Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Smaller dog breeds and multiple shots raise vaccine side effect risk
By Moore, George E et al.·Published in Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association·2023·Purdue University·View original on PubMed →
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Original publication title: Breed, smaller weight, and multiple injections are associated with increased adverse event reports within three days following canine vaccine administration.
- Species:
- dog
Plain-English summary
A study found that smaller dog breeds, like French Bulldogs and Dachshunds, are more likely to have adverse reactions after vaccinations, especially if they receive multiple shots at once. Out of over 4.6 million vaccinated dogs, about 0.19% experienced side effects within three days, with the highest rates seen in dogs weighing 11 pounds or less. The rabies vaccine was particularly associated with these reactions. This information can help veterinarians adjust vaccination protocols and better inform pet owners about potential risks based on their dog's breed and weight.
People also search for: dog vaccine side effects · French Bulldog vaccination reactions · Dachshund vaccine safety
Abstract
OBJECTIVE: To evaluate patient and vaccine factors associated with adverse events (AEs) recorded within 3 days of vaccine administration in a large cohort of dogs. ANIMALS: 4,654,187 dogs vaccinated in 16,087,455 office visits in a 5-year period at 1,119 hospitals of a corporate practice. METHODS: Electronic medical records of dogs vaccinated between January 1, 2016, and December 31, 2020, were searched for diagnoses of possible AEs recorded within 3 days of administration of vaccines without concurrent injectable heartworm preventative. Patient risk factors (age, sex, breed, and weight) and number and type of vaccine were extracted from records. ORs (and 95% CIs) for risk factors were estimated via multivariable logistic regression mixed models with patient as a random effect. RESULTS: AEs were recorded following 31,197 vaccination visits (0.19%, or 19.4/10,000 visits). Reported AE rates increased from 1 to 4 vaccines administered and among individual vaccines were greatest for rabies vaccine. AE rate was generally inversely related to body weight, with largest rates in dogs ≤ 5 kg. The largest AE rates were noted in French Bulldogs and Dachshunds (ORs > 4 compared to mixed-breed dogs). CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Risk factor information can be used to update vaccination protocols and client communication. Breed differences may indicate genetics as the primary risk factor for adverse vaccine reactions following vaccinations.
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Search related cases →Original publication on PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/37451674/