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My puppy has a hard lump after vaccine shots. When should I worry?

Updated On September 23rd, 2025

Pet's info: Dog | Mixed Breed Small (up to 22lb) | Female | spayed | 4 months and 3 days old | 6 lbs

My dog got her last round of boosters and her Rabies shot a 1 1/2 weeks ago and at the site of the shots she has now developed a large hard bump about the size of a quarter or silver dollar. She is acting normal and has displayed no changes in behavior or irritation to the large bump. Even when I massage the bump, she has no reaction what so ever. It's been about 3 days since I noticed the bump and it is about the same size as when I 1st noticed it. She is 4mon old, should I take the vet asap?

3 Answers

Most Helpful Answer

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Answered By Dr. Melanie, BVSc MS

Veterinarian

Published on April 25th, 2017

You can see a small, firm swelling develop at the spot of the vaccine but it should disappear within three weeks. If it gets larger or persists longer than three weeks, then I would have Leia seen by the vet.

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1Pet Parents found this answer helpful

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    Answered By Daniel Fonza, DVM

    Veterinarian

    Published on October 27th, 2017

    Hi there and thank you for using pet coach to address your concern. This is a normal thing to see happen after a vaccine has been administered. Typically the bump will go down after 2-3 day bit can sometimes stay around longer. A small amount of discomfort can typically be seen in the area where the vaccine was given. If you notice that the bump is becoming significantly larger or the bump has not resolved after 2-3 months, I would have this examined by a veterinarian. I hope this helps! Please let me know if you have any other questions or concerns. I am also available via consultation if needed.

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    Answered By Lauren Kennedy, DVM

    Veterinarian

    Published on September 2nd, 2017

    If you feel like the lump is in the general area of where her vaccine was given, Dixie Mae may be having a mild, local vaccine reaction. These are usually self-limiting and go away after a couple of weeks. If the area seems red, inflamed, or warm to the touch there may be something worse going on like an infection. I think it would be safe to keep an eye on the lump for a couple days. If it becomes larger or more painful, or changes in any way, you may want to consider taking Dixie in to the vet to be checked out. You could also post another question with a photo of the lump and/or request a consult so we can better determine what exactly is going on. I hope this helps. Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach. Best of luck.

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