Expensive Vet Bills...Give me a Freaking Break!!

[rebeccag]

Originally Posted by dogbert

What is the stuff called? I'd like to check into it. I'd found around here the vets who are farther out of town are a little cheaper than the ones close by. I don't think that is so true anymore, I need to shop around. My old vet used to let me make payments which helped, this one wants the money up front which makes it more difficult.

It's called revolution for puppies and kittens.

[julietimothy]

Originally Posted by kalina82

yes anyone can buy vaccines on the internet from certain sites. i haven't seen any place where you can buy just one vaccine. They usually come in packs of 20 something. Also you'll need syringes and needles. And you need to know what your doing....

Originally Posted by Ellie May

While vaccine clinics have their place, they make me very nervous.
First, no vaccine should be given without an exam.
Even if the vet giving the shots does an exam, whose to say said vet is any good? There is no client/patient/vet relationship in most cases. If you get the exam done at your regular vet's office and then go to the clinic within a few weeks, that seems fair but I would sure hope they have medication for reactions available and they really should have equipment (oxygen, crash cart) there too which I highly doubt most do.

Because vaccines have to be stored just right, shipped in a certain way, disposed of in a certain way, given correctly and someone needs to be near by who can take care of reactions, I would definitely rather not give them myself. I gladly have the vet do it or a tech under a vet's supervision. If something goes wrong, it is their problem to fix.

If you don't know what you are doing you are right, but most time it take a while for a reaction to happen, most the time it does not have right then, and I have never seen a vet give shots and say say here for 30 mins to see if he is ok. They take your money and send you out the door. And most the time it they have a reaction to the shots he will tell you to give a benadryl. And for as buying the shots one by one you can go to most co-op farm supply place. I am not saying never go to a vet, but for the things like shots, and cutting their nails, that is something you can do your self and save money.

[dogbert]

Originally Posted by rebeccag

It's called revolution for puppies and kittens.

Thanks.

[Wylie's Mom]

Originally Posted by julietimothy

I am not saying never go to a vet, but for the things like shots, and cutting their nails, that is something you can do your self and save money.

I don't disagree that for some, giving shots at home may be okay.

However, there is a big difference between IM shots, SubQ shots, and IV shots -- and people seriously need to be trained, even if by their own vets, to be competent. It isn't something to take lightly at all (and I'm not saying you are ).

[Ladymom]

Originally Posted by Ellie May

While vaccine clinics have their place, they make me very nervous.
First, no vaccine should be given without an exam.
Even if the vet giving the shots does an exam, whose to say said vet is any good? There is no client/patient/vet relationship in most cases. If you get the exam done at your regular vet's office and then go to the clinic within a few weeks, that seems fair but I would sure hope they have medication for reactions available and they really should have equipment (oxygen, crash cart) there too which I highly doubt most do.

Because vaccines have to be stored just right, shipped in a certain way, disposed of in a certain way, given correctly and someone needs to be near by who can take care of reactions, I would definitely rather not give them myself. I gladly have the vet do it or a tech under a vet's supervision. If something goes wrong, it is their problem to fix.

Dogs and cats should have an annual physical including bloodwork done by their vet whether you vaccinate yearly or follow the three year protocol. Skipping the wellness checks to save money can result in big vet bills later on. My Lady will be fourteen later this year despite her numerous serious health issues and it is absolutely because she gets regular vet care.

Rabies clinics are a great idea if your pet has already gotten his annual physical since rabies should be given separate from other vaccines anyway.

[rebeccag]

Originally Posted by Ladymom

Dogs and cats should have an annual physical including bloodwork done by their vet whether you vaccinate yearly or follow the three year protocol. Skipping the wellness checks to save money can result in big vet bills later on. My Lady will be fourteen later this year despite her numerous serious health issues and it is absolutely because she gets regular vet care.

Rabies clinics are a great idea if your pet has already gotten his annual physical since rabies should be given separate from other vaccines anyway.

My new vet gave Ksena her shots and rabies in the same visit

[julietimothy]

I use progard 5 for my shots

[yorkie_mama22]

I believe yearly shots around here are also around 100$ with exam.

[rebeccag]

Originally Posted by rebeccag

My new vet gave Ksena her shots and rabies in the same visit

Jonah's going for his last set of shots Tuesday and his rabies...should I hold off on his rabies? Why should they be given seperate?

[Ellie May]

Originally Posted by rebeccag

Jonah's going for his last set of shots Tuesday and his rabies...should I hold off on his rabies? Why should they be given seperate?

Yes, you should hold off.
Rabies is the vaccine most likely to cause a reaction and that is so much on their bodies at once. It is always best to separate them.

[Bravo916]

I just wanted to chime in on this and bring up a point someone else mentioned. The low cost vaccination clinics are an excellent way to save money. In my area, if you do annual boosters its $35, rabies is $9, if you buy a 12 month supply of heart worm meds they give you a free heartworm blood test and to top it off they always have tons of coupons in the mail.

My pup got a free rabies shot thanks to the coupon and just last weekend I bought a year supply of Interceptor for $20--regularly $42 less a $15 coupon found in the "junk" mail, less a $7 mail in rebate.

If you are in Northern California here is the link to the low cost vaccination clinic VIP Petcare Services

I have 3 dogs so it really makes sense to cut costs in areas like this where you are getting the same service as you would from your vet but at a MUCH lower price and keep those extra savings for annual checkups, blood-work and preventative care from your primary vet.

However, I can still totally sympathize about the vet bills, 2 months ago my pup had to have 4 puppy k9 teeth extracted (2 were loose) and my vet bill was $627 and that didnt involve a cleaning--can you say OUCH!!

[jeanm1963]

I think my vet is sooooooo expensive, puppy visit, with last puppy shot NOTHING ELSE 134.00 I was in there for maybe 7 minutes...

[Bravo916]

Oh, and I forgot to add...

Last April we also had to have a $2,500 root canal for my now 2 yr old boy lol. The doggy dentist even had the audacity to ask me if I wanted to bleach the tooth for an additional $550!

"Doggy dentists" do exist and you pay out the nose for them!

[Ellie May]

Originally Posted by Bravo916

Oh, and I forgot to add...

Last April we also had to have a $2,500 root canal for my now 2 yr old boy lol. The doggy dentist even had the audacity to ask me if I wanted to bleach the tooth for an additional $550!

"Doggy dentists" do exist and you pay out the nose for them!

lol, Ellie's vet has a special interest in dentistry but isn't board certified, so we get a deal. Only $600 for oral surgery. It looks like we got a deal.

[Bravo916]

Originally Posted by Ellie May

lol, Ellie's vet has a special interest in dentistry but isn't board certified, so we get a deal. Only $600 for oral surgery. It looks like we got a deal.

No kidding!! I am so jealous lol! (1,900 reasons and counting!)