My puppy yelps when touched near his vaccination site. What's wrong?

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.

Poor Rocky. A lump at the vaccination site, as well as some soreness and tiredness, are normal after getting a vaccine. If Rocky will let you, you can try holding a warm compress (such as a washcloth soaked in warm water and then wrung out) against the sore area for a few minutes 1-2 times daily until he seems to be feeling better. Usually, most pups are back to normal within a few days :)

I'm so sorry that Zeke is painful after his vaccination. Unfortunately, pain at the injection site is a possible side effect of vaccinations and some small dogs tend to become achy and painful all over. I would recommend contacting your veterinarian. There are some prescription pain medications that can be very helpful in decreasing pain and inflammation associated with vaccination. I will typically use Metacam which works very well. You may also ask your veterinarian if Zeke should have pain medication in the future before his vaccinations, so he does not have this problem again. Good luck! I hope that was helpful and that Zeke feels better soon. Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach.

Poor Luke! Swelling at the injection site is pretty unusual, but can be very uncomfortable. The swelling can be controlled with anti-inflammatory medication, and should definitely be reported to your vet so they can potentially modify the vaccines Luke gets in the future. In the meantime, you should try to keep Luke comfortable and calm until he can be seen by his vet. I hope all is well!

Hello, thank you for your question about Precious. Based on what you've described I would be suspicious that you did hit one of her injection sites. After injections the area can be tender and mildly uncomfortable for the first 24 hours. If you notice that any significant swelling or firmness occurs I would consult with your veterinarian, otherwise you should be fine to continue to monitor her. Hope this helps!

You can apply an ice pack to the area of the injection site for today (if your vet is closed). A bag of frozen peas works well for this as it can conform to the area. Be sure to wrap the ice pack/frozen peas in a thin towel or cloth so it isn't directly touching the skin. You can leave it on for 10-15 minutes and reapply every few hours. If she is still painful tomorrow call your vet and they can decide if she needs some prescription pain medication. Signs that she may need to see a vet right away (an emergency vet) would include severe lethargy, vomiting, difficulty breathing, swelling of the face, or hives.

Arlo might have a little pain at his injection site, or it’s possible that he has some back or neck pain. If you’re not sure exactly where he’s painful I’d recommend making an appointment to see your vet. If you think it’s the injection site you could apply a warm compress and contact your vet to get a prescription a safe pain medication.