My mom's dog, whom we live with, has Lymes disease so I'd actually like to get the lymes shot for Jackson just to be safe. We also live on 3 acres of land, and behind us is 60 acres of farmland filled with deer and everything. I think it may be a good idea.

Those prices sound about right to me. The vet I take Jackson to charged a $50 new patient fee the first time and the DHLPP shot was $20, I think. Then there was another $20 for something else. I'll have to get all the bills out to see but it can get a bit ridiculous. I'm gonna take Jackson to a clinic near my house to get the Rabies shot for $7.

If I was you I would hold off on the rabies until six month or more. There is another thread with someones reactions to the rabies.

I live in Connecticut, 2 towns away from Lyme where Lyme Disease was first discovered. I will not let Piper have the Lyme Disease vaccination even though we have a high tick population. My first yorkie had the vaccination and a few weeks later he had Lyme disease. Next year he gets his booster, few weeks later sick with Lyme again. Next year the same thing happened. Finally I smarten up and I wouldn't let him have the boosters any more. He lived till he was 13 and he never got Lyme again. Last summer when Piper was getting her puppy shots I told the vet that I didn't want Piper to get the Lyme vaccination and I was convinced that the vaccine made my other yorkie get the disease. He said that it was possible for the dogs to get the disease from the vaccine. So why give it to them?

This site seems to indicate that the vaccine "may" cause kidney problems:
Lyme Disease - VeterinaryPartner.com - a VIN company!

Just remember that this is a non-core vaccine and it isn't worth the risk to vaccinate in most places.

Milo was getting the Lyme vaccine from our old Vet. When I switched Vets this year the new Vet told me that unless Milo is running around in the woods all day long he did not need the lyme vaccine and theat he did not even give it to his own dog.

Interesting info...

So now that my puppy has already had the first lyme vaccination, does she HAVE to get the follow-up, or can I tell the vet I don't want it now? We do have deer in the area, but she is definitely an indoor dog (pee pad trained too) and will only be out to play in our backyard (no woods) and for walks in the neighborhood.

Regarding the rabies shot - can I get this done for less $ at Petsmart/Petco?

Office calls range from $20-80 here. "Low cost" clinics cost in the $20 range and most don't charge for the office visit if you're in to get something else done, however, some still do. I've paid $20-55 for my dogs in different places over the years. My cat's last visit last summer to a feline specific hospital/clinic costed $75 (if you count the service tax) just for stepping in the door as we also had other tests run on her and an x-ray on top of that and left with a bill in the $300's. And that came out inconclusive other than to just feed her some FULL FAT moo moo milk (homogenized/3%) to get I-forget-what into her to hopefully increase those levels.

The vet she went to for her first dentals (not including the 2nd visit for dental surgery) for the drop-in office call (puppy wellness/physical exam) $44; Blood Collection $23.10; Geriatric Blood Profile $143.35 for a total after the service tax $220.98.

At the current vet clinic I used for her 2nd dentals and, now, as her primary vet, her office calls are $39 same as the above or a couple of dollars less. She didn't charge for a follow-up exam and also didn't charge for office visit when I just dropped her off for the day to get her dentals and other tests done--well, technically, for the dentals, there was no "visit".

1 Exam $39
1 Senior Blood Panel $134.37
1 Urinalysis In House: $41.50
1 Dental Xray/film: 42.00
1 Culture-Urine: 71.10

At the breeder's vet, I was billed (No office visit charge during the shot visits):

Giardia (each round) $20
Corona $8
DA2PP (each round) $18
Rabies $20
Revolution (Pink) $38.95
Drontal Plus 1.5 tablets $12.00
Microchip $40

But this same vet did charge an office visit/consult when I took her in for a check and x-ray: $20 Consult; $140 2 set x-ray; and $8 in tax :p .

I see no reason why you'd have to give the second one.
I'm not saying not to give it though...just make sure it is truly needed...

[QUOTE=LunaBelle;2519267]Interesting info...

So now that my puppy has already had the first lyme vaccination, does she HAVE to get the follow-up, or can I tell the vet I don't want it now? We do have deer in the area, but she is definitely an indoor dog (pee pad trained too) and will only be out to play in our backyard (no woods) and for walks in the neighborhood.

Regarding the rabies shot - can I get this done for less $ at Petsmart/Petco?[/QUOTE
Like I said Milo used to get it but no more, but I do make sure to keep up with his Frontline Plus every month. As for the the other shots I know a lot of my neighbors use the town to get the rabbies shots it is much less expensive, however I feel because Milo is small 7lbs I would feel much better taking him to his Vet who I know is familiar with small dogs. I think that is a descison only you can make what you might want to do is find out were in your town they do the low cost rabbies (most towns have them here) and see which town Vet is doing the and call the office to check out his or hers knowledge of small breeds.

OK, I took out the bills, here's what I paid:

For his 12 week visit
New patient exam - $55.00
Nemex/StrongID per pup/kitten - $14.96
DHLPP puppy second vacc. - $20.00
Frontline Plus - $49.20
Total - $139.16

PS - I won't buy Frontline from the vet again! lol. Too expensive.

Visit at 16 weeks:
Examination - $46.00
Injection - $20.84
DHPP Third Vacc - $20.00
Total = $86.84

Back when I lived in downtown Chicago seven years ago, the clinic I took my pets to charged $75.00 for an office call.

When I worked at a vet hospital in rural SW Michigan, the clinic charged $34.00 for an office visit.

Here in the suburbs of Seattle, the place I work charges $59.00 for an office call.

You're going to see vast differences in price depending where in the country you are. There's also different norms as to the standard of care-- and a lot of the time, you get what you pay for. I always kind of discourage people from going with the least expensive option when it comes to vet care, because sometimes the least expensive option can afford to be less expensive because some corners are being cut, or some of the materials being used aren't as good. If you really want to compare clinics, I'd say to call around town and check prices on something routine, like a grade 1 dental cleaning. Drop anybody who is over-the-top expensive or waaaay too cheap compared with the others off your list, and try to find somebody you like who is in the middle. They're charging a fair market price for your area.

Ok, well I just went to the vet today for Mia's first puppy shots, she is 9weeks tomm.. I have a fantastic vet and her prices are alot higher then most places around here in Syracuse, but I am the most comfortable with this place...here is my bill today..

Office Visit: $42
Da2ppv Shot: $19
Fecal Exam: $22
Liq Med for Deworming: $14.25

Bill came to w.tax $97.25

and then she goes back in 4wks for more shots.. she asked me if I wanted the Lepto shot next time and I said no, I didn't do that shot with Lily and I wont do it with Mia... she did say there alot of risks with this shot...

:eek:HOLY COW!!!
I am shocked at just about all these...I think the most Maddie's vet bill has ever been was $55.00!
That includes the $12.00 office visit!;)
Her most expensive shot was the $19 rabies.
I ahve even taken her in for required re-checks and they let me go without charging.
However, I am going to a new vet for heartworm test, so I am gald I read these prices, I may have fell in floor if I was told some of these amounts!:p