Vaccinations keep your cat or dog healthy and help ensure they lead a long life. The following are a few things to expect after a vaccination appointment.
Lethargy
Lethargy following routine vaccinations is perfectly normal for both dogs and cats. Provide your pet with a nice, quiet place to rest following their appointment. A soft pet bed in a quiet room where other household members, including other pets and children, won't bother them is ideal.
The tiredness and excess napping can last as long as 24 hours. If it extends much beyond that, especially if other illness symptoms accompany it, you should contact your vet. They may need to verify that your pet is not having an adverse reaction to the vaccine.
Appetite Loss
It's a good idea to have plenty of food and water available to your pet following their vaccination appointment, but don't be surprised if they don't eat or drink very much. Many animals have a reduced appetite immediately following their shots.
Appetite should return gradually over the next few days, and thirst will drive them to drink before dehydration sets in. If your pet is not drinking within 24 hours or if the appetite hasn't returned to normal within a couple of days, then you need to notify your vet to make sure everything is okay.
Mild Fever
A vaccination can create an immune reaction in your pet. This isn't a bad thing—it means the vaccines are working and your pet is producing the antibodies they need to protect them from possible future illness. The fever will usually go away within a day and your pet will begin to feel better the next morning.
If the fever doesn't go away within a few hours or if the fever is above 106 degrees F (in both dogs and cats), then you need to contact your vet immediately. Fevers this high can be dangerous so your vet will want to start steps to bring it down.
Illness Symptoms
Your pet may also develop other generalized symptoms that are normally associated with illness. Their eyes may water or they may have a running nose, for example. Swelling at the injection site is also normal. These symptoms nearly always clear up within a few hours or by the following day. Any swelling should be monitored, though. If the swelling doesn't begin to reduce within a day or if it becomes hot or infected looking, then you need to take your pet to the vet for an assessment.
Contact an animal hospital like Apple Valley Animal Hospital to learn more.
Share22 April 2021
For years, I wanted to fill my home with happy animals. When I got married, my spouse wanted a pet just as much as I did, and it was great to start looking for pets together. We were able to find a rescue animal who worked well with our budget and our lifestyle, and it was neat to give that sweet animal a home. However, after we brought the pet into our home, we realized that he needed some medical care. We turned to a veterinarian for advice on his medical health, and we worked on getting him completely vaccinated. Check out this blog for more information on finding help early.
