If your dog has allergies, you’re probably already feeling wary of anything that could trigger them and make your dog unwell. You might be wondering what you need to do about vaccinations and how dangerous these are. So, are vaccines safe for dogs with allergies?
Vaccines can be safe for dogs with allergies, but it’s possible for a vaccine to prompt an allergic reaction in a dog. Slight swelling, sleepiness, and decreased appetite are common signs that your dog is reacting to the vaccine. However, it is rare for vaccines to cause a major reaction.
We’re going to look at what vaccinations are available for dogs with allergies. We’re also going to cover how you should deal with it if your dog has allergies but needs to be vaccinated. Hopefully, this information will help you to make the right medical decisions for your pet.
Is There A Vaccine For Dogs With Allergies?
There are not currently any specific vaccinations that can be given to dogs with allergies. This may partly be due to the fact that allergies can be quite varied, so it would be difficult to build “allergy-free” vaccines. Often, the active ingredients in vaccines will prompt a reaction in your dog, but this is usually minor.
It’s possible that in the future, vaccines that are free from allergens will be developed. However, at present, it is just a risk that has to be taken. There’s a limited amount that can be done to prevent it. Your best option if you are concerned about your dog reacting to a vaccine is to discuss this with your vet.
The vet will be able to offer advice on whether a vaccine is reasonably safe for your dog. They may also suggest how to minimize the risks. The vet may decide to keep the dog in for observation after a vaccination. This may be all that is needed but create a plan with the vet. This will help you prioritize the dog’s well-being and your peace of mind.
Sometimes, a vet will recommend that your dog doesn’t have certain vaccinations if it has had a bad reaction in the past. It is best to get this advice directly from your vet. They will be able to assess the risk vs the reward and offer a decision that is in the dog’s best interests.
Are Vaccines Safe For Dogs With Allergies?
Whether a vaccine will be safe for a dog with allergies or not depends on both the vaccine and the dog. Allergies can be varied and unpredictable, and what is safe for one dog may not be safe for another. This is why it’s critical to talk to a vet before making a decision. They know the ingredients and what is likely to be safe.
Some dogs with allergies can have vaccinations without incurring any risk because their allergy doesn’t relate to the ingredients in the vaccine. At other times, a dog that has previously had no allergic reactions will respond badly to a vaccine. This will occur because something in it triggers a response within the body.
There is therefore no blanket rule for whether vaccines are safe or not. However, in the overwhelming majority of cases, dogs will have no reaction or a very minor reaction to a vaccine. It may produce some side effects, but in general, these will not be serious or prolonged.
Vaccinations are designed to be as safe as possible. That means that even if your dog has allergies, it can probably have its normal vaccinations. A severe reaction to a vaccine is extremely rare, even in dogs with known allergies. However, it’s still worth raising this with the vet if you are concerned.
Why Shouldn’t You Vaccinate Your Dog?
On the whole, almost all pet owners should vaccinate their dogs. I would strongly advise that you talk to a vet about the implications of not doing so if you would rather keep your dog unvaccinated. Many vaccines are for serious and debilitating diseases, and the risks of being unvaccinated far outweigh the rewards of rejecting vaccinations.
There are certainly concerns about vaccines for both humans and animals, however. It’s understandable that these concerns will be heightened if your dog has allergies. You might be very worried about how bad its reaction to vaccination could be. Despite that, the overwhelming consensus says that vaccination is better than the alternative. You shouldn’t keep a dog unvaccinated unless vaccination is known to be unsafe.
In some cases, a vet will advise against vaccination because the risk is higher than the reward. However, because many vaccines are for such serious diseases, this will be rare. You should follow your vet’s guidance on getting your pet vaccinated safely. If you are concerned, you will find it helpful to monitor your dog closely for 48 hours after it has had the vaccination.
The vet may also recommend spacing out vaccines, particularly if your dog is small. Getting one at a time reduces the risk of a reaction. If you cannot get your dog vaccinated for certain kinds of diseases, you should still consider whether other vaccines are an option. Make sure you adjust your behaviour with your unvaccinated dog to minimize the risk to it and to other dogs.
Allergy Vaccines VS. Regular Dog Vaccines
You may have heard of allergy vaccines for dogs, but you should be aware that these are not alternative versions of regular vaccines. They are shots specifically designed to reduce the allergic reaction that your dog might have. There is no “allergy-free” version of the rabies shot, for example. An allergy shot is designed to combat the dog’s allergic response.
Your dog’s allergies will be triggered when the dog’s immune system is hypersensitive. This causes it to overreact when it is stimulated by something it comes into contact with. The process can vary, but most of the time, the body will release histamine. This causes an inflammatory response – often itchy skin, sometimes swelling, pain, discomfort, etc. In severe cases, your dog’s breathing may be affected.
The allergy vaccine is designed to give the dog relief from the symptoms of an allergic reaction. It’s one of the oldest and most effective ways of treating allergies. These shots are also known as immunotherapy. They can prevent the itchiness and discomfort caused by fleas, the environment, or food, and worse reactions.
A regular dog vaccine is not related to allergens or the body’s response to them. It is intended to give the dog protection from a nasty disease. These vaccines may be targeted at kennel cough, canine distemper, parainfluenza, canine parvovirus, and possibly rabies (depending on your location). Any of these vaccines can cause an allergic reaction, but they are aimed at protecting your dog from unpleasant and deadly diseases.
What Allergic Reactions Can Vaccines Cause?
Although usually safe, vaccines can cause a variety of allergic reactions, including:
- Lethargy
- A small swelling around the needle site, like a bump in the skin
- Cold-like symptoms and sneezing
- Decreased appetite
- Sleepiness
These are fairly common reactions and are nothing to worry about on the whole. They will disappear gradually as time passes, although you should talk to a vet if they don’t.
More serious reactions include:
- Hives
- Vomiting
- Diarrhoea
- Itchiness
- Facial swelling
- Breathing difficulties
These should prompt an immediate emergency consultation with your vet. They usually occur soon after the vaccine has been given, but they can take up to 48 hours.
Conclusion
Vaccines are usually safe for dogs with allergies. However, you should talk to your vet about your concerns, especially if your dog has had a bad reaction to a vaccine before. Discuss the issues and get your vet’s advice on whether to proceed with the vaccination.
