Okay, so today I wanna talk about what happened after I took my dog to get his kennel cough vaccine. It’s something a lot of pet owners go through, and I figured sharing my experience might help someone else out there.
First off, I scheduled the appointment with our vet ’cause I heard kennel cough was going around, and my dog, Buddy, he’s a social butterfly at the dog park. The vet recommended the Bordetella vaccine, which is the one for kennel cough. So, we went in, and Buddy, he’s usually pretty chill at the vet, got his shot. No big deal, right?
Well, later that day, I noticed Buddy was acting a bit off. He was more tired than usual, just laying around, not really interested in playing or even going for his evening walk, which is super unlike him. He also started sneezing a bit. It wasn’t constant, but enough for me to notice.
The next day, he still wasn’t himself. He was a little sore where he got the shot, and that tired, sleepy behavior continued. He did have a bit of a cough, too, but it wasn’t that hacking, honking cough I’d read about. Still, I got a bit worried. So, I called the vet’s office just to be safe.
The vet assured me that what Buddy was experiencing was pretty normal. Apparently, some dogs can have mild symptoms like sneezing, coughing, or just being more tired than usual after the vaccine. They said it’s like their body is just reacting to the vaccine and building up immunity.
- They told me to keep an eye on him.
- Make sure he’s eating and drinking.
- Give him a comfy place to rest.
The vet also mentioned that in very rare cases, dogs can have a more severe reaction, like swelling in the face, breathing problems, or diarrhea. But, thankfully, Buddy didn’t have any of that.
I followed their advice, kept a close watch on Buddy. I made sure he had plenty of water, which he was drinking, thankfully. I didn’t push him to play or go on long walks, just let him rest. And you know what? After a couple of days, he started to perk up. The sneezing stopped, the cough went away, and he was back to his old, energetic self, chasing squirrels in the backyard.
What I Learned
So, what did I learn from this whole experience? Well, first, it’s normal for dogs to have some mild reactions to the kennel cough vaccine. It doesn’t necessarily mean something is wrong. Second, it’s always a good idea to call your vet if you’re worried. They’re there to help, and they can give you the best advice for your furry friend. And lastly, even though Buddy had a bit of a rough time, I’m still glad he got the vaccine. Kennel cough can be pretty nasty, and I’d rather deal with a couple of days of mild symptoms than risk him getting really sick.
It’s all part of being a responsible pet parent, I guess. Just keep those lines of communication open with your vet, and don’t freak out over every little sneeze. Our furry friends are tougher than we sometimes think!
