Yearly vaccinations for your dog?

Question

What should I expect to get every year for vaccinations, is it just heartworm and rabies? How much should it cost, also what about pet vitamins, my roommate gets a bottle in the mail from 1800petmeds.

Great Dane lady, maybe not yearly but when you have rescued a dog and been told its prolly been two years since a vet check, its a good idea. and dont believe everything you read.

Answer 1

Yearly checkups should include parvovirus and distemper vaccination. A stool sample is checked for intestional parasites and blood drawn for a heartworm check. Rabies is generally given every 3 years at least in my area of NJ but your area may be different if there are higher rates of rabies. Pet vitamins can be discussed with your vet.

Cost is tricky to say since where you're located and the pricing at individual clinics vary. Best would be to call the vet you're going to or planning on going to to check their pricing.

We charge 49.50 for an office visit, 19.50 for vaccinations, fecal check is $10.00, heartworm is $20 (we check for heartworm, lymes and erlichia in a 3 in 1 test). Don't forget about heartworm medication and flea and tick preventative.

Answer 2

I agree with Great Dane lady on the Vaccinations. Yearly vaccinations are a waste of your money. Think about it this way... When you were a kid you got your vaccinations, right? Did you get them every year? Do you get them every year now? No. Once you had immunity... you have the immunity still... why keep getting the shots when you are immune?

So giving dogs shots every year is an unnecessary expense. Vets do it to keep people coming back every year to pay an office visit to get their "shots".

This is the governing body for the Vets in the US. These are the ones that issue the information about how frequently to give shots... Vets just don't tell you the whole truth (it keeps them from making money!)

http://www.aahanet.org/About_aaha/About_Guidelines_Canine06.html

And, I'm not saying to believe everything you read, but rescue or not...

You should be smart enough to do the research on your own. If this was your health... would you blindly trust some doctor to tell you what to do? Or, would you use the power at your hands to research and make up your own mind?

Good luck.

Answer 3

They may need them to stay at certain kennels, attend certain classes, go to certain groomers etc. They do not need yearly vaccinations for HEALTH reasons - in fact there is a growing belief that annual vaccinations may actually be harmful to the dog. Some enlightened business owners are realizing this and are simply requiring proof that the dog has been vaccinated either in the last three years or at some point in it's life. It also depends on the laws where you are. Some areas still require annual rabies boosters, and you need proof of rabies to cross the border. EDIT: Nikko - find another vet. First of all, it's up to you whether the dog gets vaccinated, secondly you should NEVER give a dog vaccinations at the same time it's going to be anesthetized. Don't accept that crap.

Answer 4

Depending on where you live will determine the prevention required from a C4 to a C7. Here is the interesting bit...from what I have been told by many vets and from what have seen, these injections are good for up to 5 years. To be safe you can have them done every three years in my opinion. Overloading your pets system is not a good thing for their system. I had my two dogs treated every 3 years with no problems whatsoever.

As for heartworm, the 6 month and 12 month injections are again not a good thing as it is again a massive dose of overload on your pet. A monthly tablet is the best. There are a lot of good products around for that. I get my heartworm meds from Australia from www.nuheart.com which is very well priced.

Remember that our pets are our family members and they depend on us for their wellbeing :)

Take care.

Answer 5

Its a booster shot, bordatella. It helps prevent diseases such as kennel cough and things like that. And a rabies shot. Heartworms are treated either with a monthly pill from your vet or a shot every six months from your vet. I do not remember how much they are, I am wanting to say that they are 30-50. It is cheaper buying the shots and giving them to your dog yourself. This is what I do, and it is $7 per shot, and $5 for rabies shot. I get these from our local feed supply store. You can also get them from the vet, and it will be about $15 for the shot. Either way you go, the pup still needs a checkup with a vet once a year to check for heartworms and other infections. Do not forget to worm the pup.

Answer 6

It depends on your location (U.S.) Speak with your vet as to what is both required and recommended.

NO. the Vet isn't trying to make money by recommending several shots or shots in a series. Some states have laws preventing vets from letting owners administer vaccinations themselves. So don't be upset if you have to bring your dog back for a series of shots etc.

In addition to rabies and heart worm check (there is no vaccination for heart worms that I know of) there is a multi-shot that covers things like distemper, parvo, hepatitis, leptospirosis etc. that is administered as an annual booster for adults - puppies are administered a series of these shots during their first year.

Also, Lyme's disease may be a good idea if you live in a highly wooded area with lots of ticks.

None of these shots are terribly expensive - but they're not cheap either. Some vets, however, will sponsor an "all-day clinic" where you can get the shots (but not tests for parasites like intestinal worms and heart worm) at a reduced rate. Finally, some shelters may offer annual shots at a reduced rate.

Answer 7

Depending on where you live, Rabies for dogs can be every three years, or one year. if you board your dog, you will need to get bordetella every six months to a year- depending on the requirements. Of course, your dog will need a Da2p+p booster EVERY year, wherever you go. Here, where I work, it is $52.05 for just the da2pp and exam...but with rabies it is around 75 smackeroos. For vitamins, we sell Pet Tabs for around $9...like I said, it all depends on where you go. Most veterinarians will not vaccinate without an exam, something that can range from 20-80 bucks....we charge 40 dollars. And as for the heartworm, get it every year....our charge is 40, and meds range from 30-97 dollars.

Answer 8

Yearly vaccinations are not needed. Dr. Ron Schultz of Wisconsin University did a duration of immunity study on canine vaccines and found that they are good for many, many years.
http://svmweb.vetmed.wisc.edu/articles/68/5/39
All 27 U.S. vet schools have so far gone to a 3 yr protocol on vaccinations as they continue to verify the work done at Wisconsin Univ.
http://www.aahanet.org
As for the problems caused by over vaccination, see Dr. Rogers site http://www.critteradvocacy.org
Dr. Malernee, a vet in Florida, has an excellent article on heartworm. Click on "articles" and scroll down to the one on heartworm. Be sure to follow his link into the government's website. http://www.evidencebasedvet.com

Answer 9

Heartworm is a pill, no shot. Rabies is one. I think they have a combo shot, i remember my ginger got like a 6 in one & then the rabies was seperate. and i have never heard of anyone besides your roomie give their dog vitamins. if you feed them decent food i don't see why you would need to.

Answer 10

I get rabies, and the 6-in-1, which has parvo, distemper, and who knows what else. They cost about $50 combined but that doesn't include the office visit. Heartworm is something you do monthly, there isn't a vaccine for it.