While vaccine reactions are rare, they do sometimes occur. The benefits of vaccinating far outweigh the risks of any side effect from a vaccine that is easily treatable and much less severe than the disease itself.
Just like us, each pet is different, and yours will have varying risk factors based on their breed, age and lifestyle. These will factor into your vet’s assessment of which vaccinations your pet requires. Your vet will then be able to recommend which immunisations would best protect your pet.
Any medical procedure – including vaccines – can have potential adverse effects. Though it can be distressing to watch your beloved pup have an adverse reaction to a vaccine, remember that most of these reactions are rare, mild and short-lived.
It’s helpful to know some symptoms of common allergic reactions to vaccines so you can spot them if they do develop. Plus, knowing what to do if your pet does have a reaction can help make getting vaccinated less stressful for you and your four-legged friend.
Sneezing and cold-like symptoms?
While most vaccines are administered by injections, Bordetella bronchiseptica virus and parainfluenza vaccines are provided by sending nose drops or sprays into your dog’s nose. In response to these vaccines, dogs may display symptoms that mimic a cold.
Reactions can include a runny nose, sneezing and coughing. Most dogs will recover from these symptoms within a couple of days, but if recovery is taking longer or your pup’s reaction is more severe, get in touch with your veterinarian.
Lethargy
The most common reaction pets display after getting their shots is general discomfort and lethargy. This may be paired with a mild fever as your pet’s immune system works and responds to the vaccination.
These mild symptoms are normal and appropriate and should only last about one or two days before fading away. If your pet doesn’t appear to be back to normal within the two-day timeline, contact the vet.
Serious reactions to vaccinations
Though most reactions your pet may have to vaccinations will be short-lived and mild, more severe reactions requiring immediate attention may occur in a few rare cases.
Anaphylaxis is a severe allergic reaction that may include hives, breathing difficulties, vomiting, facial swelling, itchiness and diarrhoea. The condition can occur either very soon after the vaccine is injected or up to 48 hours after vaccination.
If any of these symptoms appear, call your vet immediately for urgent or emergency care.
How will my vet treat a vaccine reaction?
Antihistamines and cortisone can be used to treat reactions that are confined to the skin and deemed not life-threatening. These treatments will generally clear up issues quickly – and safely.
For severe cases, your veterinarian may use epinephrine to provide immediate relief from life-threatening distress in your pet. If your pet has a slow heart rate, weakness and decreased blood pressure, immediate medical assistance is required as he may be in shock. You may also notice pale mucous membranes and a grey tongue.
In these circumstances, intravenous fluids and medications will be administered to help them recover and restore vital signs. Cortisone may also be used in these situations.
Fortunately, your veterinarian will often be able to effectively treat adverse reactions as a result of vaccinations. With proper treatment, your pet should recover shortly.
Can I prevent my pet from having a reaction to a vaccine?
Vaccines help protect your pet’s long-term health from serious, often deadly diseases and the risk of having a serious vaccine reaction is very low.
However, if your pet has been previously impacted by an adverse reaction to a vaccine, it’s important to let your veterinarian know so this history can be recorded. Your veterinarian may recommend skipping a specific vaccine in the future if it has previously caused a reaction.
When multiple vaccinations are administered during one appointment, your pet’s risk of an adverse reaction to vaccinations increases somewhat.
To help minimize risk of an adverse reaction, your vet may recommend spreading their shots out over many days rather than all at once.
For pets with a history of vaccination, pre-treatment with antihistamine may reduce the chance of an adverse reaction.
Should I have my pet revaccinated?
If an adverse reaction occurs the first time your dog has a vaccine, having him or her revaccinated after the episode can lead to one of these circumstances:
- A serious, potentially fatal vaccine-induced reaction.
- No inappropriate or adverse reactions. The vaccination increases the animals immunity to the disease.
- A vaccine-induced reaction may occur, similar to his or her previous episode.
You and your veterinarian will need to complete a thorough assessment of risks and benefits when it comes to vaccines. If a reaction does happen, it could be dangerous to revaccinate your pet for the same disease.
An alternative to vaccination is titre-testing. This is a simple blood test to check the level of protective antibodies to a disease in the blood. Vaccine is only required if the level of antibodies is low.
If you think your pet may be having a reaction to a vaccine, please contact our team right away.
For further information and research, the Companion Animal Veterinarians (CAV) branch of the NZVA has developed the following information sheet CAV_vaccinating_your_pet.pdf
