My puppy had his booster today. What side effects are common?
Well, happy early birthday to Toby. Vaccines are something that we give everyday and rarely have side effects, but side effects are certainly a possibility. The most common side effects are a mild fever, mild lethargy and discomfort at the injection site. These are the result of the vaccine stimulating the immune system and typically resolve with a day or two. More severe vaccine reactions can be analphylactic reactions and typically occur very quickly after a vaccine is given (within minutes) and may include hives, facial swelling and trouble breathing. Toby is likely already outside this time frame, so you likely do not need to worry about an anaphylactic reaction. If Toby has any signs that are abnormal after his vaccination, be sure to let your veterinarian know before he receives vaccines in the future. Please let me know if that helps. Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach.
Updated on September 23rd, 2025