Is it just me or do you??

[lurky]

We have 4 dogs and i have always tried to get them on the same schedule for shots. I now realize how stupid that was. This month was the first time all 4 were on the same schedule. Our cost was $720

Glad we didn't get the 2 cats in on that trip

 

[Crazyland]

I vet my dogs the way I want to.
The vet here is 35 just to walk in the door.
I just paid $245 just for xrays to be sent to OFA. I paid it because hubby wanted it.
It will be $120 just to spay a 5lb cat!
I will titter their shots as I don't believe in overvaccinating a dog. We don't get shots every year for the same thing and dogs don't need to either.
I love the vet and won't use anyone else. They are nice and let me do things my way but provide wonderful care for when I do drop off my animals.

 

[SundownWaterfowl]

My cats go once every 3 years, unless something is wrong. I do the rabies 3 year, and I only do the distemper every 3 years, as I believe every year is too much. The dogs go every year, for a check up. They get 3 year rabies and distemper every 3 years. The puppy just got her 2nd puppy shots, and her 1st kennel cough (since she will be doing puppy classes).

There was a newer vet in the area, and they were charging almost double what my vet charges for the shots.

How much does your vet charge for microchipping? I forgot to ask the vet last week.

 

[SundownWaterfowl]

Quote:
$120 to spay is exactly why I brought all of mine to the local animal shelter. They do low cost spays. I think it was $55 or $60 for the spay, rabies, and distemper.

 

[babyblue]

I do all the vac's and care for our animals that is legal for me to do so, the only two things I cant do for the horses in the state of pa is the rabbies shot and coggins test. I have a good amount of medical experence and keep meds and tools on hand at home.

My old horse was severely injured by the neighbors horse last year, she attacked him and he ended up running backwards threw a wall to get away from her. That resulted in him getting impaled on a 2x4. Called the vet out because that was deeper then I would like to stitch myself. she ended up giving him some oral antibiotics that he reacted badly to and he coliced worse than any horse I have ever seen. Called the vet back out and she kept insisting on colic surgery, I said no several times. She used an ultra sound and his intestines were not blocked or looped in any way. She kept pushing for colic surgery...even though unless there was actually a twist or a blockage there was nothing that surgery could do. The vet kept insisting his intestines could twist. Sorry women I am not paying 20 grand for colic surgery on a old horse that is not actually necessary or going to do any good. The horse was dehydrated after he coliced and the vet kept insisting he had to go to the animal hospital for rehydration therapy which was 5 grand up front on a credit card. She refused to even attempt to give him an iv at my barn, saying she wouldn’t stay there all night to keep an eye on it. I refused and said I would go and buy supplies from the medical store and do it myself. The horse not mins after she stomped off and left started drinking and I spent the night in the barn monitoring his vitals and giving him water. He came out of it just fine. He is out in the barn munching hay and begging to go out in the pasture right now.

The whole experience has really soured me on vets. They push and push for the most expensive treatments possible when sometimes common sense, patience and hands on care is the best medicine.

 

[Jamie_Dog_Trainer]

Personally I visit only when I have to. Meaning for mandatory vaccines such as rabies and when puppies need to go in for their vacciens. I don't believe in the vaccine protocall that tells you to start innoculation at 6 weeks. I start later at 8 or 10 weeks.

As far as surgery goes such as a spay or neuter. Well my Papillon, Zeke, was the last dog I had neutered. I doubt I'll ever spay or neuter under five years ever again. I have opted not to with my GSD because we had thought him a good breeding prospect. I enjoyed watching him mature naturally with all his normal hormones in place when they should have been.

Vets here in Western Washington State are outrageously expensive. For the two Vets close to me it is about $40.00 for the examination alone. Sorry but they don't do much for that 40 bucks!! So...as I was saying I take my animals when necessary: vaccines that HAVE to be given, injured, teeth cleaning (only as needed), and to be honest thats about it. I do my own worming, grooming, and nail trimming.

 

[chickenzoo]

I do the heartorm and shots myself etc.... When my farm vet comes to check anything with the horses I can't do...ie: coggins, then he gives the 3 year rabies shots, $5 to the dogs. I have the rabies vaccine for the horses etc...that I give.

 

[HenMamma]

Neither my vet, nor I believe in over vaccinating, so my dogs go in once a year for a checkup, blood work, and stool check. Since Dazey is expecting puppies we will be going in for an x-ray and post puppy check.

 

[arabianequine]

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.

I think that they are talking about with the rabies clinics.....the vets that go to the petstores sometimes like one sat. a month and just do vaccines. You can get a package deal. Look for flyers when you are out.

Hope this helps!

 

[arabianequine]

Quote:
A licensed vet has to give the rabies. So it won't be in the book or anywhere we can just buy it.