of shock following vaccines can include a slow heart rate, decreased blood pressure, and generalized weakness. You may also see a gray tongue and pale mucous membranes.
If your dog displays signs of anaphylaxis or shock, call your vet immediately or contact the emergency veterinary clinic closest to you.
How are vaccine reactions in dogs treated?
Fortunately, adverse reactions resulting from vaccinations can often be reversed with proper treatment, and your dog should recover very quickly.
- If your dog's reaction is not life-threatening and confined to the skin, treatment is likely to include cortisone and/or antihistamines. Symptoms will usually clear up quickly once treatments begin.
- Serious reactions such as anaphylaxis and shock require immediate veterinary care! Medications and intravenous fluids will be provided to help your dog recover and restore your pet's vital signs. Epinephrine and/or cortisone may also be used in these cases.
How can vaccination reactions be prevented?
Keeping your dog's shots up to date helps to protect your pet’s long-term health, and it's important to remember that the risk of having a serious reaction to a vaccine is very low for most dogs.
That said, if your dog has experienced an adverse reaction to a vaccine in the past it’s important to inform your vet so this history can be recorded in your pet's medical files. If a previous reaction has occurred your vet may recommend skipping a specific vaccination in the future.
There is a small increase in the risk of reactions to vaccines when multiple shots are given during a single appointment. This can be especially true for smaller dogs. To minimize the risk of an adverse reaction in your pet, your vet may recommend spreading your dog’s vaccinations out over several days rather than doing them all at once.
Why is it important to have your dog vaccinated?
Knowing your dog's risk of reacting again if revaccinated is difficult to predict. Some dogs will not react when they have the vaccination a second time, some dogs will experience the same reaction that they had previously, and in rare cases, dogs will experience a serious life-threatening reaction to a vaccine that they have previously had.
If your dog has reacted to their first round of shots, speak to your veterinarian about the risks and benefits of vaccines and your dog's health. Your vet may recommend not vaccinating your pup for particular diseases based on your pet's previous reaction.
Note: The advice provided in this post is intended for informational purposes and does not constitute medical advice regarding pets. Please make an appointment with your vet for an accurate diagnosis of your pet's condition.