Is it just me or do you??

[chickerdoodle]

Just one important thing--if your pet has a fever or is ill you should not vaccinate at that time. An ill patient runs the risk of not getting immunity from the vaccine, or a fever or illness can worsen due to the bigger load on the immune system. You also should spread out the vaccines at least 4 weeks apart to prevent autoimmune diseases later. For example, you can give the DHP, but do the rabies next month. The kennel Cough should be done by itself as well.

I will also mention that exams are critical for your pet at least annually--that's the same as us getting an exam every 6-7 years which I hope you all do for yourself--preferably more often than that! If you still want to get your vaccines from a less expensive clinic that's fine but get the exam at a trusted veterinarian's office. It is also a good idea to have a good relationship with your local vet as the day may come you'll need help or are short on cash and they know you can be trusted paying off the bill.

Heartworms can be fatal and each dog that carries it it the source for more dogs to get it. HW is seen more in some areas but it is nearly ubiquitous now so get poochie tested and use preventative. It is not in anyone's benefit for someone to have a "typhoid Mary" when other dogs and cats are at risk too.

As for spaying and neutering--it is indeed better for the individual dog to become an adult physically prior to having the surgery. When that occurs depends on the breed and size of the dog. Small dogs about a year, large dogs closer to two years of age. If you want to wait until they are mature than also remember to be responsible by avoiding unwanted pregnancies.

 

[SillyChicken]

I do my own vac's except for rabies and hw tests.

We have to test for hw yearly inorder to get the script for the meds. Rabies is governed by the state so only a licensed vet may administer it.

Otherwise when I do take the dogs in (4 mastiffs) they all go at the same time and I only have to pay for one office visit. Senior dogs get one free health check up a year, so they get one. Otherwise they only go if they really get sick or hurt.

 

[hensonly]

Quote:
What's a rabies clinic? I have 3 LARGE outside dogs that are due for rabies and to be tested for heartworms. Why do they want you to test for heartworms even if you've had them on preventative? Anyway, those are the two things I need done, but if I take them to the vet he'll want to do SOOOOOO many other things. Last Feb I took all 3 at once to the vet and the bill was $980.00. They did fecal testing for worms, kennel cough, (I don't board them) and a whole lot of stuff that wasn't needed. Why don't they just do a preventative worming? Sorry to rant but you've toughed on a subject I've been thinking a lot about now that
i'm past their one year check up. I wish you could just tell the vet do only the things I want. If I could find a rabies clininc I would take them there in a heart beat.

You CAN tell the vet what you want done! With the exception of rabies which is required by law in most states. I do heartworm checks annually (every two years if you keep them on preventative year round), I get them a physical yearly, and many vets are moving to the other shots on a three-year basis, like rabies is. We have a lot of Lyme here, so I do that, and my dogs are walked in the woods all the time so I do lepto. I don't bother with kennel cough unless I'm planning to show them. Everything is optional except rabies, so decide what you want and tell your vet!