Vet WAS MAD at me!

Well, I'll have to say that after having gone to a few "I don't care about the animals" vets, I'm now going to one who is AWESOME!!!!  Compared to the other vets, her prices are a little lower (aren't they all expensive?).   I think that even if she went up a good deal on her prices, I still take our animals to her.  Plus she doesn't give unnecessary treatments.

When she gives our dog and cats shots, they don't even know it!!  She's really gentle with the animals and talks to them the whole time.  This vet truly loves animals, and they sense that.  I know Dakota absolutely LOVES her!!  (Then again, he loves everyone!!)  When he sees her at the training center, he goes crazy!!

A few months back, Dakota got into something at my grandparents' house.  He threw up 11 times on the way home.  I was so upset.  It was a Sunday, so I called the vet's office and got her pager number.  She called back in less than 2 minutes.  She was so calm and wanted to know everything.  She comforted me and told me all the things she heard of puppies swallowing.  Then she talked about her own puppies getting into things.  She had me give Dakota a couple of specific things and then told me to call her if "this" or "this" happened.  He was fine after that!!! 

If you're not happy with a vet, go to someone else.  You need to find someone you can trust, especially in an emergency situation.  There are lots of really good vets out there.  I'm so glad we kept looking.  Good luck!!!     

ORIGINAL: dyan
Of course she didn't like it that I asked for a prescription for Interceptor (their fault for not selling it) and then told her I was only giving it about 40 days not 30.  

 
I've noticed a lot of people are getting grouchy about giving prescriptions. Last time, I asked the vet to write it for a 12 month supply (that way I have 6 months for 2 dogs), and she said, "There isn't a 12 month supply." Apparently, there is because I've been buying it for years. So unless someone has been creatively making new boxes...
 
I have 2 dogs, 2 cats, and 4 guinea pigs who all get regular medical care. If a vet can't so much as give me a prescription for hw meds to lessen the overall cost, I'd probably have to look into another vet. I feel like they're getting their fair share of money after all those vet visits. The least they could do is let me save 30-60 bucks somewhere in the process.
 
 

Just a thought-you could see if they will match any better price you find online, our office does.

Dyan, that's the reaction you will get from most traditional vets.  Why not find yourself a holistic vet who uses the new protocols?
I've stuck to my old vet, because she is so good at surgery (should they ever need it - and I've seen her do one & she's so meticulous about everything).  But, we have a holistic vet here who will consult with anyone, even if they are not regular clients.

I too would recommend finding a vet that is more in line with your beliefs.  Otherwise I think you might always walk away feeling frustrated.
 
When I was searching to change vets about 5yrs ago I called and asked for a phone consultation/interview.  I think I was charged 20$ but IMO it was well worth it to find out if this person was what I was looking for.  At that time I chose a holistic vet in a combo practice, who has since left, but it turned out to be a positive in the end.  I now see the practice owner who is both traditional and holistic.  She's very laid back, conservative and respectful.  I also get a multi-animal discount if I bring in 3 pets or more which saves me about 50$ every year when everyone goes in for their yearly exam.  I have a great relationship with my vet and since we plan on moving out of state in the next few years, it's going to be very hard to leave her !

I have a very hard time finding a good vet here. Belive it or not the best one I found, works out of his Garage. He is a Vet, that has been running it out of his house for years. At first I thought, this guy can't be that good, but I talked to others that go to him, and asked him myself. And he said he doesn't like the way other vets run up bills that are for no reason, give you things you don't need. He does not charge me a visit fee. Only for what I need. He is cheaper than the other vets too. He is wonderful with the animals and everyone just loves him.
 
I found a litter of kittens last year and called another vet because I wanted them wormed and I had a problem with one. The office would not tell me anything as to what to do with this one kitten. She said "I can't tell you anything, you have to bring it in" When I asked for the worm meds, she would not sell it to me, she wanted me to bring the kittens in, have them checked first. And it would have cost me $60 each kitten. Crazy[&:]

Last I looked them up there was no holistic vets anywhere close to me.  The way it is, I drive past at least 4 vet offices to get to the one that I go to.  I would like to stay closer to home in case of emergency, but on the other hand I picked these vets because they at least went to a 2 year protocol. I never found one that around here that went to the 3 year protocol , although one vet in this practice told me I hoped that they will go to 3 years by the end of the year. 
I kind of think at this point the smarter thing to do would be to not mention the Interent.  lol!     

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've been pretty pleased so far with the vets I've gone too.  I asked the vet on Kota's last visit about our other dog, Pepper and trying a different way with treating her itchiness/allergies and she said that if we weren't completely happy with Atopica, to definitely try something else, because we can always go back if that doesn't work.  I was expecting some push back but was pleased there wasn't any.

Another vet I used to go to, wouldn't charge for a float on a fecal if there was no exam and then the pills were issued without an exam as well.  We don't go there any more because of convenience and he doesn't do emergencies.  But he did give my poor Niko her final shot and didn't charge me for it.  That was a blessing...

Yesterday I took 5 of my dogs to the vet for HW check 3 vaccinations total (1 rabies and 2 distemper) and 5 pkgs of Hearthguard.  455.55 later I walked out.
I am really stressin over these vet bills sometimes.
Stormy has just cost me 5000.00 for 2 TPLO surgeries.
I just got nailed with 6000 tax bill....and no I don't make that much money but the govt did not take out enough money on my/my husbands air force retirement.
Sorry, just had to vent[][][]

Hey folks, new here.  My Chow/Lab mix is 11 years old and last year was the first year I gave him shots (since he was a puppy).  He got rabies & the 4 in 1 shot.

After reading the threads on this forum, I don't think I want to vaccinate him anymore.  However, I will still continue to bring him in for annual check-ups.  He got his blood test and stool sample done last year and everything checked out.  He was also put on heartworm medicine.
 
Question: What do they do to check for heartworms?  Is it a blood test?  I purchased the heartworm medicine from the vet last year ($100 I think).  But now, I see that you can purchase it over the web ( [linkhttp://www.1800petmeds.com/all.asp?LV=86]http://www.1800petmeds.com/all.asp?LV=86[/link] ).  But do I need a prescription for it?
 
In your opinion, would it be OK for me to say no to the annual vaccinations?  If anything, I'll do it every 3 years like some of you suggested.  It isn't about the money.  I just don't like the idea of injecting chemicals into the bloodstream.
 
PS - Is there a website somewhere that gives the average vet fees?  I really don't want to get ripped off.

Rabies are required by law, every year or 3 depending on your state law.
 
Heartworm test is done with a blood draw. You still need a script to buy online.

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.

I took Max to the Banfield in Petsmart, because I thought he would be less scared (he wasn't but that's another story). Anyway, they gave me absolutely no arguement when I refused all the vaccines except for the rabies. No questions asked at all. I just had my sister give him the rest of his vaccines a few weeks later at home, where he wasn't scared. 

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.

And you know,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,when they are suggesting 3 yrs protocols its NOT so much that they believe the vaccines only last 3 years...it is suggested mainly for $$ reasons...so the veterinarians do not loose too much income.   I have read that over and over again.
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. In all reality, they could still get the disease even if they are vaccinated.