Doggie Dilemma

[Kallison]

We got our lab at 11 mos., he was handful at first because he was never trained or socialized. He is 3 1/2 now and a real love. He is currently lying with his head on my feet, he follows me everywhere. I've never ever met a vicious lab or one I didn't like. Here is a rescue organization.

http://www.petfinder.org/pet.cgi?action=1&pet.Shelterid=PA06&preview=1

My feelings are there are so many pets who need a home, I don't think I would ever get a puppy. Good luck with your decision.

 

[sha_lyn]

The shelter I was speaking of is the couty animal control shelter. They are a "kill" shelter and do not spay or neuter. They do give shots, but around here you can go buy the vaccines yourself at the feed store and give 10 dogs all of their shots for about $50. I'm sure that in bulk they pay much less than that. They do give a $25 certificate off of spaying and neutering good at only certain local vets.
I had no problems giving $95 to a private rescue organization for our cat. She had been in a private home, with all of her shots and test and had been spayed and declawed (front only)

 

[DocRafiki]

around here you can go buy the vaccines yourself at the feed store and give 10 dogs all of their shots for about $50.

Where do you get your vaccination protocol? In other words, how do you know what to give and when to give it? (since we doctors judge this on a case-by-case scenario, just wondering if you're using a chart or something that is supposedly good for all animals)

How do you know HOW to give it?

 

[sha_lyn]

I haven't done it but a good friend does. I just recently went to the feed store where she buys hers, and she showed me the cooler full of meds. I think she gets the dosage amounts from the "country" vet, one that usually works with livestock. I know when I've worked with livestock auctions the large animal vets had to give shots to any animals that were up for sale, but owners could buy and give shots to their breeder stock. The vets would tell the owners the proper amounts.

 

[DocRafiki]

Well, as long as you get the info from a vet (specific for your pet)... though I wouldn't personally give out my services for free and then be liable for the results.

It's not a question of dosage as much as it is timing and a question of which to give. I have seen some breeders come up with some completely inappropriate protocols. It's very sad.

This is a big beef with us, if you can't tell. FWIW, I wouldn't even want my parents to buy feed store vaccines, even though I can tell them what and how to give them. I'd rather send them the money and have a vet do it with their vaccines.

 

[sha_lyn]

I wouldn't try it with either of our pets. They have enough health issues that they need a yearly check-up. If I had healthy adult (all of mine are seniors) I might consider it but I do't know if I could do it. I do have a little training in giving shots due to my late grandmother. I trained how to cehck her blood sugar levels and give insulin injections. Sounds strange. I didn't have a problem injecting my grandmother, but probably couldn't do it to one of my fur babies.