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My puppy is sore, crying, panting after vaccine. Is it normal?

Updated On September 23rd, 2025

Pet's info: Dog | Alaskan Klee Kai | Female | unspayed | 3 months and 4 days old | 6.4 lbs

My 3 month old Alaskan Klee Kai had her 2nd round of vaccinations today at 3:30. She seemed pretty sore at the injection site, a couple hours after. She woke up at midnight crying and panting. I let her out of her crate to drink water and it's been about an hour and she's sleeping again, just restlessly and still breathing quickly. Should we call on call vet or is this normal? Thank you!

2 Answers

Most Helpful Answer

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Answered By David Elbeze, DVM, MRCVS

Veterinarian

Published on November 13th, 2017

This type of side effect is not uncommon, pain at the site of the vaccination can be severe but it is usually not considered to be an emergency. if the pain seems to still be severe tomorrow, take her to your vet to get it checked, if your vet judges that the pain is indeed severe he will probably give her a pain killer for a couple days.

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    Answered By Shaneez Wallani, DVM

    Veterinarian

    Published on March 28th, 2019

    Aww, poor Katie! Some pets can be a little sore at the injection site after vaccination, and the amount of soreness/ sensitivity can vary from one dog to another, just as some people can be a bit more sensitive to vaccines than others. You can try icing the area for 10 minutes at a time 3 times as day. If Katie is still sore in the morning, I recommend you call your vet, as they may recommend some pain medication to help her feel better. Your vet may also recommend pain medication prior to her next round of vaccines to help reduce the risk of soreness. Pain medications meant for humans can be very dangerous (and even deadly) for dogs, so I do not recommend giving any to your pup without consulting with your vet. If you notice any facial swelling, hives, or difficulty breathing, make sure to have Katie seen by a vet right away, as that could indicate an allergic reaction, although what you are describing sounds more like just a little tenderness at the injection site, which can be normal.

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