Vet WAS MAD at me!

ORIGINAL: Romal

Cadd, the 3 yr protocol is after the first two years. eg, puppy shots (course of 2-3 needles) then a booster at 1year of age. After that it is every 3yrs.

Since your dog has only ever been injected once, I would go again next year for the 1 year booster, then start the 3 year protocol.

Sorry for the confusion.  I adopted him when he was 6 weeks old.  He had ALL his shots when he was a puppy along with the 1 year booster as well.  I had him neutered as well.  But since the age of 2 to the age of 9, he has not had any vaccination.  Last year, at age 10, I decided to vaccinate him.  But he was SO sluggish and he wasn't acting like himself for a few days and that worried me so much. 

Does anyone know the requirements for rabies vaccination in NY?  I guess I broke the law by not vaccinating him for 7 years...... []

But at this point in his life (he's slowing down now, and can't move the way he used to), I don't know if vaccinations will benefit him or hurt him.
 
Of course, when I called the vet, they say that he needs his vaccination ANNUALLY.  When I mentioned that most people are doing it on a 3 year cycle, they said "we recommend it on an ANNUAL basis".

Of course, when I called the vet, they say that he needs his vaccination ANNUALLY.  When I mentioned that most people are doing it on a 3 year cycle, they said "we recommend it on an ANNUAL basis".

Gosh, this statement makes me mad!   The vets around here say the same thing.  I pass many vets offices along the way to get to my vet which I chose because they are on a three year protocol for vaccinations.  I wouldn't be getting vaccines anymore for my 10 yr old dog especially if I noticed that the last time had any effect on him....my son doesn't get any vaccines for his Dane Ollie since he was a puppy and got sick after his vaccines.    Rabies,,,,,,,,,,,,,,well, I guess you need to follow the state regulations if your dog is outside or there is a chance that you get caught not getting him his rabies vaccine. I honestly don't know about New York, any vet would know though. Hopefully they would be honest enough to not tell you to get it yearly just to get you to bring him in.    
A link about vaccinations that I have saved is interesting reading: [linkhttp://www.whale.to/vaccine/driscoll1.html#The_Final_Insult]http://www.whale.to/vaccine/driscoll1.html#The_Final_Insult[/link]_

Also, I have heard from my vet that the instructions on the packages of vaccines say to give yearly, and if they do not, they can be sued if a pet gets a disease that they could be vaccinated against.

 
AmI reading this wrong? That sounds totally ridiculous. Who can get sued? The vet? For not giving a vaccination that you said you didn't want? The drug company for you not using the drug "properly" (according totheir specifications)?  I must be reading it wrong 'cause that's the stupidest reason I've ever heard for giving annual vaccines. [&:]

ORIGINAL: Luvntzus

ORIGINAL: tashakota

I did a comparison of a couple vet's prices and 1-800PetMeds and the vets were cheaper... Only by a couple bucks but still, I could just go pick them up. 

I wouldn't recommend going through 1-800 petmeds personally. What I've heard from people who work at vets (and deal directly with the reps for Merial, Pfizer, etc.) is that they do NOT sell to anyone other than licensed vets. There have been cases where vials of things that were SUPPOSED to be Frontline, Advantage, etc. were found to contain a different product.

Also, it is possible for your dog to get heartworms, even if they are on the preventative. If you bought the prev. at a vet, the company will pay for all of your dog's treatment! Otherwise, you're out of luck.

Just wanted to add that buying from online places are sorta a risk when it comes to shipping. Companies that work directly with vet allways do overnight shipping and include ice pack while anywhere else it make take at least 3 days and no ice pack to get to you. How do you know your meds are not going to get cooked especilay in this heat! Most meds will go bad at certain temps including most preventitives. Not to mention the time it sits on the shelf in a wearhouse not designed for medical storage, who knows what happens there.

I'de say just be safe even if it cost a little bit more. And like mentioned above if your dog does get hearworm the companie will pay for it if you get it from a vet. Almost like free insurance with purchase.

ORIGINAL: jensw

Also, I have heard from my vet that the instructions on the packages of vaccines say to give yearly, and if they do not, they can be sued if a pet gets a disease that they could be vaccinated against.

AmI reading this wrong? That sounds totally ridiculous. Who can get sued? The vet? For not giving a vaccination that you said you didn't want? The drug company for you not using the drug "properly" (according totheir specifications)?  I must be reading it wrong 'cause that's the stupidest reason I've ever heard for giving annual vaccines. [&:]

NOT TRUE! I read the package and no where on it does it say anything like that!

It's up to each state on what's required with the RV. In my town for a person to obtain an animal licence their pet must be vaccinated with at least 3 year RV. Not that it's enforced here, but legilly a dog can be taken away from the owner if not licenced. I personly strongly belive in vaccinations, I've seen to many cases where dogs get something like parvo and die from it simply because it was not vaccinated. Just not a risk I want to take, especily because I can take it home to my dog if I'm not carful.

I am not talking Rabies vaccines by the way.  I am talking the others. My vet give the Rabies every 3 years because that is what our state says. 
But if the packages of Lepto, Distemper, etc say to give annually, and the vet does not suggest it and the dog gets this disease,,,the vet could be in trouble for not telling you to give it annually. Yes, that is what he said.  So if any of us have experience to what the other vaccines reads on the packages.. please tell us.  What the vet said was that we have to work on the drug companies to change their packaging instructions.   

and the vet does not suggest it and the dog gets this disease,,,the vet could be in trouble for not telling you to give it annually.

 
Well, he did suggest it and tell you to get it annually. You chose to disregard his advice. So how can he possibly get sued? [8D]

Humm.. I'll have to read that sometime and see...
I guess that vet just wanted to be safe for whatever reason. He did mention even if you don't agree with it so I don't see any reason to worrie.

My vet uses the 3 year protocol. When I take him in between now and next month for his update, it will be rabies, parvo, and distemper. And it will set me back a whopping $27.
 
You may now commence to envying my good fortune.
 

Well, he did suggest it and tell you to get it annually. You chose to disregard his advice. So how can he possibly get sued? [8D]

[color=#330000]Actually, we are not talking me.  It was a discussion about vaccinations,,,not him telling me to get them. First of all, the practice that he is in was on a 2 year protocol when this conversation took place,,,but since then they have changed to a 3 year protocol.. so he wasn't trying to talk me into anything,,,he knew that I started going to him (them) because of their extended protocol.  We have had many conversations about vaccinations, heartworm injections (now off the market) and NSAIDS...he knows I'm pretty much not for these things and is usually trying to explain his take on them.  He did tell me at one point that if I did not accept some of the vaccinations that his clinic would actually have me sign a waiver saying that I was offered them but not accepting them...just so they could protect themselves.  But in the end, I have denied many of the vaccinations and have not had to sign a waiver,,,which I would have no problem doing had they asked.[/color]