Most adverse vaccine reactions in pets are not life threatening and treatable.
Smaller dogs like Dachshunds and Pugs tend to experience more adverse vaccine reactions.
Risks increase with lighter weight, multiple vaccines given at once, and certain vaccine types.
Veterinarians use vaccines to protect pets from serious diseases. In the majority of cases, pets receive vaccines with no ill effects. Among those who do respond badly in some way, the majority of the adverse vaccine reactions are not life threatening.
However, if you notice any changes in your pet’s health following a vaccination, call your veterinarian immediately.
If a pet develops a pattern of adverse vaccine reactions, it may indicate the pet is at higher risk of something more serious happening following future vaccinations. Share all of your concerns about vaccines with your veterinarian so that you can collaborate on a vaccine plan that makes sense for your pet.
Common Adverse Vaccine Reactions
Vomiting
Facial swelling
Injection site swelling or lump
Lethargy (being unusually tired)
Hives
Shock (which can be serious)
Injection site pain
Itching
Injection site hair loss
Diarrhea
Less Common Adverse Vaccine Reactions
Not eating
Fever
Dangerous allergic reaction and shock (anaphylaxis)
Trouble walking or standing (ataxia and other signs of neurological problems)
Lameness
General signs of pain
Hyperactivity
Muscle tremors
Heart rhythm problems (tachycardia)
Low platelet count (thrombocytopenia)
Autoimmune disorders
Death
Affected Breeds
Any individual pet may be susceptible, but smaller dogs tend to experience more adverse vaccine reactions:
The risks for adverse vaccine reactions go up based on a few known factors:
Less a dog weighs
More vaccines given at once
Kind of vaccines given, with rabies and Borrelia (Lyme disease) posing the highest number of adverse events
Number of booster vaccines given over a pet’s life (Some dogs have no trouble until the third or fourth injection of the same vaccine.)
Discuss your pet’s vaccine needs and timing with your veterinarian, including the options to:
Follow modern vaccine booster protocols rather than giving every vaccine every year
Use titer testing (blood tests looking for antibodies) to determine a pet’s immunity to a specific disease
Give only one vaccine at a time
Skip certain vaccines based on your pet’s medical history and age
Treatment
Veterinary treatment greatly depends on the symptoms and seriousness of a pet’s adverse vaccine reaction. Veterinarians may administer antihistamines and steroids to treat many common reactions.
Serious adverse vaccine reactions require emergency intervention, hospitalization, and sometimes life-long management.
How to Report an Adverse Vaccine Reaction
The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) oversees veterinary vaccines through its Center for Veterinary Biologics.
Reporting of adverse vaccine reactions is voluntary. Usually, veterinarians file adverse vaccine reaction reports on your behalf. If you choose to do so yourself, here is what’s required.
Vaccine Maker: First, contact the vaccine’s manufacturer, through its veterinary services or technical services department. Visit the company’s main website and look for a toll-free phone number for that department. Have the following information ready before you call:
Your pet’s breed, age, health status at the time of vaccination
Date of vaccination
Number and type of vaccinations given, including lot numbers for the vaccine(s)
Description of your pet’s symptoms
How soon after vaccination the symptoms began
Your pet’s outcome or prognosis (if known)
USDA: Once you’ve alerted the vaccine’s manufacturer, then you can also contact the USDA.
By Mail: Center for Veterinary Biologics, 1920 Dayton Avenue, P.O. Box 844 Ames, Iowa 50010
Adverse Vaccine Reactions in Pets Questions
The most common adverse vaccine reactions in dogs include vomiting, facial swelling, injection site swelling or lumps, lethargy, hives, injection site pain, itching, injection site hair loss, and diarrhea. While these reactions can be concerning, the majority are not life threatening. However, if you notice any changes in your pet's health following vaccination, call your veterinarian immediately. Your vet can determine if treatment is needed and monitor for more serious reactions.
Smaller dog breeds tend to experience more adverse vaccine reactions than larger dogs. Breeds that are particularly susceptible include Dachshunds, Pugs, Boston Terriers, Miniature Pinschers, Chihuahuas, Maltese, Miniature Schnauzers, Jack Russell Terriers, Toy Poodles, and Yorkshire Terriers. However, any individual pet may be susceptible regardless of breed. If you have a small breed dog, discuss prevention strategies with your veterinarian to minimize reaction risks.
Several factors can help reduce the risk of adverse vaccine reactions. Discuss with your veterinarian options like following modern vaccine booster protocols instead of annual vaccinations, using titer testing to check immunity levels, giving only one vaccine at a time, and skipping certain vaccines based on your pet's medical history and age. The risks increase with lighter weight dogs, multiple vaccines given simultaneously, and certain vaccine types like rabies and Lyme disease vaccines.
If you notice any changes in your pet's health following vaccination, call your veterinarian immediately. Treatment depends on the symptoms and severity of the reaction. Veterinarians may administer antihistamines and steroids for common reactions, while serious adverse reactions require emergency intervention and potentially hospitalization. If your pet develops a pattern of reactions, work with your veterinarian to create a customized vaccine plan that minimizes future risks while maintaining protection.
While most adverse vaccine reactions are not life threatening, some can be serious or even fatal. Less common but serious reactions include anaphylaxis (dangerous allergic reaction), neurological problems like trouble walking, heart rhythm problems, autoimmune disorders, and in rare cases, death. Serious reactions require emergency veterinary intervention, hospitalization, and sometimes lifelong management. The majority of pets receive vaccines with no ill effects, but immediate veterinary attention is crucial if reactions occur.
Rabies and Borrelia (Lyme disease) vaccines pose the highest number of adverse events compared to other vaccines. The risk also increases when multiple vaccines are given at once and with the number of booster vaccines given over a pet's lifetime. Some dogs have no trouble until their third or fourth injection of the same vaccine. Discuss your pet's specific vaccine needs and timing with your veterinarian to create an appropriate vaccination schedule.
Reporting adverse vaccine reactions involves contacting both the vaccine manufacturer and the USDA. First, contact the vaccine manufacturer's veterinary services department with details about your pet's breed, age, vaccination date, vaccine types and lot numbers, symptoms, timing of reaction onset, and outcome. Then report to the USDA Center for Veterinary Biologics online, by phone at (800) 752-6255, or by mail. Usually, veterinarians file these reports on your behalf, but you can also do it yourself.
References
Adverse events diagnosed within three days of vaccine administration in dogs, JAVMA, Vol 227, No 7, October 1, 2005.
Postmarketing surveillance of rabies vaccines for dogs to evaluate safety and efficacy, JAVMA, Vol 232, No 7, April 1, 2008.
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