Can I administer vaccinations to my own dog instead of going to vet?

Question

For instance I would like to save 50$ by purchacing vaccinations (rabies and rubella) online for only 7$ and administering to my dog via needle injection. Are there qualifications for doing these types of procedures?

Answer 1

Technically, yes.

However, the rabies will not be recognized by authorities if your dog is accused of biting someone. In that case they may impound or destroy it.

Also, although it is rare sometimes a dog will have a severe reaction to the shot. In that case it will likely die, since there is no vet there to treat it. I know of one dog that this has happened to.

Anyways, your dog still needs it's annual checkup. Many vets (like mine) include the shots in the price, so it costs the same whether you get the shots or not.

I have 12 dogs, and things are tight, but this is one area I don't cut corners on. I have them vaccinated by the vet.

Answer 2

Sure you can - I've done it for years. You can get your vaccines on line or even some pharmacies carry them. There are even states that allow you to administer your own rabies vaccine - not many though. What I do, is take a small note pad, write the date and then peel off the label on the vaccination bottle, so that if I ever have to verify that I did give the vaccines, I can show when and what was given. It's simple to inject, just lift some skin around the neck or butt area, insert needle and give it a squeeze. Now for Bordtella, it's a liquid that you will mix, and then it gets squirted into the dogs nostrils - they say you have to get 1/2 into each nostril, but trust me - it's a one shot deal. They know what's coming the second nostril, and it's difficult, almost impossible to get them to be still, so just get it all in there the first squeeze.

Answer 3

Dogs don't get vaccinated for rubella....It's a human illness.

Rabies must be given by a licensed veterinarian. This is a federal guideline. If your dog bites or is bitten, without proof of rabies vaccination, he could be put into quarantine or euthanized to test for rabies.

Also, vaccines require the system to provide an immune response. Sometimes, the response is an allergic reaction which needs to be treated immediately.

Lastly, there are vaccine tumors which occur when vaccines are given in the wrong spot. These tumors can be removed, but they do come back and often take the animals life.

Discount vaccines often have efficacy issues. Don't risk your dog's health. Try to remember that the vet went to school for a minimum of 8 years to provide medical care for your pet. It's worth the cost.

Answer 4

Can I administer vaccinations to my own dog instead of going to vet?
You can give your own vaccinations but it is not in place of going to the vet. Rabies must be given by a vet.

Your pets need a yearly vet exam. They do not need yearly shots. Rabies is a 3 year shot in most places now but you have to ask for it. Depeing on location you dont need vaccination and those you do need can be given every 3 years.

For instance I would like to save 50$ by purchacing vaccinations (rabies and rubella) online for only 7$ and administering to my dog via needle injection. Are there qualifications for doing these types of procedures?

Rabies is only accepted by lisced vets. Why and what is rubella?

Have you even given vaccines? Do you know what a reaction would look like? Have your vet show you how one time first.

Answer 5

The most important thing is that the vaccine has to be kept at the proper temperature for it to be good. If you purchase it online and it gets too warm then it won't be any better than giving them a shot of water! And you can buy shots from places live Farmer's Co-ops but you never know if they have been kept at the correct temperature. I work for a vet and she will sell the vaccine to people if they want to do it at a reduced price.Check the vets in your area to see if any of them will sell you the shots and that would be your best bet. But the most important part of the shot is the exam that goes with it, in my opinion. Where I live a vet has to give the Rabies shot. The state will not recognize the shot if not given by a vet. You most shots are given subq, just under the skin of the animal, but you have to draw back on the syringe to be certain that you didn't hit a vein also.

Answer 6

My 14 year old daughter has been vaccinating all our rescues for 5 years. Lift the skin on the back of the neck and stick the needle just under the skin not in tissue. She also draws blood and does Heartworm testing herself and draws blood for combo testing of cats.

Rabies must be given by a vet and it is every three years after the first year. I think this is good because even if the pet is healthy the vet may notice something we don't. When they administer the rabies they will listen to the heart and lungs and give them a good looking over.

Answer 7

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RE:
Can I administer vaccinations to my own dog instead of going to vet?
For instance I would like to save 50$ by purchacing vaccinations (rabies and rubella) online for only 7$ and administering to my dog via needle injection. Are there qualifications for doing these types of procedures?

Answer 8

you can administer all the vacs except rabies. You can go to your local vet a purchase the vacs. online vacs do not have a guarantee, when they are shipped they may not be stored right(temp wise), and may not have the same potency. The meds that are sent to the vets have the guarantee. The rabies vac needs to be done by the veterinarian. This will insure you later on if the dog was to bite someone. By you giving the rabies vac yourself you will have no record of it except a receipt from where you purchased the product. This still will not protect you.

The other vacs you will need to check the dogs temp. If it has a high temp then you don't need to give the dog it's vac until the temp goes down to normal. sometimes with a high temp the vac will not work.

I purchased my dogs vacs from the vet. It only cost me about or no more than $20. They will tell you how to do it.

Answer 9

I vaccinate my dogs and cats at home using sterile syringes bought from a veterinary supply store, the same one I buy the vaccinations from. In Canada, the only one I cannot give is the Rabies vaccine, as it is restricted due to being a live specimen.

If you have any training, it is easy and not stressful to your animal. Make sure to verify what type of vaccination is required for each type: ie, subquetaneous or intra-muscular.

Answer 10

I think you should have someone show you how to administer the shot. some (like rabies) you will still have to go to the vet for every three years. you can also consider taking your dog to a low cost shot clinic, it's cheaper then the vet and you don't have to learn how to give a shot. I still like to take my dog to the vet - he can check him out and make sure there are no developing problems.