Finding a Vet & Limited Vaccines

meepitsmeagan

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#1
So... I'm attempting to find a local vet who is open minded to limited vaccines as well as postponed neuters. Not necessarily holistic, but not in your face, being a butt about not doing everything they say (like the vet I had when Harlow was a puppy). I'm starting to plan for FutureACD puppy, plus heartworm tests are coming up and I need to get Rider tested for some thyroid stuff.

Do I pretty much just need to take a day and stop everywhere and see what their practices are? I feel like there is a much better approach.

Also, I've done some research on limited vaccines... but those of you who practice that, any helpful hints for a beginner? Haha. Harlow is on the right track, with a 3 year DHPP and Rabies. Rider will be getting his 3 year Rabies in just a few months, and next January will be getting a 3 year DHPP.

I've thought about titers, but I feel like in my area, it is definitely a need to just vaccinate for rabies and distemper.
 

PWCorgi

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#2
You could start by reading reviews on places like Yelp and at least seeing if the practices listed on there have good customer service/bedside manner etc.
 

Saeleofu

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#3
When I move I plan to send an email to a ton of clinics asking a bunch of questions. They might find it annoying, but if they can't be arsed to answer them, they obviously don't want my business. Out of the ones that do answer, hopefully at least a couple will have the answers I want, and then those would be the ones I go physically see.

As far as limited vaccines, I just...do limited vaccines. I stopped doing kennel cough, I do rabies every 3 years by law (there is an approved 5 year rabies vaccine, but my area doesn't accept it), and I do distemper/parvo every 5+ years (I'm on year 3 now, so in 2 years I may revise it to 7+, depending on research). I don't do titres right now as I'm confident that the vaccine lasts at least 5 years, but I may consider doing titres before re-vaccinating in the future.
 

frostfell

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#4
most counties will take titers in place of vaccinations, and to be honest i would not give ANY vaccine that wasnt needed. if the titer shows theyre GTG, then theyre GTG

I second the lady with the smooth collie (forgot your name and the preview window isnt showing, sorry). just start emailing and calling around
 

Saeleofu

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#5
most counties will take titers in place of vaccinations
My city refuses to accept rabies titres. It was a long, hard fight to get them to even take 3 year rabies vaccines. It's annoying, especially since I'd get discounted rabies titres when I join IAADP with Logan.
 

SaraB

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#6
Talk to dog people with similar ideas and see where they bring their pets. Not just people that have pets, but sport people, breed ring people, the people that are active in dogs.

I work at a clinic that has a set vaccination protocol for the most part, if someone calls and asks questions, I have to tell them our protocol. However, if they come in for an appt and discuss it with a vet, we are pretty lenient in following whatever they want to do (outside of rabies, because it's required by law).

So my advice is to ask around to people who have experienced the clinics first hand and go from there.
 

stardogs

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#7
I'm like Sael, I just do a limited protocol. My current vet does 3y rabies and 1y DHLPP generally, but I do 3y rabies and 3y DHPP/DA2PP and we haven't had an issue yet! :)
 

meepitsmeagan

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#8
Awesome, thanks guys! I think I'm going to ask our Nosework instructor what vet they use and kind of go from there.

For Kennel Cough... I've been told conflicting things about how long it is effective. I've heard 6 months, and a year. I bought my "vaccine", which was really a spray for the nose, at TSC and just gave it myself. When should I give it again? Rider is the only one who gets it, as it is required for both training classes as well as daycare.
 

SaraB

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#9
Awesome, thanks guys! I think I'm going to ask our Nosework instructor what vet they use and kind of go from there.

For Kennel Cough... I've been told conflicting things about how long it is effective. I've heard 6 months, and a year. I bought my "vaccine", which was really a spray for the nose, at TSC and just gave it myself. When should I give it again? Rider is the only one who gets it, as it is required for both training classes as well as daycare.
Each manufacturer guarantees their vaccines for an amount of time, so contact that company and see how long it's good for.
 

BostonBanker

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#10
When I switched vets (left one entirely because of costs, they were wonderful to me; left the second one after the way they mis-handled Gusto's poisoning), I sent emails both times. Just a "Hi, this is me, this is what I have for dogs, this is the protocol I follow with them, is it something your clinic is comfortable with?"

Both clinics have responded positively, and have it noted in my dogs' charts that I titer instead of doing distemper/parvo vaccines. They still mention it ("It looks like Meg is due for her Distemper/Parvo. Do you want to do it, or are you planning to titer?"), but they are really polite and don't push or anything.
 

DJEtzel

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#11
I've yet to find a vet within a reasonable distance that is happy with my vaccination decisions, so I settled on one that just respected my decisions and didnt push vaccines or neuters. They didnt even mention Recon's nuts when I went with him other than noting that they could only feel one. I appreciate this. And they handle Frag's issues so well.
 

Southpaw

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#12
I just.... do what I want. lol. They can't force you to vaccinate, so I just do what I want to do and they can have whatever opinion they would like about it (and they will have their opinion!). So it's not something I've ever taken into consideration when looking for a new vet.

My last vet kind of surprised me, they were super not caring that my dog was not vaccinated. Lucy was 5 years old and had never been to the vet since she was 1 - so therefore, she was quite overdue on vaccines. They just said "she's overdue for this and this and this - did you want to update those today?" "No." "Okay." And that was that. Never mentioned again.

As far as where I work, I don't like our vaccine protocol and certainly will not be following it with my own pets. I have to explain our protocol to clients though and basically pretend that I believe it's the best way. Ultimately people can make their own decisions though and tell us "no, I don't want Fluffy to get the distemper vax today". People can make their own minds up about rabies too. We have to explain to them the risks of not vaccinating, but we're not going to inject their pets with things they don't consent to.

Juno will be due for distemper and rabies this summer, and I'm pretty sure I'm going to be skipping it all. We stopped giving bordetella a couple years ago when she stopped going to daycare.
 
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#13
I just.... do what I want. lol. They can't force you to vaccinate, so I just do what I want to do and they can have whatever opinion they would like about it (and they will have their opinion!).
This exactly. Vets aren't law enforcement, even with rabies vaccine they're not going to hand you a ticket or anything if you decline. They'll probably explain to you why they recommend what they do, but at the end of the day it's your decision, not theirs.

If it's important to you to find a vet who shares your philosophy about vaccines, then I would just call or email all the vets in your area prior to making any appointments.
 
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#14
I didn't ask them anything. I just told them that this was the protocal I would be following for my dogs, and gave them the records. They were very nice about it, and always ask when I make the appointments if I want to schedule something or speak to the vet first.

I'm also in an area very well known for a high hippy population, so holistic minded vets are very common here.
 

Kilter

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#15
Look up local pet stores that specialize in raw pet foods, or other companies that do (boarding kennels, training places) that. Or raw feeding groups in the area on yahoo groups etc...

Those people would be able to tell you which vets to contact.;)
 

MoparStar

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#16
what worked for me

I started with 3 veterinarian who had excellent reputations with the BBB and word of mouth. I scheduled a 15 minute meet and greet appointment for mid week, aim to be the first appointment of the day. Flat out tell the dr., first thing, that you are an informed pet owner who follows X protocol with your animals. Ask if that is going to be an issue if you.choose to use their services. If the answer is yes, thank the dr. And leave. I never vaccinate adult dogs for anything. I do puppy series, a booster at 18 months and a final at 3 years. There is no need to bring your dog to the initial meeting. Simply let the receptionist know you are interviewing for a new veterinarian. There should be no charge for thi meeting, but make a list of questions to be sure the dr fits your other needs after the limited vaccine question is answered.
 

meepitsmeagan

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#17
Look up local pet stores that specialize in raw pet foods, or other companies that do (boarding kennels, training places) that. Or raw feeding groups in the area on yahoo groups etc...

Those people would be able to tell you which vets to contact.;)
My trainer gave me a great recommendation. Don't know why I didn't think of that before!

I started with 3 veterinarian who had excellent reputations with the BBB and word of mouth. I scheduled a 15 minute meet and greet appointment for mid week, aim to be the first appointment of the day. Flat out tell the dr., first thing, that you are an informed pet owner who follows X protocol with your animals. Ask if that is going to be an issue if you.choose to use their services. If the answer is yes, thank the dr. And leave. I never vaccinate adult dogs for anything. I do puppy series, a booster at 18 months and a final at 3 years. There is no need to bring your dog to the initial meeting. Simply let the receptionist know you are interviewing for a new veterinarian. There should be no charge for thi meeting, but make a list of questions to be sure the dr fits your other needs after the limited vaccine question is answered.
This is a great idea. Thanks so much!
 

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