Budget conscious pet owners - dog vaccines

[Anonymous]

Trying to tighten up my budget. Not desperate as i am gainfully employed and live fairly frugally but I am a single mom and I do have teens and college is around the corner, also our grocery bill has exploded between teens and inflation.
I also want to make sure i have space in my savings for if and when an emergency or big health issue does come up.
I’m in VA and my vet just told me a comprehensive exam is required for my dog who is coming due for some vaccinations is January.
I’m tired of paying many hundreds of dollars for routine vaccines and care for a healthy dog.
Is there another way? I do want to make sure he is up-to-date on all his vaccines.

[Anonymous]

Um no. This is not the place to skimp. You don't cut back on health. Cut your cable, walk instead of driving, buy fewer clothes, eat out less, whatever.

[Anonymous]

Tractor Supply, Petco and pet smart all do vaccines.

[Anonymous]

I do rabies and distemper. I think that’s it. I definitely dont do Bordatella ( my dog doesn’t go to dog parks/daycares/kennels, flu or Lyme. You also don’t need to do heartwotm during the really cold winter months because it’s passed on by a mosquito and there aren’t any……. I only do flea and tick in the summer/warmer months too.

[Anonymous]

In DC, HRA has low cost Vaccines (e.g., $15 vs $48 at our vet). Not sure if you have to be a DC resident, but you could look online. Or there may be a VA equivalent.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Um no. This is not the place to skimp. You don't cut back on health. Cut your cable, walk instead of driving, buy fewer clothes, eat out less, whatever.

I knew you’d be here. I am already doing those things, except for walking instead of driving which would be penny wise, pound foolish considering the number of hours and extra food I need to consume in order to bike or walk places I need to go. You think I have three hours a day for that? Or do you think I should sell my suburban house and go live in some $hitty apartment in DC so that I can walk places? My car is paid for and I work from home so not using much gas. Nor do I spend much on clothes. Having a car also ensures that I’m able to buy groceries at affordable prices and have free or affordable recreational opportunities instead of walking to brunch spots and shopping. I rarely eat out.
I am saving money, but i don’t want to spend needlessly. Not trying to skip care for my dog, just not convinced I need to spend quite so much money just to do standard care.

Lol you’d probably have a heart attack if you knew how little i spend on my own “health”.
It’s about getting more bang for buck and spending more on “health” does not equal a better outcome for dogs or humans.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I do rabies and distemper. I think that’s it. I definitely dont do Bordatella ( my dog doesn’t go to dog parks/daycares/kennels, flu or Lyme. You also don’t need to do heartwotm during the really cold winter months because it’s passed on by a mosquito and there aren’t any……. I only do flea and tick in the summer/warmer months too.

Not the best advice about heartworm in the DMV area. It often doesn’t get cold enough now to deter mosquitoes. We keep our dogs on the meds year round. I have an acquaintance who skipped winter heartworm meds a few years ago and her dog later died of complications from heartworm.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I do rabies and distemper. I think that’s it. I definitely dont do Bordatella ( my dog doesn’t go to dog parks/daycares/kennels, flu or Lyme. You also don’t need to do heartwotm during the really cold winter months because it’s passed on by a mosquito and there aren’t any……. I only do flea and tick in the summer/warmer months too.

Not the best advice about heartworm in the DMV area. It often doesn’t get cold enough now to deter mosquitoes. We keep our dogs on the meds year round. I have an acquaintance who skipped winter heartworm meds a few years ago and her dog later died of complications from heartworm.

This. Do not skip heartworm meds or tests, if you care about your dog.

[Anonymous]

If your dog is due for the rabies vaccine, I believe an examination is required.

[Anonymous]

Maybe try Anicira in Manassas? It’s non-profit and it looks fairly inexpensive, just based on a quick glance at their services list.

https://anicira.org/locations/anicira-manassas/

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I do rabies and distemper. I think that’s it. I definitely dont do Bordatella ( my dog doesn’t go to dog parks/daycares/kennels, flu or Lyme. You also don’t need to do heartwotm during the really cold winter months because it’s passed on by a mosquito and there aren’t any……. I only do flea and tick in the summer/warmer months too.

Not the best advice about heartworm in the DMV area. It often doesn’t get cold enough now to deter mosquitoes. We keep our dogs on the meds year round. I have an acquaintance who skipped winter heartworm meds a few years ago and her dog later died of complications from heartworm.

+1

Also, dogs in this area need flea/tick prevention year round for the same reason.

[Anonymous]

Most modern vet practices employ pressure techniques to squeeze money out of you, rather like dental practices. I have an old vet who is a lot more relaxed and only does the minimum. However because of his method he's overbooked and looking to retire.

Rabies, distemper, heartworm and flea preventative are the only things you need for a healthy dog, and it should NOT cost an arm and a leg! No bloodwork, or anything like that. Just a quick auscultation and palpation, with a teeth scraping. Done.

[Anonymous]

OP asked about vaccines. Read up on how vaccines are oversold & many (most) confer lifelong immunity. Yet it is the veterinary business model that goes against the science & insists immunity disappears every year, or three years-which was a compromise in the face of evidence there is no need for annual vaxing.

[Anonymous]

You could ask for titers to be done before doing vaccines again. My vet does that for my small dogs because they often don't need another dose, plus one of mine had a severe allergic reaction to the rabies vaccine. It doesn't hurt to ask.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I do rabies and distemper. I think that’s it. I definitely dont do Bordatella ( my dog doesn’t go to dog parks/daycares/kennels, flu or Lyme. You also don’t need to do heartwotm during the really cold winter months because it’s passed on by a mosquito and there aren’t any……. I only do flea and tick in the summer/warmer months too.

Not the best advice about heartworm in the DMV area. It often doesn’t get cold enough now to deter mosquitoes. We keep our dogs on the meds year round. I have an acquaintance who skipped winter heartworm meds a few years ago and her dog later died of complications from heartworm.

I like heartgard not just for heartworm prevention but parasite prevention. My dog has randomly gotten hookworms when I wasn't consistent - this prevents a few types of worms.