Is it just me or do you??

[MagsC]

I do as much as is legal for me to do so as well.
If they are acting abnormal, I bring them in.
Otherwise, its the rabies vaccinations when they come due. Required for town dog license. Though I would do that anyway.

 

[key west chick]

I take my dogs to our rabies clinic. Nothing else unless they seem sick.

 

[gritsar]

Quote:
We're leaning that way with Jax and Kane; absolutely not going to neuter until they are at least two years old, if at all. I want them to have the full benefit of the male hormones for their physical development. DH is dead set against neutering at all, since he grew up on this farm with many, many unneutered male dogs that lived long, healthy lives. Since the boys are always confined and/or under our control at all times and our farm is isolated, very little chance of them adding to the overpopulation problem.
I just finished doing nails, ears, and brushings on the boys a few minutes ago. We doing wormings ourselves, with nemex II.

 

[SundownWaterfowl]

Quote:
We're leaning that way with Jax and Kane; absolutely not going to neuter until they are at least two years old, if at all. I want them to have the full benefit of the male hormones for their physical development. DH is dead set against neutering at all, since he grew up on this farm with many, many unneutered male dogs that lived long, healthy lives. Since the boys are always confined and/or under our control at all times and our farm is isolated, very little chance of them adding to the overpopulation problem.
I just finished doing nails, ears, and brushings on the boys a few minutes ago. We doing wormings ourselves, with nemex II.

I dont plan on spaying Sadie until shes at least 18 months old. Ive been reading up and it seems to be better to wait. Also, it says that letting female dogs go into heat helps to lower their risk of hermangiosarcoma (sp?), which is one of the big cancers that goldens die from. Also, waiting till 18 months helps make sure that they grow to their full potential, and that their growth plates close up.

 

[OccamsTazer]

Same here, we do almost everything at home except spay/neuter. With a bottle of penicillin, a bottle of Ivomec, a Merck Manual, and several years vet tech experience, there isn't much we can't handle.

I do buy Comfortis because it's the only completely effective flea remedy I've found. I hate fleas, I refuse to even give them the suggestion of a chance.

Some vets are fantastic and some of them have floated off of the Earth.

 

[Tala]

I can heal almost anything. I only take the dogs to the vet if they need a presctiption or something like that - that I can't get at the feed store.

We get Rabies shots from the Humane Society's clinic for $10/each, provided by a licensed vet but without all the "office fees"

 

[OccamsTazer]

Sundownwaterfowl, you might want to check those sources. I have been taught by the vets I worked for that this is a common myth. The cancer risk is actually drastically lower if you spay before the first estrus.
I have asked many vets about this out of curiosity. Every time a new vet would work a sub day, I'd bring it up. I always got the same answer.
Just a thought

 

[Tala]

Quote:
All that means is that they read the same manual.

My grandpa's SPAYED dog died of a giant tumor/cancer thingy. I don't think the vet tested it, he just told my grandpa that removing it wouldn't be sucessful because it would just grow right back.

 

[fancbrd4me02]

Quote:
I do all of this, but my dogs have pet insurance which cover most of the expense for routine exams and boosters. The insurance also covers accidents, illness and just about anything you can think of. In the time that I have had my dogs insured, it has saved me hundreds for one of the dogs, and thousands for the other. On average, the insurance has covered over 80% of the dog's medical costs. You can save money and provide routine care to your dog or cat if you invest in a simple insurance policy.

I want to add that the insurance is much much cheaper than people think, the coverage in most cases is excellent, and there are many providers to choose from. My budget is low right now, so my Doxie is on a plan that covers emergencies, accident and catastraphic illness up to $8000 per incident. It costs less than $10 per month for me to know that if anything unexpected happens to her, insurance will cover about 80% of the medical costs. That's $10 to ensure that I won't have to put her down if she gets hit by a car or is attacked or whatever. For $25-30 per month, she can have full coverage with 2 routine vet visits with shots, etc., per year. Each incident/procedure $8000+, no treatment denied, at the discretion of the owner, any vet allowed in any state. Basically, everything covered. I urge all of you to call around and get quotes, just so you can find out what might be possible for your dog/cat/parrot's medical coverage. It can also save a ton of money for you, and trouble.

 

[DianeS]

It's fascinating how much costs and suggested tests differ in other areas.

At my vet, an office visit which includes a quick physical and a discussion of any concerns with the vet costs about $40.

A rabies shot at the same visit costs $12, and is needed only every three years.

Heartworm preventative is recommended, but not pushed for indoor dogs. (And the vet is quite happy to sell a single 90-lb dose for two 45 lb dogs, since I can split it at home and save money.) I only get that when I travel with my dogs, as heartworm is pretty rare here.

The canine 6-way vaccine is recommended every three years. I got it religiously when I worked in dog rescue because I did transmit disease back and forth from the rescue to my home, but now that I don't do that and my dogs only contact friends' healthy dogs, I do it less often.
(I don't know what a regular vacc cost for cats is yet, I just got mine.)

Fecal tests are not recommended unless the dog or cat is showing symptoms of something. If requested, the vet will do a visual check of a specimin, that's included in the office visit charge.

Spaying a 45 lb dog costs $55 plus $20 for pain meds.
Neutering a 12 lb cat costs $29 plus $15 for pain meds.

Costs aren't bad at all here! But they do vary by vet, there are places here where a spay sirgery starts at $120 instead of $55 - so make sure you call around!