I set an appointment to bring Max in to have the vaccination for kennel cough. The receptionist told me that he was due for a distemper booster and that the charge was 16. dollars for that and 15.00 for the kennel cough. Also the office visit for an exam was 37.00. I wasn't too happy with that as he was examined 6 months ago. I stated that I did not want the booster for distemper and was told that was up to the vet and not me. I told them I would get back to them and I might be looking for another vet. God they irk me. What would you guys do?
Am I wrong on not wanting to vaccinate for distemper?
- Thread starter Iaboy
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tesster
Boxer Insane
Low Cost Shot Clinics
Hi there - I know what you mean. A vet visit really starts to add up and it feels like a waste when they are healthy.
Are there any low cost vaccination clinics in your area? I get Tess vaccinated at a low cost mobile clinic that comes to my pet store once a month. They have a vet administer the shots, but they don't do a thorough exam. If you're sure your dog is in good health and it sees a vet regularily, there's no reason to pay for all the overhead (office visit, etc.) just to get shots. Look online or call your local petstore to see if they offer something like that. It cost me like $35 to get Tess's rabies booster, bordatella, and the DHLPP vaccinations. And that's California prices.
If nothing of the sort is available, I'd say that if you have to choose between which vaccine to give for monetary reasons, Distemper should be the one, not bordatella. Kennel cough is similar to a human cold. There are so many strains of it that the liklihood of the dog catching it anyway is high. Not to mention that the liklihood of kennel cough being fatal in a healthy, adult dog is not nearly as high as if your dog were to contract distemper.
Look into the vaccination clinics and await other opinions from more experienced BWers on the subject. Some folks don't choose to vaccinate against many things that aren't required by law. They might have something more to add. I have to vaccinate my dog for her day care and this is the least expensive way I've found to do it. Hope it helps!
Hi there - I know what you mean. A vet visit really starts to add up and it feels like a waste when they are healthy.
Are there any low cost vaccination clinics in your area? I get Tess vaccinated at a low cost mobile clinic that comes to my pet store once a month. They have a vet administer the shots, but they don't do a thorough exam. If you're sure your dog is in good health and it sees a vet regularily, there's no reason to pay for all the overhead (office visit, etc.) just to get shots. Look online or call your local petstore to see if they offer something like that. It cost me like $35 to get Tess's rabies booster, bordatella, and the DHLPP vaccinations. And that's California prices.
If nothing of the sort is available, I'd say that if you have to choose between which vaccine to give for monetary reasons, Distemper should be the one, not bordatella. Kennel cough is similar to a human cold. There are so many strains of it that the liklihood of the dog catching it anyway is high. Not to mention that the liklihood of kennel cough being fatal in a healthy, adult dog is not nearly as high as if your dog were to contract distemper.
Look into the vaccination clinics and await other opinions from more experienced BWers on the subject. Some folks don't choose to vaccinate against many things that aren't required by law. They might have something more to add. I have to vaccinate my dog for her day care and this is the least expensive way I've found to do it. Hope it helps!
courtney323
Energetic Moderator<br><img src="/forums/images/mo
And to add to Tesster's post -- the easy one to eliminate IMO is the Kennel Cough Vaccine.
You can think of as a "flu shot" -- a completely voluntary vaccine based upon what is projected to be the most common strain. Sometimes KC can be viral, sometimes bacterial, and there is no guarantee that your Boxer won't still catch KC. Mine have
Good luck
You can think of as a "flu shot" -- a completely voluntary vaccine based upon what is projected to be the most common strain. Sometimes KC can be viral, sometimes bacterial, and there is no guarantee that your Boxer won't still catch KC. Mine have
Good luck
BeckyNC
Boxer Insane
I feel your pain re $$
MaxDad--I've been where you are and will probably be there again. My girl, Tae, has some anxiety issues and sometimes goes potty in the house while I'm at work. Before starting her on Clomicalm in Sept, my behaviorist suggested we do a urinalysis to make sure she didn't have a UTI. I didn't think she did, but figured it could not cost more than $20, so took her in. $90 later, I walked out. I was so annoyed. Even posted on BW, asking others what they pay at the vet. My vet charged me $42 for an office visit, $15 to collect the urine, and $33 for the urinalysis. I looked over the bill when I got home and called the next day b/c Tae had a previous urinalysis in April and I was not charged a $15 collection fee. The vet told me the April "lack of charge" was an error b/c the collection fee is standard. It's charged b/c sometimes it is necessary to catheterize the dog to obtain urine. What really got me was the vet tech had said Tae had gone potty immediately and her urine was very easy to collect.
Tae is now due for her KC vaccination and a heart-worm check. I think we'll skip the KC vaccination for reasons stated above, but I'm bracing myself for a $42 charge in addition for a charge to draw blood and look at it. Clearly the heart-worm check is very important, but I feel charging me $42 everytime I step into the little room is just crazy. What's more, the vet practice is in an old building--it was built by the guy who started the practice in the early 70s--and must be paid off by now. I can't believe their expenses are that high. The only reason I am still going there is it's a mile away and the vets are very good.
That's my vent!
MaxDad--I've been where you are and will probably be there again. My girl, Tae, has some anxiety issues and sometimes goes potty in the house while I'm at work. Before starting her on Clomicalm in Sept, my behaviorist suggested we do a urinalysis to make sure she didn't have a UTI. I didn't think she did, but figured it could not cost more than $20, so took her in. $90 later, I walked out. I was so annoyed. Even posted on BW, asking others what they pay at the vet. My vet charged me $42 for an office visit, $15 to collect the urine, and $33 for the urinalysis. I looked over the bill when I got home and called the next day b/c Tae had a previous urinalysis in April and I was not charged a $15 collection fee. The vet told me the April "lack of charge" was an error b/c the collection fee is standard. It's charged b/c sometimes it is necessary to catheterize the dog to obtain urine. What really got me was the vet tech had said Tae had gone potty immediately and her urine was very easy to collect.
Tae is now due for her KC vaccination and a heart-worm check. I think we'll skip the KC vaccination for reasons stated above, but I'm bracing myself for a $42 charge in addition for a charge to draw blood and look at it. Clearly the heart-worm check is very important, but I feel charging me $42 everytime I step into the little room is just crazy. What's more, the vet practice is in an old building--it was built by the guy who started the practice in the early 70s--and must be paid off by now. I can't believe their expenses are that high. The only reason I am still going there is it's a mile away and the vets are very good.
That's my vent!
harleyboxer
Super Boxer
Most petsmarts have low cost vaccinations. Most do it every other saturday. Last time I checked it was $50 for DHLPP, bordatella, corona virus, rabies, worming, and a heartworm test. They also sell heartworm and flea meds. I work for a vet and even with my discount it's cheaper to go to petsmart and I don't have to pay an exam fee.
jray
Boxer Insane
I have switched last year to a 3 year booster for both my boys. I talked to my vet and we agreed on the 3 year plan. Boxers are sensative as it is and I don't want to subject him to shots that may be harmful in the long run than helpful. There's many articles on the web about the boosters and what changes you can make.
Cami
Boxer Insane
You could also opt to have titers testing done to determine the amount of antibodies remaining in the system instead of revacinating, (distemper, not KC).
I would think that it would be YOUR decision, not the vets. They may say that they won't treat your animal with you not doing so but that's their ONLY decision. You get to decide what treatment you want to allow for your animal except of course the required rabies.
I would think that it would be YOUR decision, not the vets. They may say that they won't treat your animal with you not doing so but that's their ONLY decision. You get to decide what treatment you want to allow for your animal except of course the required rabies.
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