Annual booster costs (for dogs)

shasbat

I have been with vets for pets for years with my 2 dogs. I pay into their plan monthly for annual vaccines, worming, fleas etc.

I was called for vaccines in January, one of my dogs was not well.. lost a bit of weight and had the runs. They wouldn’t vaccinate.. I got that... and wanted me to take her back for a scan to see what was going on.

Thinking that was drastic, I called at a new vets locally who do free initial consultations, for a second opinion. They said it could be as simple as worming. I left with meds and dog was ok within a few days and weight is now back on.

I then found my diary dates for the year before, they had been vaccinated May 18, so the January recall had been way too early.

Long story short, husband been very ill... 6 weeks hospital and working for himself, obviously no income. I looked at my directed debits ... my dogs were costing me £118 insurance and £30 vet health care a month.

Called in vets yesterday, to ask about my dog that had been ill having the vaccination... she said it was now late and it would cost me a further £20 a dog, on top of my monthly payments. They didn’t have it recorded that my well dog had her jabs etc in January!

I asked them to print off their records and I have closed the direct debits. Now looking for new vet who won’t rip me off. Fuming

gettingready

Dogs do NOT need yearly boosters, please google the issue, so much info about why NOT to overaccinate dogs

Katiehound

My vet vaccinates every year for Lepto, alternate years for the others.
As my dogs go into kennels regularly being vaccinated is part of their policy (and annual KC).

Indicidentally the main vaccination lasts for at least a month after the 'due'date so each year I add 13 or a bit more months, not 12.

I would not pay into a monthly plan.
My dogs are short haired and never seem to get fleas, ie no flea treatment required.
I buy worming products online- exactly those as bought from vet at what might be 1/3 of price. Mine rarely scavenge, so they possibly don't need those- except for pet passport.
Pay for vaccinations as and when required.

So check which drugs / chemicals are really needed for your dogs.

sheramber

gettingready wrote: »

Dogs do NOT need yearly boosters, please google the issue, so much info about why NOT to overaccinate dogs

It is not as simple as that.

It depends on the make of the vaccine.

While Nobivac is 3 yearly for distemper and parvo but annually for lepto and para influenza

Quantum vaccine is annually for all.

The vaccine companies will tell you they are covering for those dogs who may not have developed immunity for some reason.

Vets work on recommendation of the vaccine company. That way if there any problems , such failure or bad reaction, then the vaccine company is responsible.

If the vet does not follow the vaccine company then he would be liable.

iF you use kennels then you need to adhere to their rules. If they require proof of up to date vaccination then your vet will only give you that if you follow the vaccine manufacturer's
guidelines.

You can get a titre test done which some kennels will accept but a titre test that shows low immunity does not mean there is none. It just means no antibodies were found . But they may be dormant, awaiting a challenge from the disease.

We all want the best for our dogs but there is no one size fits all.

Twinkydrip

I recently changed vets and new vet said they don't use Canigen so i had to change to their Nobivec and would have to start from scratch ie first one then boosters thereafter. My dog is 6 and has had yearly boosters of Canigen to date. Surely these drugs are related? Was that necessary yo start from scratch?

sheramber

Twinkydrip wrote: »

I recently changed vets and new vet said they don't use Canigen so i had to change to their Nobivec and would have to start from scratch ie first one then boosters thereafter. My dog is 6 and has had yearly boosters of Canigen to date. Surely these drugs are related? Was that necessary yo start from scratch?

When I changed vets the new vet used Nobivac where my old vet used Quantum.

I did not need to start from the beginning.

RelievedSheff

We take our Schnoodle Sydney to Vets for Pets. We use their health plan which costs us £12 per month and that includes his annual vaccinations as well as annual treatment for worms and fleas, an annual health check with the vet and an health check with the nurse every six months if required.

We also get 10% off further vets visits and treatments if required.

We don't think this is a bad deal really considering how much some of the treatments cost separately.