My dog has rapid breathing and teary eyes after vaccines. What to do?

If her breathing is shallow then she needs to be examined by a vet immediately. Call your vet or take her to an emergency clinic so she can be examined and determine if she is having a reaction to the vaccine. If she is just painful then your vet can give her an anti-inflammatory to help with the discomfort.

Hi and thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! Sorry to hear that Daisey is having problems. I have seen some dogs break with very mild signs (sneezing, coughing) after being vaccinated with a bordetella vaccine. This is a very rare occurrence but can happen. Usually, these signs are self-limiting and resolve in a few days to one week. I would continue to monitor her and make sure that her signs resolve and do not worsen. One side effect of vaccines (although not common) is causing a very mild form of the disease. I have only seen this with bordetella vaccines and it is very rare based on how doses are given daily around the world. If her signs persist, worsen, or other signs develop, please call your vet and have them advise you. Good luck with Daisey.

A swollen face, swollen lips, red eyes, severe itching or difficulty breathing may all be symptoms of a vaccine reaction. An antihistamine, such as diphenhydramine (Benadryl), can be given but only under the advice of your veterinary. Legally, we are prohibited from recommending you medicate her in the absence of a physical exam and a VPCR (veterinarian-patient-client relationship). If her symptoms persist or worsen, have her examined by your veterinarian or at the nearest veterinary ER.

It could be that Starla may have a mild fever, which can be a common side effect after receiving vaccines. She may have some pain or discomfort as well at the site of the injections. These side effects should clear up in a day or two, but I would monitor her breathing for now. Should she experience difficulty breathing, this is not normal, and you will have to take her into the vet immediately.

This type of side effect is not uncommon, pain at the site of the vaccination can be severe but it is usually not considered to be an emergency. if the pain seems to still be severe tomorrow, take her to your vet to get it checked, if your vet judges that the pain is indeed severe he will probably give her a pain killer for a couple days.

Hi there and thank you for using pet coach to address your concern. I have seen this happen with several patients receiving the intranasal bordetella vaccine. It is likely that the vaccine has caused some irritation in the nasopharyngeal area. This will likely resolve on its own. If it becomes much worse or does not go away, I would recommend having a veterinarian examine him so that the most appropriate diagnostic and treatment recommendations can be made. I hope this helps guide you in the right direction. Please let me know if you have any other questions or concerns and I would be more than happy to help you further.

This sign could be compatible with an upper respiratory tract inflammation/infection. There are different upper respiratory tract infections possible and unfortunately kennel cough is only one (although the most common) of them. A clinical examination at your local veterinarian is essential to confirm these clinical suspicions and treat appropriately. Antibiotics may be needed. Please do not hesitate to contact us again on the forum or by requesting a consultation if you have any more questions or to discuss it any further.