What To Ask Our Vet.

[maxmom]

Well, like alway, here I'm asking for advise.
Today I have an appointment for the vet, since I've been doing some YT reading, I don't want to get there , get the shots and get out, and pay of course.
-He needs a refill for the heart worm med.
-Shots
-Anal glands emptied
The vet. usually does lab work once a year, and Max is due for that, ...now,my question(s)
-Is the test for liver shut and kidney failure an standard test, or should I request it? Max has not had any problems, but now I want out find out if there is a genetic problem with him.
-For Giardia or any other parasites, is that what they test for on their regular stool test, or should I request that too?
I'm writing a note to take with me, but I'm sure you all can come up with some questions?
Am I over reacting to want to have all this done, is it necesary?
Any other question that I should ask for?

[Ellie May]

Bile acid testing for liver shunt is not necessary but it is not a bad thing to do with Yorkies. Your vet will check liver and kidneys with blood work but the bile acid test is different and some vets insist that the dog be fasted before.

What shots is he due for?
RAbies should always be given on a separate day for all breeds and some people believe that combo shots shouldn't be given at all.

[Judy in Waco]

Good for you for thinking ahead and writing stuff down. I get in there and my brain turns to jello or something...dahh...what was I going to ask him? lol

If you trust your vet, ask all of these same questions, and he will give you an honest answer.

Also, talk to him about the rabies only every three years. My vet just changed his schedule for that, and more laws are being changed to allow this as well.

I wouldn't think the Giardia and those tests need to be run unless there's an issue, but what do I know? (I stayed at Holiday Inn Express! lol)

Just go with what you think is best. It sounds like you're on the right track!

[maxmom]

Originally Posted by Ellie May

Bile acid testing for liver shunt is not necessary but it is not a bad thing to do with Yorkies. Your vet will check liver and kidneys with blood work but the bile acid test is different and some vets insist that the dog be fasted before.

What shots is he due for?
RAbies should always be given on a separate day for all breeds and some people believe that combo shots shouldn't be given at all.

Really??
This is what he is due for:
-DA2P-Lepto Vac
-Intestinal Parasite Exam
-Bortadela Vac
-Heartworm test
-Rabies vaccine
-Parvovirus vac.
-Semi-annual exam.
What do I do and what shouldn't I , or better yet, should I avoid the vac's all together?

[Judy in Waco]

I would question the Lepto. You really need to avoid that one unless there's a serious problem in your area.

I would also space the rabies out from the others as well. Gizmo still had a slight reaction to the rabies even spacing it out, so I always recommend it now.

[maxmom]

Originally Posted by Judy in Waco

Good for you for thinking ahead and writing stuff down. I get in there and my brain turns to jello or something...dahh...what was I going to ask him? lol

If you trust your vet, ask all of these same questions, and he will give you an honest answer.

Also, talk to him about the rabies only every three years. My vet just changed his schedule for that, and more laws are being changed to allow this as well.

I wouldn't think the Giardia and those tests need to be run unless there's an issue, but what do I know? (I stayed at Holiday Inn Express! lol)

Just go with what you think is best. It sounds like you're on the right track!

That's the only way I can do it, I'm having more and more "Silver moments", if I don't write things down, I'll forget!
Our vet is very good, but once you get there, since Max has no health issues, is always routine stuff , now I know better!
I didn't know about rabies vac only every three years, even when you go to the grooming place inside PetSmart they request you bring your records with the rabies updated shots

[Judy in Waco]

Do a google search on rabies and your state and see what you find. You might be surprised.

And some places are slower to change. If you have a big rabies problem in your area though, all bets are off.

[Ellie May]

Originally Posted by maxmom

Really??
This is what he is due for:
-DA2P-Lepto Vac
-Intestinal Parasite Exam
-Bortadela Vac
-Heartworm test
-Rabies vaccine
-Parvovirus vac.
-Semi-annual exam.
What do I do and what shouldn't I , or better yet, should I avoid the vac's all together?

No way are all those shots in one day a good idea.
All states have rabies laws.
In Michigan it should be given at 4 months, one year later and every three years.

Bordatella is optional but required in most places to board or groom.
I don't do it but might have to some day.
My opinion is that it is that because dogs can still get it with the vaccine (supposedly not as severe) and the vaccine can cause kennel cough, it is not a good vaccine.

Distemper, parvo, parafluenza and adenovirus are usally given annually or once every three years after a one year booster. This is really a compromise because it is debatable whether they are needed at all after one has been given after the immune syst is fully developed. This is especialy true for distemper, parvo and adenovirus. You could do titers but there is question on whether those are the right way to go.

Lepto should ONLY be given where there is a huge risk and maybe not at all. How many cases are in your area? The vaccine has killed Yorkies and should not be given just because. This is a hard decision.

If this were Ellie and I wanted her to have distemper, parvo, parainfluenza, lepto, bordatella and rabies in the same year (which is waaaaaaaaaaay too much), I would maybe do the distemper, parvo, parainfluenza and adenovirus (preferably spaced out by a week or two but most vets will probably insist on the combo), then maybe bordatella a couple weeks later, then lepto a couple weeks later then rabies a couple weeks later.

The problem with giving so many at one time (besides not knowing what your dog is reacting to if a reaction would occur and stressing the immune system too much) is it is can negate the immune response because the immune system has too much to do thereby causing them to be ineffective.

Your vet will probably tell you it is fine but I would not give this many.
In fact, once Ellie had DHLPP-C and rabies in one day and reacted (serious...looked like she was dying). We can only guess that the lepto caused it but because so many were given at once it would be impossible to say.

By the way, if you HAVE to give the lepto, it should be given as a singe, not in a combo. Fort Dodge makes one but Pfizer does also. Pfizer's may be better.

[maxmom]

Originally Posted by Judy in Waco

Do a google search on rabies and your state and see what you find. You might be surprised.

And some places are slower to change. If you have a big rabies problem in your area though, all bets are off.

0 last year, 0 this year so far, so, no lepto, no rabies, what about the other two?

[maxmom]

I called and cancel our appointment for today, and rescheduled for tomorrow, I need to keep reading!
Thank you ladies for your advise
m.

[Ellie May]

I know this can be confusing and overwhelming and there is no way to learn all of this in a few hours.

I will be on and off of YT for a few hours, so please don't hesitate to ask if you have questions. I might be able to help and there are some other members that know tons about vaccines.

[Judy in Waco]

Listen to Ellie May about this. She knows far more than I do about it. I think you made the right decision to wait a little and research.

[Ellie May]

Originally Posted by Judy in Waco

Listen to Ellie May about this. She knows far more than I do about it. I think you made the right decision to wait a little and research.

LOL. Google is the best. What I don't know I look up.

[maxmom]

Originally Posted by Ellie May

LOL. Google is the best. What I don't know I look up.

Did you know that now Google is not a search engine but a verb.
I Google
You Google
She/He Googles
We Google

Same thing with MapQuest
" MapQuest it for me"
"I MapQuested the address"

[Ellie May]

Originally Posted by maxmom

Did you know that now Google is not a search engine but a verb.
I Google
You Google
She/He Googles
We Google

Same thing with MapQuest
" MapQuest it for me"
"I MapQuested the address"

Hmm, never thought about it.
I say, "I will Google it" all the time. LOL