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

[rebeccag]

Originally Posted by Ellie May

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.

Okay, sounds good. Thank you!

[TatumsMom]

Originally Posted by kalina82

Titers can be performed every few years to make sure their antibioties are ok.

I remember my vet telling me once (or a couple times when I protested) that the titers nearly cost the same as the actual vaccination. Can anyone confirm that?

[Ellie May]

Originally Posted by TatumsMom

I remember my vet telling me once (or a couple times when I protested) that the titers nearly cost the same as the actual vaccination. Can anyone confirm that?

Here a couple years ago the DHLPP-C (before I knew better) was $29.
Titers are about $40 for each disease (parvo and distemper)...so $80.

[TatumsMom]

Originally Posted by Ellie May

Here a couple years ago the DHLPP-C (before I knew better) was $29.
Titers are about $40 for each disease (parvo and distemper)...so $80.

Thanks! I've done all the reading on overvacinnation issues and while I agree with a lot of it, if my vet doesn't agree it becomes a problem. And in order to have Tatum groomed or boarded there, she is required to be up-to-date on her shots - the way (frequency) they want them. I do completely trust my vet. It's possible that we have spent more money than we should have on vaccinations that are probably not necessary every year but I also don't want to use a different vet and since Tatum has never had any adverse reactions to any of her shots, we'll go with the vet's advice.

[Ellie May]

Originally Posted by TatumsMom

Thanks! I've done all the reading on overvacinnation issues and while I agree with a lot of it, if my vet doesn't agree it becomes a problem. And in order to have Tatum groomed or boarded there, she is required to be up-to-date on her shots - the way (frequency) they want them. I do completely trust my vet. It's possible that we have spent more money than we should have on vaccinations that are probably not necessary every year but I also don't want to use a different vet and since Tatum has never had any adverse reactions to any of her shots, we'll go with the vet's advice.

To me it has nothing to do with the money spent on them but the long-term side effects that are just now thoroughly being looked at. Just looking at the adjuvants in the rabies vaccine...I can't believe I have to put it into my dog's body at all. I look at it this way. Do the bare minimum to get good protection. Have you talked with your vet about this? A lot of hospitals say they won't hospitalize or whatever unless the dog is up-to-date but if you talk to the vet, they may compromise. Ellie's vet was very willing to alter the regular schedule for her but the standard at the office was still to give everything yearly.

If a vet forced me to give all of these vaccines yearly, we'd just be gone.
There are too many other vets out there who are willing to let me have a say.

[rebeccag]

Originally Posted by rebeccag

It's called revolution for puppies and kittens.

They have it on sale and they have it for dogs too not just puppies..
Revolution: Flea Control Medicine For Cats & Dogs - 1800PetMeds

[ladyjane]

I have only briefly scanned this thread, but I see that it has changed from the cost of vetting to the frequency of vaccinations on pups.

As to the cost of vetting.....it is not cheap and that is why I always ask people about that prior to adopting to them. In addition to yearly exams and shots, pups need monthly heartworm preventatives, usually yearly dentals (depending on size and age, but at some point definitely dentals) and other things that often come up! These are not items that can be ignored! Pups get very ill if they do not have these things taken care of...and it is not cheap! Vets have to pay for their overhead just like human doctors!

Ok...as to vaccines. I probably should start another thread, but want to put this here for those who are reading this thread to see it.

The AAHA has had new recommendations for a couple of years now. If your vet is not aware and/or not following them, I would suggest asking why. The AAHA is not recommending vaccines (except for rabies which is governed by the state laws) on pups every year! Here is a link to that information:
https://secure.aahanet.org/eweb/dyna...cineGuidelines

[Nigel]

Welcome to the world of pet ownership...it's not cheap! Trying getting shots at a Petco, 1/2 the price. Also, if this is your 1st child? Wow, get ready for how expensive that's going to be ....it'll blow your mind!! As a mom of grown children, and mom to many dogs, I often used to wish my kids could have cost what my dogs cost me....I'd have been a millionaire by now.

[tammy8833]

i do all my own distemper vaccines the 5 in one for the adults and the puppies i can get a 25 pack shipped 2 days on ice for about 65.00 from revival i sometimes use upco but they have gone up you can get them individually for around 4-5.00 ea

i usually buy my dewormer for litters at the store the 3 in one for 5.00 but it seems you cant get that anymore only the 2 in one so i can order that online at revival like the panacur its 3.99 a box, i also order my tapeworm dewormers on ebay..brand new package never open..for about 10.00 shipping and all its had 5 pills and i only use it when i need to...thankfully my last bottle has lasted me awhile i havent brought home any new puppies in a long time except i just got teddy this week.

i also order my advantage flea control on ebay..i get the big dog vial kit where you divide it so i can get a 10 month supply for 18.97 shipping included and it works great, the tube is never open, always has the saftey seal on it

i used to use banfield free exams but im not crazy about them..i now use my moms vet and its 32.00 an exam and i love them..they didnt charge me for my follow up on gidgets eye and are really great to the dogs

i can also get dew claws and tails docked for 16.00 a puppy with no exam fee ( i have also used a friends vet that only charges 10.00 a puppy but they are about an hour away)

i can get rabies for 13.00 with no exam fee

grooming varies so much petsmart will do the basic shampoo, brush, dry, nails, sanitary clips, paws, and teeth for 17.00 i called a few other places and its was 40-65.00 for the same thing

i rarely take mine to get groomed i bathe and brush them myself but i do like to take them occassioanlly they always look so much better

[dogbert]

For my girl it was over $100.00.

[Zanders' mom]

This is a very interesting helpful thread. After every visit to the vet I am driving away thinking I should have studied to be a vet, married one .... so that it would not cost me so much