So I was wondering if this is bad.......

[concretegurl]

Mine are UTD but I'm not paying the $120 local license fee-breaking the law, breaking the law...watch I'll get ticketed tomorrow.

There are lots of vac. clinics but they don't heartworm test, take fecal or blood samples for preventatives-no good

[Ellie May]

A pet that looks healthy to an owner is not necessarily a truly healthy pet. Avoiding vet visits on those grounds is not okay.

Vaccine clinics have their place; however, they should not replace a client/pet/vet relationship. Building a relationship with a vet for when something goes wrong is extremely important. You can tell your friend not to expect any favors (like payment plans) if they wait until something is very wrong to provide vet care like they should.

Roundworms can cause blindness in children and hookworms can cause skin issues. Heartworm can kill dogs. I certainly hope these tests aren't being skipped.

After a one year booster, no dog should get DHPP annually. A vet that does this is apparently not caring much about what the AAHA and AVMA have to say which is a bad thing.

[yorkietalkjilly]

What makes your friend think her dog is any less deserving of medical care than a person is? I'll bet she goes to the doctor for check-ups or when she doesn't feel well and a dog is just as needful of check-ups and preventative care as a human. I cannot imagine not taking my Tibbe in for his regular vet care!!! I just could not live with myself if I cared no more for my pet than that. She is not a caring or responsible pet owner if she is only doing part of the due diligence required. I sure do hope she comes to think more of her little Yorkie than she does now.

[ArmaniMan]

This is one of the main reasons I don't like vaccine clinics- I think far too many people use them as a replacement for good vet care and they forego that relationship forged between a vet and their patients. I like my vet to know my pets history and remember them when they walk through the door. This relationship has also allowed me to get in quicker in true emergency cases. My vet knows what is normal for my animals and therefore if something looks abnormal when they come in.

[My lil friend]

I agree that a relationship with a vet is very important. Last summer one of my poodles grabbed the older dogs meds when he was being difficult about taking it. I was at my vets in 10min from the time the poodle grabbed the pills and he had thrown it up in less than 3 more min. I now have peroxide here,but at that time I did not. I was able to get treatment for my dog faster than if I had gone to the store. I put the dog in the car,called the vets office while I was on the way and they were literally waiting at the door for me when I walked in. You could not get that by just walking into any clinic,these people know me and know that I trust them.
When I had to put my Bunkey to sleep,everyone in the office hugged me and cried right along with me,because he had been so sick and he was such a sweet baby.

[capt_noonie]

Originally Posted by ArmaniMan

This is one of the main reasons I don't like vaccine clinics- I think far too many people use them as a replacement for good vet care and they forego that relationship forged between a vet and their patients. I like my vet to know my pets history and remember them when they walk through the door. This relationship has also allowed me to get in quicker in true emergency cases. My vet knows what is normal for my animals and therefore if something looks abnormal when they come in.

Before I found out about YT, that was pretty much what I did. Uni was 2 before I found YT, and all she had gone to was Banfield (which turned me off to all vets) then just the vax clinics. She only had one or two bouts of diarrhea since she was a puppy until it got bad (pancreatitis) and I went to the vax clinic and they told me "you need to go here" and gave me a card to the Garden Grove Dog and Cat Hospital, which I later found out is the best pet hospital around me! that is where I finally got her spay done (had never felt good about any other place) they kind of know me know. So next time I call in, I say this is Uni's mom, blah blah what should I do, and they already know she is a yorkshire, about 5 lbs, is sensitive to lamb, has LP, etc etc. I love my vet!