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We wanted to use this space to address many of the questions and topics that we discuss each day with pet parents.
We feel that the topic of vaccination warrants more discussion, so let’s jump right in! Vaccination is still the best way to prevent disease. But, we find that the topic of vaccinations is one that can sometimes be very vague and misunderstood. At Ball-Chatham Veterinary Services we take our time to discuss all vaccination options during your appointment and help you choose the best vaccination plan for your pet based on state and local laws as well as your pet’s lifestyle.
During your pet’s appointment, we also discuss what to watch your pet for after vaccination. While vaccine reactions are very rare, we want you to be prepared in the event your pet does experience any abnormality after vaccination. Again, vaccine reactions are rare, but we want you to understand that any patient at any time with any vaccine, can potentially have a vaccine reaction.
The common response our veterinary team receives when discussing the possibility of vaccine reactions is, “My pet has been vaccinated in the past with these same vaccines and they didn’t have any issues, so they should be ok now, right?” That is an absolutely reasonable way to think about vaccinations, but that is not actually how the immune system works. Each time a vaccine is administered it is triggering the immune system to respond. An appropriate immune response will provide your pet with protection via a “road map” to address exposures to live viruses and bacteria, without over responding to a vaccine which we commonly refer to as a vaccine reaction. Common changes we ask you to monitor your pet for after vaccination are facial swelling, vomiting, diarrhea and excessive lethargy. If those changes occur, then your pet may be experiencing a vaccine reaction and you should report these changes to our veterinary team or in rare instances seek emergency veterinary care.
Vaccination is a very important topic for the health care of your pet. We absolutely encourage you to listen to your veterinarian’s recommendations and discuss your wishes with your veterinary team to choose the most appropriate vaccine plan for your pet! Let’s work together, make a plan and understand the importance of vaccination for prevention!
Here are some great reads for things to know about vaccines related to your pets:
Breed, smaller weight, and multiple injections are associated with increased adverse event reports within three days following canine vaccine administration - PubMed (nih.gov)
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