Why is my dog lethargic and shivering after his Lyme shot?

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.

Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! Possible side effects after vaccines include pain at the injection site, lethargy, inappetence and general discomfort. This should subside within 1-2 days. If it does not improve or it worsens, have Boomer evaluated by a veterinarian for further assessment and treatment. Otherwise, Boomer will likely start feeling better shortly. Good luck and best wishes!

My suspicion is that this is injection-site pain and not a "true" vaccine reaction, however I do know that dogs (especially small ones) can be pretty painful in the limb they were vaccinated in for up to 36 hours afterwards. I wouldn't call it "normal" but we definitely see it - both of my own small dogs were painful after their last lepto vaccine. Because they can be pretty miserable, I would recommend calling your vet and asking if they might dispense a bit of pain relief - perhaps only 2 - 3 days worth - to make sure Ted is comfortable over the weekend. And if you see other more concerning signs - swelling about the head or face, difficulty breathing, vomiting, collapse - take him right into an emergency facility.

Thank you for submitting your question regarding Morty. He may be painful at the injection site from his vaccine. I would contact his veterinarian in the morning if his symptoms persist. The vaccines can produce lethargy as well. In the meantime, keep him quiet and separate from the other dogs to allow him to rest. I hope this information helps!

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.

Hi and thank you for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach. He may be having a vaccine reaction. Sometimes it can be painful at the injection site and dogs can be sore. I would recommend calling your veterinarian tonight and letting them know that Wolfie is not feeling great. They may prescribed him some anti-inflammatory medication, fluids or anti-nausea medication to help him feel a little better. Good luck!

Thank you for submitting your question regarding Chase. The rabies vaccine is typically given in the right rear leg and leptospirosis in the left rear leg. This can result in muscle soreness in some pets. This could be making him uncomfortable and not wanting to use his rear legs normally. However, labrador puppies are pretty tough. So it is unusual for him to still be so painful. I recommend that he sees his veterinarian again or you seek a second opinion. In the meantime, do not give any over-the-counter pain medications as these can be toxic to dogs. I hope this information helps!