Annual Visit Requirements
Exam Distemper Booster Rabies Is there a difference between the 1 year and three year shot. Canine Cough Vac Fecal Exam Heartworm Test Heart Guard Frontline I am thinking the annual test, three Year Rabies every two years. You can buy both Frontline and Heartgard online cheaper. Why test for heartworm/ Fecal Exam if there are not symtoms? And why Canine cough if the dogs only go to the park 20 times a year max. I do not board them and they do not go to day care. Thoughts from the experts? |
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| Here's my take on the annual visit. Basically, we do everything that you have listed annually for Oscar except for the Canine Cough Vaccine (which I am assuming is Bordatella or Kennel Cough), as he is never boarded. We do the three year Rabies Vaccine for Oscar as it is better for his immune system, so I am not sure if there is a cost savings there. (There are a number of threads on this board about the three-year vaccine and, after many studies, most of the country is moving in that direction, and getting away from the annual vaccine.) As I understand it, a vet will not prescribe heartworm meds unless they determine a dog is heartworm negative first, as the preventive meds can be fatal to a heartworm positive dog. Therefore, they always do a blood test first, to make sure of a dog's status. I see that you live close to me, (I am in Libertyville), so I know you probably have a similar exposure to ticks and fleas. We have found that Frontline is the most effective product for ticks. (We briefly tried Advantix, and I kept finding live ticks on Oscar, where, with the Frontline, they are dead, or curled up in a fetal position.  )Your vet seems very similar to mine in regards to the annual visit. (Oscar has Immune Mediated Disease so we test his blood for antibodies before administering any vaccines, but that is actually more expensive than the vaccines themselves.) Bottom line, my vet is looking at all the same things as your vet. Laurie and Oscar |
| I understand the money thing...it's never fun to have to pick and choose what you get, what you skip. Try having 6 dogs! This is what we do: Exam: - each gets an annual exam, but we stagger them a bit. Not fun to pay that many at once, and phyically impossible for me to take that many at once.  When they go in for the exam, we usually do the following: distember/combo booster - given annually for a few years, then I start staggering that. There is lots of data out there showing after the core series, MOST dogs are covered for years, and some may be for life. I also purchase these at the dispensed price, at a discount, and administer them myself. I give humans shots (I'm a nurse), so I have no qualms about giving any of my dogs or other animals shots. rabies - the 1, 2 or 3 year are all the same shot. The difference is the laws where you live governs how often you must LEGALLY give them. Do you read the rabies challege posts here? - this group is legislating to have 3 year vaccines be the law. Any more than that has been proven to be unneccessary and may even harm your dog. The one exception is: a dog needs the 1st vaccine, then a booster in ONE year. After that, they are good for at least 3 years, given every 3 years for the rest of their life. Also, rabies is only considered legally given if done by a veterinarian - so that one I don't do myself! Canine cough - assume you mean kennel cough or bordatella - This is optional for some - mandatory if your dog goes places that require it. It is similar to our human flu shots - it's deleveloped to cover the most common and virulent strains. So no guarantee that the strain your dog gets exposed to is the ones covered, but it certainly helps the odds out. I vaccinate those that are most at risk - usually ones going to shows and other group activities with lots of exposure risk. This can be done before events - several weeks before to get maximum immunity is best. It doesn't last a full year - more like 6 months in most, or even less in some. So randomly getting it with the annual exam may be a waste of money. This is also one that I purchase at the dispensed rate and give myself. Fecal exam: I have 2 that are certified therapy dogs with TDI and this is a requirement with their annual renewal. I randomly add in another dog or 2, just to check on them. I also do the hunting dogs after their seasons, as that's when they are more likely to pick up something. Otherwise I just do fecals on an as needed basis for the rest. Heartworm - The 2 therapy dogs are required, I do the other dogs all except my other 2 seniors now. They are 11 and 12 and they get the preventative, I just keep giving it. Heartgard - I use Ivermectin that we have for livestock. Not an approved label usage, but it is the same med.... it does save an immense amt of money. Frontline - I don't use any of the chemical insecticides. If in doubt, your vet should be able to prioritize what they consider essentials for your dog, in your local area. And there is no need to get it all at once. It actually is safer for your dog to spread the different vaccinations and medications out over time. |
| Thanks for the advice. It is tough to make these decisions. We all want our dogs to have the best care possible and be with us forever and happy. The more advice the better. |
Ditto Dawn, tho the number is down to four. We used to take 5 at a time  It was fun and game, always livened up the office....leashes every which way, etc. Then we began to stagger for $$ reasons. We don't do annual exams. If something goes wrong, they get an exam on the spot. We don't do fecal exam, no fleas so I'm not big rush to do that. Nor a urine test unless necessary for some problem. Rabies is every three years. I put the distemper off as long as possible as I too am vary about over vaxing them now. Heartworm test is every two years because we continue Heartgard thru the winter, otherwise the testing is every year. We get pretty lax about the heartworm test......I didn't realize Jack was long past due until I took him in for his nose. Of course we keep current on Frontline and Heartgard. In fact, the vet looked at Jack and said, "I don't think I've met this one." Could be, he's been pretty healthy getting the reception room treatment: blood drawn and vaxes by our friend the vet tech. |
I have 5 dogs and have a mobile vet. She comes once a year for an exam I give the 3 yr rabies and then shots for the first year then three years then a titre then none I do use heartguard and frontline (frontline under duress) my vet knows I give the HW meds monthly so she only tests every 2 years. My last vet visit I needed quite e bit and my bill was about 100 per dog.  |
| If you give them Heartgard year round, you don't have to have them tested. I always try to do that but then I screw up and miss a month so I end up having to pop for the tests. |
| Quick update on the dogs annual visit. The vet said the 3 year shot is about 3 times more expensive than the 1 year $93 v. $36. I thought it was the same shot. I gave them the annual. I think that the vet was just giving a price disincentive not to do the thee year. He also said that the Frontline and Heartgard that you get through Pet Meds and other sites may come from Mexico and are not manufacturer guaranteed. Good thing is if you do 12 month supply at his office, he will price match anything on the internet. Obviously he just wants to sell the Frontline and Heartgard from his office and make whatever profit he can. I am still going to take him up on it to save the shipping time. Still, Annual Visit, Heartworm test, and annual rabies shot cost me $120 per dog. |
Madegg wrote: Quick update on the dogs annual visit. The vet said the 3 year shot is about 3 times more expensive than the 1 year $93 v. $36. I thought it was the same shot. I gave them the annual. I think that the vet was just giving a price disincentive not to do the thee year. He also said that the Frontline and Heartgard that you get through Pet Meds and other sites may come from Mexico and are not manufacturer guaranteed. Good thing is if you do 12 month supply at his office, he will price match anything on the internet. Obviously he just wants to sell the Frontline and Heartgard from his office and make whatever profit he can. I am still going to take him up on it to save the shipping time. Still, Annual Visit, Heartworm test, and annual rabies shot cost me $120 per dog. Are you sure you heard right? If so, your vet is running a big racket and ripping people off! I was sure mine were a LOT cheaper, so I quick called my vet this morning (I'm at work). The price is $30 for the1 or 3 year - $15 for the vaccine, and $15 for the office call/exam. It is the smaller exam - a quick go over, check ears with the fiber optic scope, listen to heart and lungs, answer any questions you may have. This is for either the 1 yr (1st vaccination) or 3 year. And they are the exact same vaccination - I asked. In MN they need one, then a booster a year later, then every 3 yrs after that. So to charge a different price just for the vet to write up that it is good for 1 or 3 years is SOOOO wrong! I would be looking for a new vet...  To compare - I just had Biscuit (15 mo. old lab) in Friday afternoon because he was running next to Todd's truck in the yard and jumped under the wheels. He got run over...not bad, but both front and rear tires and he was limping. He was seen on an emergency basis, he had xrays (multiple views) of both his shoulder and foot, got sedation for the xrays and a more thorough exam, and got anti inflammatory meds to take home - and the bill was $167. Biscuit is OK too - he tore his shoulder joint capsule and didn't break anything. Crate rest for 3 weeks, then recheck the shoulder/elbow joint. |
| Well my guy just built a new building complete with pet boutique and boarding/ training center. He has to be have a major mortgage payment on the thing plus all the employee expense. Someone on the board recommended the Lincolnshire Animal Hospital. I will have to take a look next year. Only problem I have is that he is great with the dogs. I have never seen a vet that was so pet friendly. The dogs do not even know they just got their shots. They are waging their butts the whole time. I think it is the 6-8 liver treats that he gives them per visit. I bet I would not care if I got a shot if you gave me an ice cream cone while you did it. |
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