Side Effects of Pet Vaccines: A Closer Look

Reaction to Parvo Booster: Today our Black Lab puppy had his 9 week booster... Almost IMMEDIATELY he started showing signs that something was wrong. Two minutes after the shot, he began vomiting and lost control of his bowels. He then laid on the ground and wasn't very responsive. We took him to a local clinic and they gave him something similar to benedryl and a steroid and fluids under his skin. After about an hour he began to come around, and when we got him home he slept for most of the day. He only vomited once more and the vet told us to give him rice and canned chicken (easy on the stomach). This was VERY scary, but he seems to be pulling out of it ok.

Re: Animal Vaccines: Just a note about pets and vets! I have a chihuahua that will be 19 on June 23. When he was 5, I needed to travel with him on a plane, and needed a certificate from my vet. After examination, I was told that not only should he NOT fly, he should be put down due to a heart murmur and poorly functioning kidneys. I took him home, so he could die with me, at his time....well, fourteen years later and not a vaccine since, he is fine! He has off days, and half a joseph's Baby aspirin does him fine! Lets STOP introducing chemicals into our pets bodies!! P.S. Stopped giving him store food as well about two years ago.....pureed steamed veg, ground beef and rice.....pure and simple!! Peace!

When veterinarians administer vaccines, they normally have a set place of where a specific vaccine is given. For example, a canine distemper shot is usually given in the left shoulder. Sometimes the pet has thick skin that is hard to puncture, or the pet will move when the vaccine is administered. This can cause a small bump in the area that can remain for up to 2 weeks. If any itching, rash, or swelling occurs in that area, the pet should be taken to a veterinarian to have it examined. If you feel that your pet is uncomfortable after a vaccine, apply an ice cube and some witch hazel to the area to reduce swelling. Vaccine discomfort is very common, and your pet will most likely be sleepy for a day after getting an injection.

Last year I had both my fox terriers vaccinated and I have never had a problem before, but this time was different.... After my 2 year old male terrier was given all the supposedly necessary shots he began limping....he had a large swollen area near his right front shoulder /neck area and could hardly walk...My female dog 8 years old also had a swollen area but appeared fine at first... I took them back to the vet and he said I just babied them too much but gave the younger dog some type of antiinflammatory meds....It took over 2 weeks for him to walk better and still had a swollen area for quite awhile...Then the female dog started acting funny and started limping on her back leg....vet again thinks we are all crazy and after a month finally did alot of tests costing alot of money....finding out she hurt her knee area and would just have to wait it out....but I think her injury was caused by an initial reaction to the shots...and then she was injured. Well I think that the vaccination brought this whole thing about and am not sure which shots they had a reaction to....and it is time to vaccinate them again and I am just puttin it off and plan to go to another vet.....but I have no choice but vaccinate them or I will not be able to board them this summer for vacation...

I just gave my 10 week old Doxie his second set of vaccinations. About an hour and a half later, he started throwing up and coughing. He is currently being treated for kennel cough, but now I'm concerned his immune system is compromised. Should I be concerned enough to run him to the vet? He did eat and drink a bit after he was done being sick. I'm very concerned considering our former pup died of parvo. We used a bleach/water solution and disinfected everything we could. Could my new pup have contracted parvo even though we cleaned everything? Or is his reaction from the actual vaccinations. Any advice would be welcomed.

I am very concerned about vaccinations my two pugs received. My female pug had an allergic reaction and vomited an hour after her vaccinations. I also wanted to let everyone know she is only 5 years old and about a week after her vaccinations she had lost a significant amount of her hearing and a lump appeared on her right shoulder. I took her back to the vet and he said she just has allot of hair in her ears, but she use to hear much better until she had the vaccinations. I am also concerned that she had a lump appear on her right shoulder. It appears to have gone down after about a week, however all this concerns me. HAs anyone else expereinced this with their dogs or cats? Concerned animal lover!