Life with Ultimate Dogs

A new puppy is cute and fun for the whole family, but also requires a good amount of healthcare to stay healthy, happy and, in some cases, alive. Part of that healthcare is vaccinations for major diseases, like parvo and rabies. Puppy vaccines, just like human ones, come with some risks and side effects however, and it's important to know as much as you can before you take your new pup to get poked.

Common Vaccines

There are several conditions and diseases against which puppies need to be vaccinated. These include parvo, rabies, distemper, kennel cough and coronavirus. Canine adenovirus is also commonly vaccinated against, as well as situational vaccines like Lyme disease and leptospirosis. Some vaccines, like the parvo vaccine, require multiple injection to be effective, while others may not be needed at all depending on your climate and environment, like the Lyme disease vaccine. Ask your vet for a schedule of required vaccines for your puppy.

Allergic Reactions

In general, there are two things to remember about allergic reactions in puppies to their vaccines. One is that they are very rare - up to one in 100,000 chance of having a severe reaction. The other is that allergic reactions to puppy vaccinations, when they do occur, are often so sudden and so severe that it will likely happen at the vet's office immediately after vaccination, which is a good thing. Vets are equipped to deal with severe reactions and often save the pup's life if one occurs, though it is unlikely. An allergic reaction to puppy vaccines is most commonly anaphylaxis, or terrible difficulty breathing.

Common Side Effects

Aside from the very small risk of a major allergic reaction, there are several more minor reactions that vets label as side effects. These are much less severe and are often only the puppy's body adjusting to the vaccine. As with human vaccines, the injection site may be quite sore for up to two days after being injected into your puppy. A low grade fever and loss of appetite are also common, but usually end soon after the shot has been administered. A more moderate reaction to puppy vaccines is called uticaria, which is a very common reaction. The symptoms of this side effect include swelling, hives, itching and redness in the lips, eyes and neck. These symptoms show up shortly after getting the puppy home, usually, and require a dose of an antihistamine or something like Benadryl.