I 100% agree! I know nothing about banfield, but that sounds like a very "shaddy" practice. Any vet should absolutely recomend pulling the baby teeth while the dog is already under anesthesia.

Glad you are considering a new vet.

My Chloe was only 4.5 pounds when she was spayed and she had a liver biopsy at the same time- which is pretty invasive (way more then pulling a few baby teeth) and she did totally fine. Find someone who is experienced with small dogs (I am sure anyone ladyjane suggested is top notch) and your baby should be fine.

Dogs under 4 pounds are more likely to have problems due to their weight. Pups that are closer to a year old... if they have any retained baby teeth they are usually not difficult to remove at all. There are exceptions but your pup is a good age and a good size so I really doubt she'll have any difficulties.

I, personally, only used Banfield one time (for vaccines for my kitty), and I will never go back. I thought no one could screw up vaccines... haha.

[QUOTE=SWHouston;3484856]First of all, I just want to say how much I appreciate all of your concerned comments on this matter. I'm a little overwhelmed at the moment, not often one finds such a wonderful group of people, regardless of the venue of the website. I want to thank each and every one of you sincerely.

But, I think things are worse than has been told (about Banfield)....so far !

You all know by now, I'm DEFINITELY going to a new vet. LadyJane has provided me with a resource reasonably close by, and I'm going to give them a shot. (thank you again Dear Lady)

One of the things a new Vet is going to ask, is "what's been done so far" ?

Fortunately, I'm pretty good a keeping records, and have a Folder on each of my guys. SO, I started a file in Excel, inoculations and procedures in the left Column, and the dates done in the horizontal rows. (one for each dog)

Given my "limited" knowledge about Inoculations and the frequency which they are administered, I'm not going to just "blow up" over what I found, but, it seems like there has been several (about six different ones total) given to one of my animals (Male 1yo at the time), a little more than a month or so apart.

Now, I understand that Puppies require subsequent/successive inoculations but I didn't think that an Adult animal required this.

Just to make sure you know what I'm talking about, let me list them.
(understand that before now, I had NO reason to check up on this)
The following shots were given on...

11/3/2009 and 12/1/2009
Porphyromonas

Now, I've tried to do a search on IF the above repetitive inoculations are proper, BUT, wow, it's a very confusing issue, and I'm not sure if I'm even "spouting" about this with any foundation. But, I'll say this in my own behalf.
HMMM just wondering since when the Dental Vac became normal procedure? I know at my Vet it is offered but can be declined.

TxVicki,
I'm not sure that I would have declined it, IF I knew I could !
I trusted those guys to administer the Inoculations appropriately
and never thought to "check up" on them.

ArmaniMan, kjc,
Thank you both for your supportive words, I too thought that doing
any procedure as invasive as a Spay at a very young age, was
a little risky. I know that many do, but, I was just hesitant.

But...
The thrust of my last post (list of duplicate inoculations) was to
solicit comments on any dangers which might arise from multiple
inoculations like that.
Quite a few very experienced and well informed members here,
HIGHLY limit the number and frequency of inoculations to their
animals.

There's got to be a good reason for that.... right ?

My vet does not recommend the dental vaccine. I don't even think she offers it.

SW have you checked out the AAHA website for vaccine guidelines? This might help you:

http://www.aahanet.org/publicdocumen...s06revised.pdf

Pre-Op blood work is not always the same. They did the Pre-op blood work for my Jack Russell Candy, before her spay, at the vet's office but had to send off for the testing done on Ben, my yorkie, before his neutering as the doc wanted additional testing done. Ben's bloodwork also cost twice as much. Older dogs getting pre-op blood work done need a geriatric panel -- it also contains a Thyroid panel. But the usual tests done pre-op are to test for health of the internal organs -- heart, pancreas & liver function tests (like ALT, AST), kidney function tests (like BUN, creatinine), immune system, glucose level, clotting factor, total blood protein, electrolytes, and CBC (complete blood count) checking for anemia and infection, among other things.

Maybe it was a difference of having a Basic metabolic Panel or a Comprehensive Metabolic Panel in addition to the CBC? I did not get to see Ben's itemized tests. I think I will ask for a copy next visit -- then I'll know the difference for sure.

You can see how important these tests might be! Going under anesthesia may still be possible even with abnormal pre-op blood work, but sometimes additional precautions need to be taken. The pre-op blood work may also identify an unknow condition that would preclude the surgery and/or require immediate treatment. Yo can imagine how important it would be to know if there was a clotting problem before starting surgery!

I will be interested to hear what others think about the "Porphyromonas" -- my vet has not even offered them. I only have one with dental problems, Ben. I might be very interested in this vaccine for him!
http://www.doglogic.com/vaccination.htm For Dr. Dodds Vaccine Protocols

Food for thought...
Blood work

Vaccination Schedule Recommendations For Dogs
W Jean Dodds Vaccine Protocol VACCINATION PROTOCOLS

How to Protect Your Dog from a Vaccine Junkie
Dr. Paula Terifia, DVM


How to Protect Your Dog from a Vaccine Junkie - Google Search

Deb, I wonder about this Elvis had (has) dental issues, seems to me this is okay (Yorkies are prone to dental issues) but basic preventative care could substitute for it and lessen the side effects etc.
Again though, my mind frame has always been why take a pill if you can just alter (blank) and not need it, I see a lot of this as "band aid solutions"
I believe only real issues should be medicated and treated in my opinion and preventative care is foremost important to triage. Okay, there's my 2 cents.
Porphyromonas Vaccine

Where my opinion comes from in my thinking:
Now I also didn't let my kids get the "new flu" vaccine, sorry it hasn't been around long enough to see any long term side effects, and I'm not into guinea-pigging my children, but I do believe whole heartily in getting vaccinations, definitely not one of those who doesn't believe it in, my children had the Hep B vac. many people opt out on that, I looked at the risk and decided it was necessicary, we live in an area Hep B is a reality of exposure-of course I also don't get my children vaccinated when they have a cold and I didn't follow the standard schedule my children were older, we keep our babies at home here and limit their exposure and use homeopathic remedy as much as possible and immune boosters in the interim and as much as possible.

I have the same attitude towards my dogs, I get the rabies vac. every three years and said not to the Leptospirosis vac.

I rescued a dog and she was in such bad shape when I picked her up that I took her to the vet first to get checked out before taking her to my home. My vet was closed by the time I got back to my town (drove 2.5 hours to get her). Anyway I was basically forced to take her to Banfield because they were the only ones still open for routine type visits. She turned out to be fine and just had some simple skin issues from being kept outside and in filthy conditions. They gave me the option of doing a thorough workup at the tune of 600 dollars. I said no, paid my 35 and we left with her 7 day supply of antibiotic.

My normal vet cringes when Banfield is mentioned because they do exactly what BonBon just said - unnecessary procedures and vaccinations. They also have a health plan that is very hard to cancel as I have been told by some who had it and then tried to cancel it.

You have done such a great job of looking out for her. I agree with the others, take her to another vet.

These are great resources, check them out :) As far as the vaccines already been given, what's done is done. I never do lepto vaccs. or lyme (we have ticks here but the vaccine has been proven to fail frequently)but it depends on the exposure level for your dog. I've heard Jean Dodds (I think she reccomends boosters ever 3 yrs instead of annualy and titer (spell?)testing in between if you show and need proof of innoculation) is really good, definatly check that link out - I'm actually going to do so myself :). Good luck with your new vet, hope they give you sound advise and care :D

When Daisy and Lily were puppies, we took them to Banfield. We didn't find it hard to cancel however, I have read this several times so I sent letters via mail and e-mail to everyone and their brother at Banfield to MAKE SURE my plans were cancelled at the end of the year.

We were not happy with the services. Not even counting the excessive vaxes. They used certain benefits off of our plan willy-nilly, then when we needed them said we'd already used them, even though we never asked them to do so.

They gave Lily the Lepto vax and didn't inform me that it is the MOST reactive. We almost lost her.

They told us that Daisy was "worthless."

Then, they claimed that Lily had to be catheterized for EVERY SINGLE VAX because she reacted to one. Their reasoning was not for her safety but because "it is their policy." They said the same thing about Daisy, who has never reacted to anything. She was supposed to be catheterized simply because she is under 10 pounds :rolleyes:

We never saw a vet student. We'd see a vet nurse (generally at vet tech) for a quick look over and then the vet would come in.

They did Lily and Daisy's spay. The girls came through okay but I really think they over-medicated them (either with pain killers or sedatives).

All in all, I wouldn't recommend them.

ladyjane,
Thanks for the link..UOO big article, I'll have to closely read it !
Also, Vet apt scheduled for both today....$$$ ouch ! :(

CGurl,
Thanks for the links, and from what I picked up from Dodd's statement
the Porphyromonas was a 2-Stage Inoculation. However, I was never
told (by Banfield) that Sneakers needed it, and from what I've read
about the symptoms, he had NONE.

One thing I didn't understand was, the do and don't listed in..
Vaccination Schedule Recommendations For Dogs
Top block says do, and bottom says not required for same shots ?? :confused:

LDMomma,
Wow, I thought I had a bad time with them ! :eek:

Others...
Again, thank you so much for your comments. :thumbup:

Top block is recommendations with appropriate ages, (for puppies)
second block was not to's that are often recommended, but lists specific details for them at adult ages (says dogs instead of puppy).

Poor lady I'm volunteering her here, but I remembered the specialist I took my dog to telling me about this schedule and Mardelin brought it up her as what she uses, she's very will informed on it all, you might want to ask her specifics, I'm pretty sure she'd know details etc.

The only specific I really would throw my 2 cents in on is if you don't need it due to risk factors, why take the risk of doing it? For example don't care what the law is (phewwww it's 3 years here, but neener at the same time I'd be a lil law breaker LOL).

I'll never give a three year rabies vac yearly just because someone paper pushed it despite veterinary common sense.

Many people feel rabies isn't necessicary-personally I live in an area critters come through our yard, we had a rabies epidemic here, and it's not worth the risk to me period: life vs side effects-I will give a 3 year rabies to my dog we use the dead-vac option at my vets. One vet here pushes the lepo because of our rabies issues,even CA is low our area is high, but I refereed to Dodd's rec., and that was that I wasn't asked if I was interested in it again.

CGurl,

OH ok.. I missed the Pup/Adult thing, I was trying to read through a
LOT of information yesterday ! :rolleyes:

But on the frequency issue...
What can one do, when a professional says...
"Isn't it possible that your Dog might contract this or that" ?

One has to admit there's a "possibility", and I do have several
transient (wild) species running through my yard at night.
I think we established that Porphyromonas relates to dental
issues, and, a sequential series (2) was appropriate, IF it were
required at all.

But, what about the others I mentioned in my Post (#45).
Do you/others have any information relating to the jeopardy one's
animals can be placed in, when multiple injections are given ?