My dog is lethargic and growling after vaccinations. Should I be concerned?

Puppy's getting sleepy after their shots is a normal reaction to vaccinations. They can also have a low grade fever and/or one bout of vomiting/diarrhea normally that are no cause for concern. The concern arises when your pet is severely lethargic, not eating, non-responsive, pale gums, or excessive vomiting/diarrhea. If you notice any of these symptoms then it is best to take puppy to a vet asap for immediate care, because a mores serious vaccine reaction is occurring at that point.

I'm sorry to hear that Lettie is not feeling like her usual self! It should be noted that even normal puppy vaccines can lead to some side effects such as lethargy (decreased activity, tiredness), swelling or tenderness around the injection site and even mild nausea (possibly the drooling). That being said, rarely dogs can undergo an allergic reaction to vaccines which often show up as vomiting, collapse, and swelling of the face or other limbs. If these have been observed she should be seen by a veterinarian immediately. In regards to the safety of administering the Heartguard and Nexgard along with the vaccines, it is standard protocol to begin these preventative medications at this time and are safe to give to a puppy of Lettie's age. The most important thing going forward is to continue to monitor Lettie for any worsening or changing of her clinical signs. For example, if she starts to vomit becomes even more tired or lethargic, continues to want to eat or do anything after more than a day, or even have swelling around her face then she needs to be seen by a veterinarian immediately.

It is safe to vaccinate a dog without prior proof of vaccination, and if he was a stray, I would suspect he wasn't vaccinated. Lethargy can be a side effect of the vaccines, but it could also be due to the fact he's in a new place and that's stressful. Keep an eye on him, and if he's still acting this way in another 24-48 hours, have him see by a vet. Best of luck.

I'm sorry Milli isn't feeling well! It's relatively common for dogs to feel lethargic or sore after vaccines. It usually resolves on its own within 24 hours. If she has any vomiting, diarrhea, facial swelling or hives I would take her to the vet right away. Otherwise, make sure she has access to water but I'd call your vet tomorrow if she's not back to normal by then.

It's very common for puppies to be a bit sore and lethargic for 24-48 hours after getting a vaccination, just like human kids. Many times, they may not want to eat much or go outside if they are sore. As long as he is alert and responsive, and not having any other symptoms such as vomiting, diarrhea, facial swelling, etc. it should be okay to give him some time and see how he's feeling tomorrow. If you're concerned, you can call your veterinarian at that point or take him in for a recheck exam to make sure that everything is okay.

The answer to both your questions is yes. Some animals, just like people, are more sore and have more of a reaction to vaccines than others. It would be OK for him to be "down" for a couple days as long as he is eating and drinking. If he was down and not eating/drinking then that would be a more severe reaction and he would need some treatment by your vet to counteract the reaction. Again, just like people, some dogs will wake up more energetic than others! Great questions!

I'm so sorry that Buddy isn't feeling well after his vaccinations. I would certainly recommend calling your vet to discuss his side effects and decide if he needs to be seen or not. When we give a vaccination, the stimulation of the immune system can cause an inflammatory process that can result in some joint or muscle soreness. Some dogs will also be lethargic and can run a fever. These side effects will generally resolve within 1-2 days, but sometimes we will recommend giving medications to make the pets feel better in the meantime, so I would recommend discussing it with your vet. For the future, I generally will only give one vaccination at a time to dogs that have the potential to have vaccine reactions to minimize the potential for this to happen again. Good luck! I hope that was helpful and that Buddy feels better soon. Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach.