Reaction to vaccine!

[mkbartz]

Great thread!

[107barney]

Originally Posted by kjc

I think most give them together. Big dogs can handle it. The only vets that give them separate are the ones that know specifically about Yorkies and the effects of vaccines on small breed dogs.

This is why, as a Yorkie owner, one must educate themselves and be a proactive advocate for one's Yorkie's health.

Many times techs prep the exam room prior to your entry. They look at your chart, see this dog needs X, Y and Z. They pull them from the fridge, mix them up and put them in the room for the vet to give to the dog.

When I enter the exam room, I scan it for anything, especially vaccines. If I see vials with needles, I stop the vet before the exam and say 'What's that?'
The vet says 'Oh Just the vaccines.'
I say' Okay, we'll start there. What are they? Specifically? Let me see them. (and I read the labels) If I see something I don't understand, I ask about it then and there.
'What's this? Lepto? My dog doesn't get Lepto. Or Lymes. Or corona. No flu shot, no Giardia vac, no dental vac, no new vacs'
Vet says 'Well, we've seen 3 cases already this year.'
I say, 'And how many dogs have you seen without it this year? 10,000? 20,000? I am not risking my dog's life for those odds.'

ME: 'I want DHPP today.' And they better show me a vial that says DHPP and nothing else on it. Not
Vet: 'Oh we've run out of that, we're giving DHPPLCv instead.'
Me: 'No, you're not. I'll come back when you get the DHPP in.'

Me, again: 'What's in that 2nd vial? Rabies vac?'
Vet: 'Yes'
Me: 'NO. Not today. I'll be back in one month for the Rabies. Please remove it from this room. Thankyou.'
Vet: 'But it's already prepared.'
Me: 'I don't care. Give it to somebody else.'
Then the Vet starts the exam.

Not to be anal or anything, but many vets will try to sell vaccines. They make money on them. You must learn to say No. You need to protect your pup against this kind of unnecessary vetting.

I recently changed vets and was surprised to learn that vaccines are separated for large dogs! Things are changing and it is no doubt due in part to vocal petowners demanding better care for their dogs. I always suggest people read the AAHA guidelines on vaccines as a starting point on vaccines to learn about the topic and to figure out what questions one must ask of one's vet. If you don't know the right questions to ask, you won't know if the answers you get make sense. As for the syringes being prepared in advance - I too have seen this happen. It became so stressful to banter about lepto every visit that I just had to find a vet with a policy of not vaccinating small breeds with lepto.

[kjc]

Originally Posted by 107barney

I recently changed vets and was surprised to learn that vaccines are separated for large dogs! Things are changing and it is no doubt due in part to vocal petowners demanding better care for their dogs. I always suggest people read the AAHA guidelines on vaccines as a starting point on vaccines to learn about the topic and to figure out what questions one must ask of one's vet. If you don't know the right questions to ask, you won't know if the answers you get make sense. As for the syringes being prepared in advance - I too have seen this happen. It became so stressful to banter about lepto every visit that I just had to find a vet with a policy of not vaccinating small breeds with lepto.

This is good... the vaccines actually work better given individually (separate from the Rabies).

Reading the guidelines is great... but so many people come to YT after the fact when they already have a problem... and this forum has so much info... who wants to read about vaccines? Esp when so many assume they're safe. We'll have to write up a 'things you really need to know: read this first' article.

I did the dialog too bc so many people easily get talked into getting the 'extras' on the advice of their vet. The average Yorkie owner (if there is such a thing ) would do anything to keep their Yorkie healthy, and vets will play on this, heck the whole industry plays on it.

And I was going to add, 'Leave and get a new vet if you have to have this conversation more than one time'. It is totally frustrating. You can request that it is written boldly on the front of your chart what you will never want done. But I would still scan the exam room. Never assume that they are going to do only what was said on the phone when the appointment was made. Always double check. Always.

I think too bc vaccines are thought to be a simple thing, and required in order to keep your pup healthy, that many don't see the risks involved, esp not until they experience a problem. And many never learn about the risks, and get comfortable not thinking about it. But as a Yorkie owner, it is imperative to learn this stuff for the safety and health of our beloved pets, knowing about vaccines can save their lives.

I was so impressed the other day... my Mom called she had just come from the vet. "They made me get something... Tit- ers, before they would vaccinate my kitty!" I said "Oh that's really great! But it is Ti-ters not Tit-ers! That way your kitty doesn't get overvaccinated and end up with cancers and stuff from the vaccines." She's a happy camper now!