What To Look For After Your Pet’s Vaccination

By focusing on preventive health care, you are taking an important step in keeping your friend happy and healthy for years to come.

The vaccine that your pet received today was designed to stimulate a specific immune response to help protect them against illness in the event of future exposure to the actual disease.

Vaccines provide proven life-saving benefits and are associated with minimal risks. Most dogs and cats respond favorably following vaccine administration with minimal to no adverse consequences. However, vaccinating any patient carries some risk.

Short-term nonspecific reactions
Your pet may display short-lived side effects for up to 1-2 days, following the administration of any vaccine:
• Reduced appetite or loss of appetite (Lasting for one or two feedings)
• Pain at the injection site
• Lethargy (lack of activity)
• Reluctance to walk/run
• Mild fever

Contact your veterinarian if any of these signs progressively worsen or continue beyond 1-2 days.

Allergic reactions
Contact your veterinarian immediately if your pet develops any of these Less common but more serious signs:
• Vomiting
• Diarrhea
• Collapse
• Difficulty breathing
• Facial swelling
• Itchy or bumpy skin (“hives”)

Injection site reactions
Sometimes a small firm swelling (“lump”) may develop at the injection site. This is expected to resolve within 1 month. Contact your veterinarian if the swelling:
• Is still painful after 1-2 days
• Continues to grow
• Persists beyond 1 month