Vaccine Reactions In Yorkies – What Are The Dangers?

While vaccines are crucial for preventing serious diseases in dogs, like in humans, they can sometimes have side effects or risks. It’s important to understand that for most dogs, the benefits of vaccination far outweigh the risks. As a veterinarian with over 20 years of experience, I’ve seen my fair share of vaccine reactions. Here’s an overview of potential adverse reactions or dangers associated with dog vaccines.

Are Yorkies More Prone To Vaccine Reactions Than Any Other Dog Breed?

I do not believe that Yorkes are more prone in any way to vaccine reactions than any other dog breed. While your Yorkie may have had vaccine reactions in the past, I’ve not experienced that as a veterinarian.

More Common Minor Vaccine Reactions Include:

Any time you give a vaccination to an animal, you will get a “reaction.” A reaction is simply the effects the Yorkie feels from stimulating the immune system. This stimulation is necessary in order to set up the proper antibody protection that will prevent the infection of serious diseases like Parvovirus, Distemper virus, and Rabies.

Nevertheless, there are some “expected” reactions that aren’t terribly concerning as long as they last no longer than a day or so. If your dog experiences any of these clinical signs to the point where it worries you, please contact your veterinarian and inform them. They may give you specific advice based on your dog’s unique history and health status.

• Soreness or Swelling: At the injection site, which typically resolves within a few days.
• Mild Fever: A temporary, low-grade fever may occur.
• Lethargy: Dogs may be less active for a day or two following vaccination.
• Reduced Appetite: Some dogs might eat less for a day or so.
• Sneezing or Mild Cough: Especially after intranasal vaccines.

It’s important to also understand that many of these “reactions” are actually the immune system being stimulated and beginning to get to work. They are similar to what a human would feel following a flu vaccine and generally go away within 24 hours.

When A Vaccine Reaction Gets More Serious:

The above side effects of vaccines aren’t that concerning by themselves (although no Yorkie owner wants to see their little baby be uncomfortable for a second), but there are symptoms that should be taken more seriously when they are seen. What will these look like?

Allergic Reactions

• Hives or Facial Swelling: In a Yorkie with a lot of long hair, spotting hives (
• Anaphylaxis: A severe, life-threatening allergic reaction is rare but can occur. Symptoms include vomiting, diarrhea, difficulty breathing, collapse, and in severe cases, death. Immediate veterinary attention is required.

Autoimmune Disorders

The immune system is vastly complex and is capable of providing amazing protection against a litany of foreign viruses, bacteria, and the like. However, when things go wrong with the immune system, they can go very wrong.

If an immune system goes wrong, it will start to treat parts of the normal Yorkie body as foreign substances and try to attack them. This can include anything from attacking red blood cells, certain types of skin cells, and the gastrointestinal system. There’s more than this, but these are the most common.

What Does A More Severe Vaccine Reaction Look Like?

If you see any of the following symptoms in your dog, please contact your veterinarian immediately and tell them your concerns.

• Vomiting more than once within a few hours of getting home after the vaccine visit
• Extreme lethargy – the kind of lethargy where you can’t get your dog to voluntarily get up or it has no desire to move to get a favorite toy or food
• Pale gums
• Rapid breathing/panting that doesn’t stop even if your Yorkie is lethargic or sleeping
• Persistent cough that starts within 10 hours of a vaccination

Injection Site Reactions

• Abscesses: Localized infections or abscesses at the injection site.
• Granulomas: Small, firm lumps that form at the injection site and may persist for a few weeks.
• Sarcomas: Very rarely, certain vaccines (particularly those containing adjuvants) have been associated with the development of a type of cancer called fibrosarcoma at the injection site. This is extremely rare and more commonly associated with feline vaccines. I never saw it in a dog patient in my entire career.

Other Considerations

• Over-Vaccination: Administering vaccines more often than necessary may increase the risk of adverse reactions without providing additional benefit.
• Breed-Specific Sensitivities: Some breeds may be more susceptible to vaccine reactions. For example, small breeds might be at higher risk of adverse effects simply due to their size.

What’s The Best Way To Minimize Adverse Vaccine Reactions?

Every dog, regardless of how they live or where they live, needs an individualized vaccine schedule. Just because the last 10 dogs in the office got a certain set of vaccines, it doesn’t mean that your little 5 lb Yorkie needs the same.

The choice to give or not give vaccines should be based on a dog’s risk factors:

• Do they go to a groomer regularly?
• Do they ever get boarded at a kennel?
• Do they go to a dog park and play with other dogs?
• Are there other dogs in the house that do the above things?
• What is the overall health condition of your Yorkie?

A dog who lives a lifestyle where it doesn’t see any other dogs or doesn’t set foot outside his/her home has a vastly different vaccine need than a dog who is a party animal and plays with other dogs daily outside the home.

While, as a veterinarian, I could tell you specifically which vaccinations I think your Yorkie should get, understand that your own veterinarian is the best judge for this. They know your pet’s personal health history, other pets in the home, and also the local neighborhood risk factors.

Monitoring and Reporting

• Observation Post-Vaccination: It’s important to monitor your dog after vaccination and report any unusual symptoms to your veterinarian. The latest I ever saw a reaction was roughly 12 hours after the vaccinations although it’s possible to happen at any point up to about 24 hours after the visit.
• Vaccine Adverse Event Reporting: Letting your veterinarian know about adverse reactions is important because not only will they modify your dog’s vaccine schedule but they will report the reaction to the vaccine manufacturers for record keeping.

In summary, while side effects from vaccines in dogs can occur, serious reactions are rare. The decision to vaccinate should be based on a thorough discussion with your veterinarian, considering the dog’s specific health needs, lifestyle, and risk factors. Regular vaccinations are a key part of preventive health care and play a vital role in protecting dogs from many dangerous diseases.