My dog just received his first series of immunizations today. After four hours he started shivering and vomiting clear, frothy, mucoid fluid. He looked unsteady on his feet and like he wanted to sleep. He would not eat or drink. Is this normal for dogs getting their first immunizations? Should I have him seen by our veterinarian?

Puppies often get mild reactions to their first vaccinations

It is not uncommon for puppies, especially small breed dogs, to have a mild reaction to their vaccinations. This reaction means that the puppy feels like it has the flu and wants to sleep.

Many puppies will sleep for 24 hours after a vaccination and just feel bad. They should be breathing normally, and have no evidence of itchy eyes, hives, or a rash.

You definitely need to contact your veterinarian and let the doctor know what clinical signs your puppy is having so that the doctor can determine if your puppy needs to be seen immediately or not. Your veterinarian will also document the vaccine reaction in your animal's health record.

08/01/00