Is your puppy yelping after vaccinations at the vet?
It is normal for a puppy to be sore and uncomfortable after being vaccinated, just as a human would be. They may express this discomfort by yelping when they are touched or picked up.
Unless there are signs of allergic reaction in the minutes to hours after your puppy receives a vaccine, yelping is not a major concern and does not need to be specifically addressed. The best course of action is to make your puppy comfortable, let it rest, and continue to monitor it for any more serious side effects.
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Is It Normal For Puppies To Be In Pain After Shots?
Puppies cry after vaccinations for the same reasons that human children do- it hurts!
In the first few hours after vaccination, puppies can be particularly sensitive to the pain of the injection. This is especially the case if the vet injected into the muscle rather than just underneath the skin.
It can also feel uncomfortable or weird for the puppy as the vaccine makes its way through the puppy’s body. Vaccines are designed to stimulate the immune system to produce antibodies without actually causing the specific disease. However this antibody production process releases biochemicals which can raise body temperature and cause inflammation.
Why Is My Puppy Crying After Shots?
As the vaccine gets to work inside the body, it will without a doubt cause some puppies to feel discomfort.
Puppies may cry when they move around. They may cry when you pick them up or pet them. They may even just sit by themselves in the corner, and cry.
Sometimes, a puppy will whine while it is napping, and then wake up and continue to whine!
All this is to say- it is perfectly normal to find your puppy yelping after vaccinations. Each puppy will have different vaccine reactions since each immune system and response is unique to them. Some may become sleepy, while others have aches and bumpy sore at the injection site where the needle was inserted.
Others will merely be affected psychologically and have a flair for the dramatic, even if they aren’t in physical pain. Even the memory of having an injection can scare a puppy enough that the slightest touch can make it yelp and scream in terror.
Crying is a regular reaction for puppies not only after shots, but after pretty much any event or experience which they don’t find to their liking. As long as the yelping and crying doesn’t last beyond 2 or 3 days, then there’s really nothing to be worried about!
Puppy Vaccination Side Effects
In addition to the yelping, puppies may experience a few mild side effects following their vaccination. These can include itchiness, irritability, sneezing, loss of appetite, and a slight fever. In addition, some puppies may also have a wetter nose than usual, as well as a slight cough.
Make sure to keep an eye on whether your puppy has any of the above common side effects. These reactions are realistically all to be expected, so don’t fret too much over the next couple of days if you see them.
You can monitor your puppy and at the same time keep your mind at ease by checking that it is within the following average bodily markers:
- Body temperature should be between 99 to 102 degrees Fahrenheit
- Normal heart rate should be 60-100 beats per minute for large breeds, 100-140 bpm for small breeds
- Normal breathing rate should be 15-20 breaths per minute.
There may be some variance in range, but once the first 24-48 hours have passed, your puppy should be back to its original, playful self.
Is IT Normal For My Puppy To Have A Lump After Shots?
Yes, it is quite normal for a small, firm lump or nodule to develop at the injection site. This occurs due to the body’s immune system becoming active at the spot, or from lymph nodes in the area becoming enlarged.
Though it may be sore, this is usually harmless and will disappear within a few days to a week. If it still persists beyond then, contact your vet for an examination.
While the puppy is feeling sore, keep in mind that it may not want to be picked up or held! If your puppy yelps when picked up after shots, this can be due to you touching an area that is painful or sensitive.
Why Is My Puppy Shaking After Shots?
Shaking is another common reaction that puppies display after getting shots. Though it may appear worrisome and make you think that your dog is experiencing epilepsy or seizures, thankfully this is not the case 99% of the time.
In addition to the pain and discomfort caused by the vaccine and the injection itself, it may also be feeling scared due to the frightening experience it just had of a stranger jabbing it with a needle! This can all potentially contribute to shivering behavior.
In addition to shaking, the puppy may also display additional signs such as drooped ears, cowering body language, salivation, and wide eyes.
However, try not to worry too much as this is quite a common reaction for puppies. It may shake for the next few hours or even a whole day, but it should start to shiver less as it realizes that everything is OK and starts to calm down.
When Should I Be Worried?
If your puppy is still crying or has other symptoms 3 days after the vaccination, it may be time to take him back to your vet to see if there’s anything wrong.
Additionally, if your puppy displays these following symptoms at any time after vaccination, take him to the vet for medical attention immediately:
- Weakness or collapsing
- Loss of consciousness
- Swelling muzzle or puffy, swollen face
- Continual diarrhea
- Persistent vomiting
- Rashes along its body
- Shallow, labored, or difficulty breathing
These symptoms are very rare, however they can be an indication of a more severe allergic reaction to a particular vaccine. If these side effects are not attended to as quickly as possible, they can be dangerous to your puppy’s health.
What Can You Do To Help Your Puppy Feel Better?
Though vaccines can cause mild discomfort to your puppy due to the nature of how they work, they are now developed to the point that they usually have minimal immediate or lingering side effects.
Often puppies can feel slightly depressed after an injection, so a lot of the time all they need is a cuddle and some comfort to feel better immediately. If they bury their head in you for warmth and reassurance, give them allllllll of your love!
However if the injection has made them feel sore, they won’t want to be touched or held. In this case, make their usual bed or crate as comfortable as possible, put a few of their favorite treats inside, and let them rest quietly.
It’s ok to leave them alone for a while to calm down and decompress– but do make sure that you check on the pup once in a while to make sure that it’s recovering well.
If the site of the injection is particularly red and painful, you can try placing ice on the area to see if that makes your puppy feel better. If it still seems to be in pain the day after vaccination, call to see if your pet professional can provide any veterinary medicine to soothe it.
Usually, any pain and discomfort from vaccination will subside over the course of two days at most. After that, your puppy will be back to normal and protected from potentially life-threatening disease!
What Can I Give My Puppy For Pain After Shots?
Always consult your vet first before giving your puppy any pain medication! They will be able to determine how safe and necessary it is for your puppy to have painkillers at any particular moment.
Generally, the vet will only recommend aspirin for puppies, so do not give it any other anti-inflammatory drugs such as Ibuprofen or Tylenol.
The proper aspirin dosage for dogs is 10-25mg per pound of body weight– and up to one total adult aspirin every 8 hours. Since it is a puppy, it may be a good idea to start from the low range of dosage and only scale up when it doesn’t seem to be working.
Again, always consult your vet first before giving your dog (and especially a puppy) any medication!
In Conclusion
If your puppy is crying when you pick him up after its shots, understand that this is a perfectly normal reaction for it to have.
Vaccinations are painful for anyone, but for puppies they can be an especially frightening experience. Coupled with possible discomfort and other side effects such as mild fever and irritability, it is no surprise that puppies often whine and yelp after vaccination.
However these symptoms likely won’t last longer than one or two days, so until then, comfort and care for your puppy as much as possible and it will be wagging its tail again in no time!
Heather Abraham is a professional blogger who owns two dogs, a cat, a parrot, and a leopard gecko. She has a connection with animals since she was a child. She shares her love for all pet breeds and provides information on pet food, toys, medications, beds, and everything else.
She is committed to learning about the internal workings of animals. Her work permits her to work closely with knowledgeable vets and obtain practical expertise in animal care. When she is not working, her love of animals continues in her writing. Her goal is to educate and uplift readers who also have a passion for animals through her writing.