Adverse vaccine reactions cause welfare compromise in a small proportion of dogs, and risk minimisation through appropriate protocols protects individual animals.
Vaccine reactions represent a welfare risk of a generally beneficial preventive health intervention. Anaphylaxis causes acute severe welfare compromise requiring immediate treatment. Mild reactions cause transient discomfort that is acceptable given the welfare benefit of protection from diseases. Monitoring dogs post-vaccination and having anaphylaxis treatment immediately available in veterinary facilities reduces the severity of reactions. Titre testing in dogs that have previously reacted allows informed decision-making about future vaccination.