Administering Vaccinations at home

[LilahRoot]

Does anyone here do this? I discovered that I am able to purchase the vaccines online for a mere fraction of the cost I pay at the vet. Not to mention I have to pay for an examination fee for them to give the shots to the dogs.

I know how to do it. I am taking veterinary assistant courses and I just finished the vaccination portion.

The vaccines are even the same brand that my veterinarian uses. I really don't see how it could be harmful unless I did it wrong, so what does everyone here think?

 

[RawFedDogs]

Does anyone here do this? I discovered that I am able to purchase the vaccines online for a mere fraction of the cost I pay at the vet. Not to mention I have to pay for an examination fee for them to give the shots to the dogs.

Vets MUST administer the rabies vaccination. All the rest you can do yourself. Do some research, you might find your dogs don't need vacs. Research indicates that vaccinations last 7 to 10 years and probably a lifetime. My dogs haven't been vaccinated in 5 years.

 

[LilahRoot]

Does anyone here do this? I discovered that I am able to purchase the vaccines online for a mere fraction of the cost I pay at the vet. Not to mention I have to pay for an examination fee for them to give the shots to the dogs.
QUOTE]

Vets MUST administer the rabies vaccination. All the rest you can do yourself. Do some research, you might find your dogs don't need vacs. Research indicates that vaccinations last 7 to 10 years and probably a lifetime. My dogs haven't been vaccinated in 5 years.

I should have been a bit clearer. I meant for the five way vaccine. I know that I have to have the rabies done by the vet.

 

[Dekka]

Many of us do distemper and parvo so infrequently that the vet visit cost isn't a big deal. Many vaccs last a lot longer than vets are willing to talk about.

 

[GlassOnion]

Meh, vets cannot say that a vaccine is good for longer than the studies say they are. The studies aren't done long term so the vet can't recommend them for long term use. If something were to happen to a dog that the vet said "oh yah, it'll last for several years", they're held liable.

It's not a money grab. Not by the vets at least. They're tied by the drug companies and the FDA, so don't make them into the bad guys.

The vaccines are even the same brand that my veterinarian uses. I really don't see how it could be harmful unless I did it wrong

Depends. You don't know how the vaccine from the company is stored, nor do you know if they'll be shipped appropriately, or their source. Are you equipped to deal with vaccine reactions? Also what happens if you hit, say, the sciatic nerve?

There's a lot more that can go wrong than some people recognize at first.

 

[Southpaw]

If Juno didn't need her rabies booster I'd totally vaccinate her myself this year. But since we have to go to the vet anyway might as well just get it all done there.

But yeah if that's what you want to do, totally fine.

 

[RawFedDogs]

Meh, vets cannot say that a vaccine is good for longer than the studies say they are.

There ARE studies that say they are good for 7 to 10 years. Thats why they were changed to every 3 years instead of every year. It was a compromise. The vets didn't want their clients going so long before coming in for an office visit. They loose money when vacs aren't given every year.

The studies aren't done long term so the vet can't recommend them for long term use.

Vaccine companies have never done any studies to determine how long the vaccines last. For years and years they said just give them every year knowing full well they lasted a lot longer than a year.

If something were to happen to a dog that the vet said "oh yah, it'll last for several years", they're held liable.

They are not really liable for that much money. Just enough to replace the dog.

It's not a money grab. Not by the vets at least. They're tied by the drug companies and the FDA, so don't make them into the bad guys.

My guess is that you work for a vet.

Depends. You don't know how the vaccine from the company is stored, nor do you know if they'll be shipped appropriately, or their source. Are you equipped to deal with vaccine reactions? Also what happens if you hit, say, the sciatic nerve?

Now I'm sure you work for a vet.

There's a lot more that can go wrong than some people recognize at first.

MANY MANY MANY breeders vaccinate their own puppies. It's not all that difficult.

 

[GlassOnion]

There ARE studies that say they are good for 7 to 10 years. Thats why they were changed to every 3 years instead of every year. It was a compromise. The vets didn't want their clients going so long before coming in for an office visit. They loose money when vacs aren't given every year.

No, again, we're bound by the USDA (Edit: said FDA initially, that's incorrect). You get the USDA to approve the 7 - 10 year vaccine, and you can have it. There's a lot we can do off label, there's a lot we have to do off label, but when there is a 'proven' alternative suitable for animal usage, we have to use it. Either that, or the license to practice is put in jeopardy.

Vaccine companies have never done any studies to determine how long the vaccines last. For years and years they said just give them every year knowing full well they lasted a lot longer than a year.

This is just inaccurate, sorry. Or rather, the former part is. For the latter part, refer above.

They are not really liable for that much money. Just enough to replace the dog.

This too is inaccurate. Vets are being more and more held liable for emotional damages and other assorted charges.

My guess is that you work for a vet.

Now I'm sure you work for a vet.

I'll do you one better, I'm going to BE a vet! Holy ****!! I'm an evil *******.

MANY MANY MANY breeders vaccinate their own puppies. It's not all that difficult.

Nope, it's not difficult. I never said it was. All I said was there's things that can go seriously wrong, and you have to be ready for such a possibility.

Anyhow a breeder, or at least a good one, is more likely to have consulted a vet on where to get vaccines, or to buy them directly from the vet. And I know for certain that most vets will gladly show breeders how to appropriately administer them to boot. That same vet will most likely be dealing with any reactions that the breeder encounters.

 

[RawFedDogs]

No, again, we're bound by the USDA (Edit: said FDA initially, that's incorrect). You get the USDA to approve the 7 - 10 year vaccine, and you can have it. There's a lot we can do off label, there's a lot we have to do off label, but when there is a 'proven' alternative suitable for animal usage, we have to use it. Either that, or the license to practice is put in jeopardy.

"It had been proven. Google "Dr. Jean Dodds" and you will find a lot of information on research into vaccines (Not done by the vaccine companies). Also Google "Rabies Challenge Fund" for information on research done on rabies vaccines (again, NOT done by vaccine companies). It seems research done by vaccine producers is woefully lacking.

This too is inaccurate. Vets are being more and more held liable for emotional damages and other assorted charges.

In my state (Georgia) and probably in most states, dogs are considered property and there are no emotional damages or any other damages when neglegence causes the death of a dog other than the replacement cost involved.

I'll do you one better, I'm going to BE a vet! Holy ****!! I'm an evil *******.

Well you aren't YET!! But you are sliding down that slope. :smile:

Nope, it's not difficult. I never said it was. All I said was there's things that can go seriously wrong, and you have to be ready for such a possibility.

Thats vet scare talk. Seriously, vaccines do a lot of harm to dogs and the best way out is to do minimum vaccinations. My dogs have already had all the vaccinations they will have in their life. If there are MANY fewer vaccinations that leaves MANY fewer opportunities for bad things to happen.

 

[Bailey08]

As GO suggested, I would be really careful about where you are getting the vaccines from. I know that there is a grey market for heartworm pills, and I'm guessing that there may be one for vaccines, too.

Also, I like to have the vet examination (though admittedly B usually ends up with like 6 exams a year anyway ).

 

[Adrienne]

I do all my families dogs 5-way combo's. We usually do every two years. Since the dogs are seen yearly for an annual visit it doesn't replace the vet visit, just is more convenient and easier on the dogs to not be brought to the vet for a shot but once every three years. I get my vax from our local animal shelter.

 

[LilahRoot]

Well, this has taken quite a turn since I last checked it.

Glass Onion, I haven't asked my vet if they would sell me the vaccines to administer myself, but even if they do it will still be more expensive for me since they charge about quadruple for them.

Next, where I would be purchasing them from requires that they be shipped by 2 day air in an appropriate container.

And no, it is not a "grey market" for them. You can purchase them from pretty much any pet related website that does prescriptions for pets.

Like I said, I KNOW how to administer them. It really isn't that difficult, and I just wanted to see if anyone here did it.

 

[LilahRoot]

I do all my families dogs 5-way combo's. We usually do every two years. Since the dogs are seen yearly for an annual visit it doesn't replace the vet visit, just is more convenient and easier on the dogs to not be brought to the vet for a shot but once every three years. I get my vax from our local animal shelter.

Thank you!

 

[elegy]

And no, it is not a "grey market" for them. You can purchase them from pretty much any pet related website that does prescriptions for pets.

as you can purchase interceptor and frontline, even though the manufacturers do not sell to those companies, and therefore it's questionable where those products are coming from. therefore, grey market.

i have no idea what the word on vaccines is.

your dog should be examined yearly whether you decide to vaccinate at home or not. that's the important part of the visit, not the vaccine.

 

[MafiaPrincess]

your dog should be examined yearly whether you decide to vaccinate at home or not. that's the important part of the visit, not the vaccine.

I've been through 3 different vets. I've been charged an exam fee by all of them when it cam to 'vaccine time' and NONE of them ever actually looked at my dogs. I've never seen the point in it as they've never bothered to take time to actually do more than stick a needle in my kids.

Doesn't really matter these days as I've gone to minimal vacc protocol as they wouldn't even recognize 3 yr distemper and parvo and now avoid the vet unless it is an emergency I can't handle.

 

[LilahRoot]

I've been through 3 different vets. I've been charged an exam fee by all of them when it cam to 'vaccine time' and NONE of them ever actually looked at my dogs. I've never seen the point in it as they've never bothered to take time to actually do more than stick a needle in my kids.

Doesn't really matter these days as I've gone to minimal vacc protocol as they wouldn't even recognize 3 yr distemper and parvo and now avoid the vet unless it is an emergency I can't handle.

This is exactly why I want to do them at home. I am charged $45 per dog just to walk in the door when we get the vaccinations done and they don't even look at the dogs.

The last time I was there Root was having a problem with his ears, so while I was getting his supposed wellness exam and his rabies shot I asked about his ears. The vet finished the vaccine and left the room without ever checking his ears out. So, when the vet tech came back in to give me the interceptor I had asked for I told her that the vet didn't check his ears.

Seriously, I think that veterinarians are overrated.

 

[Saeleofu]

Also what happens if you hit, say, the sciatic nerve?

You'd have to screw up by a LONG shot to do that when giving a vaccine. Vaccines are SQ, and so there should be no risk of that happening. At all. Ever.

Seriously, I think that veterinarians are overrated.

I think you've just had shitty vets. The vet I work for charges en exam fee for vaccines because there has to be a valid patient/doctor relationship. Just like he can't give meds if we haven't seen the dog in 2 years. BUT he does actually examine the dog. A lot of people miss it because they're jabbering away on their cell phones the entire time, but the exam itself actually takes about 7-10+ minutes, depending on the animal.

Is your vet AAHA Accredited? If not, maybe you should try one that is. You'll probably be much happier.


Now, that being said, I currently get vaccines at cost since I work at the vet, so there's no reason for me to do them myself when I can have doc do them for $3. But once I'm no longer working there, I may do them myself, since I do know how to give vaccines. Of course with vaccines being only every 3 years now, it's not a big deal either way. $15 every 3 years isn't terrible.

 

[StillandSilent]

If your dog had been vaccinated in the past and been fine, I don't see why not. When I was doing my own, I got the vaccines at the feed store, but I called ahead and asked specifically when they would be there, so there was no chance of them sitting out in the hot sun.
Just a word of caution, though. Argron was vaccinated every year at his old home without any apparent problem. The shelter vaccinated him before I took him, and his poor face swelled up like a balloon. If you want to do it yourself, please stay with your baby and watch him for any sort of reaction.

 

[GlassOnion]

"It had been proven. Google "Dr. Jean Dodds" and you will find a lot of information on research into vaccines (Not done by the vaccine companies). Also Google "Rabies Challenge Fund" for information on research done on rabies vaccines (again, NOT done by vaccine companies). It seems research done by vaccine producers is woefully lacking.

Find me this Dodds guy in a respectable journal publishment and not Dr. Google and I'll be more inclined to listen. Anyone can put something on the internet, not everyone can get something published, in a legit journal at least. <insert "no way such an edgy scientist will get published in today's scientific world" conspiracy theory here>

And again, I do not doubt that vaccinations last longer than a year, or three years even, hell, I know they do. But we can only use what the USDA allows us to use, and that's what's been done in studies. Study's that ARE funded by vaccine companies. They have a vested interest in proving their product works to some degree, they're required to, as much as you might like to think they can just slap any old product on the market.

In my state (Georgia) and probably in most states, dogs are considered property and there are no emotional damages or any other damages when neglegence causes the death of a dog other than the replacement cost involved.

And in California, Colorado, and Kansas IIRC this is not the case.

Edit: Nevermind, the California case got overturned, which, believe it or not, is a good thing. Vets often have to work within people's budgets and can't give the so-called 'Cadillac Package' every time, so it really is innane to be able to sue for emotional damages when it could've been prevented by running pre-op bloodwork, that was declined due to expense, before the surgery.

Thats vet scare talk. Seriously, vaccines do a lot of harm to dogs and the best way out is to do minimum vaccinations. My dogs have already had all the vaccinations they will have in their life. If there are MANY fewer vaccinations that leaves MANY fewer opportunities for bad things to happen

Vet scare talk? Really? Sigh....I'm not even going to debate with you any more, this is ridiculous.

And no, it is not a "grey market" for them. You can purchase them from pretty much any pet related website that does prescriptions for pets.

You have to be licensed to buy vaccines. What happens is the vaccines/products on 'grey area' websites are 'diverted product', meaning that the website contacts a vet, the vet sells the website the product they ordered, and then the website sells it online. This is illegal and the vet, if rooted out, can lose her license. Very much a grey area.

You'd have to screw up by a LONG shot to do that when giving a vaccine. Vaccines are SQ, and so there should be no risk of that happening. At all. Ever.

And yet we've had it happen three times. Owner comes in "I don't know what's wrong, he's lost feeling in that leg after we gave him a vaccination at home!" "How'd you do it?" "We just stuck it in, that's what y'all do right?"

Seriously, I think that veterinarians are overrated.

You need to find a better vet then.

Is your vet AAHA Accredited? If not, maybe you should try one that is. You'll probably be much happier.

Shoot the vets I worked under for the bulk of my experience weren't AAHA accredited and they did exams on every patient that came in that door. She just has a crappy vet. But likely they wouldn't be happy with an AAHA vet either because those are inherently more expensive.

 

[Tazwell]

If you take your dog to an establishment that requires you have certain vaccines up to date... how do you explain that you only vaccinate once every three years, unless you do titers? That's the only reason I haven't begun vaccinating less frequently, but I've not put much effort into researching.