question for vets, vet techs, etc....?

Question

the local feed store around here sells the 7 in 1 shots for puppies..... of course if i ask the vet, they say it's not the same as theirs, but they come from the same supplier as the vet.... would it be just as good to give my puppy these shots? and no, i didn't get a puppy i couldn't afford, i know there are people that are gonna say that, he is a stray that we rescued, & i want to make sure he is protected..... so please, knowledgeable answers only, i really would like to know if i'm doing the right thing by getting these shots from the feed store & giving them myself (and yes, i know how to give the shots)

Answer 1

Most vets use brand name vaccines that are not sold in single dose,, so you really need to check that,, It may be the same "supplier" but a diffrent brand.. There are a lot of other brands out there that are of questionable quality, effectiveness.. If it is not a Pizer, Fort Dodge, Merial brand I would not use it,, there are several vaccines out their that still use Adenovirus type 1 that can cause blue eye in puppies,, being sold, and some with no duration of immunity studies or challange studies,, also impropper storage can ruin a vaccine in no time.. and make it useless..

Personally 7 in one may be too much,, for your puppy at one time the annual booster vaccine is often a diffrent combination than the puppy shots..and there are a lot of puppy shots out there that have everthing possible in them,, some breeds have reactions to them, or part of the vaccine, some breeds need additional boosters (parvo in Rotties for example) Depending on your area and risk factors your puppy may not need all 7 things in that vaccine,, or it may be better to spread them out,, Vs giving one massive booster at once..

As far as if you do it or not,, that really is up to you.. But I still would have the puppy examined, fecals done, wormings (Over the counter, Non prescription wormers are quite toxic and not effective),, every 3-4 weeks by a vet,, then if you want to save the money on the actuall vaccine,, talk with the vet about it, use the same brand and same combination. I don't think you will have as much of a problem discussing this with your vet as you think.. But there are some legitimate reasons other than vaccines to have a puppy seen by a vet,, and I would guess they are going to recommend at least that,, and depending on the vaccine in question,, may not be comfotable with you giving it,, or may be fine..
Rabies needs to be done by a vet..

Home vaccinations really do not save the owner a ton,, but can save some..It can be fine,, IF the vaccine administered is of good quality, been properly stored, administered, and is approperate for the pet in question.. most vets do not have a big problem with it..and a accurate record is on file with them also.. provided by the owner, brand date type of vaccine.. they do have a problem with not having annual physicals, being tested for heatworm, or on preventative.. or dogs that come in sick with no medical history.. because it makes diagnosis really problematic.. that is the big problem..

Answer 2

NO, they do NOT come from the same supplier!!! Vets get their vaccines from the actual drug manufacturer supply stores do NOT. Vaccines that come from farm supply stores or any other place other then a licensed vet are NOT guaranteed by the drug companies. The reason being 1) they do NOT come directly from the drug companies 2) there is no way to know exactly where they really did come from 3) there is no way to know how they are handled 4) there is no way to know how they were stored 5) there is no way to know for sure if they are expired 6) people often don't know how to correctly mix or administer the vaccine

Also it is NOT advisable to give a 7 in one vaccine, most vets no longer give that many in combo.
The only combo a dog should ever get is distemper/parvo/canine hepatitis/adenovirus-2 that's it. If a dog is at high risk of being exposed to lepto or parainfluenza then those may also be given otherwise these are NOT recommended.

Coronavirus, adenovirus-1 should NOT be given to ANY dog.These vacciantions are NO LONGER recommended by the AVMA/AAHA or any of the 27 vet schools.

It is also essential that the dog be healthy before vaccine is administered.While a dog may appear healthy to it's owner it may be harboring an illness that could only be detected by a vet exam.

Answer 3

These are essentially the same shots, yes. The trouble is -- as someone else mentioned -- I don't trust the feed stores/suppliers to have kept them cold throughout shipment/stocking, which is so important.

I won't go into how I don't like 7-way shots, since that isn't what you asked. :)

The long and short of it is this: If you don't want to go to the vet, you could give the feed store shot, and the dog will likely be fine. My big concern is the way the vaccine vials have been handled since leaving the factory.

Good luck!

Answer 4

I have done this and didn't have any problems. The shot is just sub Q & not into the muscle so they are easy to give. If you are concerned about the difference between what the Vet gives & what you can get your hands on check it out through the internet by going to the manufactors of the shots. The only shots that a Vet has to do is rabies. The rest you can do on your own since you know how.

Answer 5

I have used this. Make sure they are refrigerated. Being a rescue I have to buy vaccines in bulk because we need to keep our costs low. The vet charges $50 for a 7 in 1 vs. $3 for the shot in bulk. Pups need a series of 3. So $150 vs. $9. In MI, a Rabies shot has to be done by a licensed vet.

Answer 6

I agree with DH and Loki.
Your vet office is much more likely to handle vaccines properly. Plus you get the benefit of a physical exam. That is so important-especially with a stray dog with an unknown health history. They will also be able to give you recommendations for follow up care.

Answer 7

Well, I suppose, technically, if you train a dog to do even one trick, your are a "trainer" of sorts, but that's not the way people mean it when they post - When they say 'trainer,' they usually intend to convey that they've got skill and experience, and are actively involved in dog training in big way. Sadly, many seem to be seriously deluded when they identify themselves as trainers. Myself, I can do a LOT more than teach one or two tricks, and yet I STILL don't consider myself a trainer - I know REAL trainers, and they can do things I can only dream about.

Answer 8

The only thing.. The feed store might not have kept the shots cooled like they should be. So even tho it might seem fine, if they weren't cared for properly, your dog might not have the protection that it needs. You could be giving a shot that could make him sick, or could not cover him and you could lose him later to a disease that you assumed he was covered for...

Answer 9

the problem i have found is they don't get or keep the shots cold which is important. do you know when to give the shots? do you really know how to give shots to a dog?

Answer 10

another issue to ponder is do you know what to do if your dog has an anaphylactic reaction.