My puppy is in pain after vaccines. Should I go to urgent care?

Vaccines can cause local inflammation where the vaccine was given that can be painful and cause some swelling at the site. If Molly just seems painful but you do not see any facial swelling or hives I think you could wait until the morning to see a veterinarian. If she seems very painful or has facial swelling or hives you should take her to the emergency veterinarian.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Hi and thank you for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! Bruno is such a cute pup! I am sorry he is painful. The pain is likely from the vaccine if you gave it in-between his shoulder blades. I would recommend calling your regular veterinarian for an anti-inflammatory medication or you can wait a day and see if the pain subsides. I would not give any over the counter human medication as it could have adverse side effects. Good luck and I hope bruno feels better!

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 Lily evaluated by a veterinarian for further assessment and treatment. Otherwise, Lily will likely start feeling better shortly. Good luck and best wishes!