Puppys/dogs.... Vet? or Do it yourself?

[Gravel]

We do our own shots for the horses but usually leave the dog and cat stuff to the vet. Biggest problem on the dogs and cats is getting the stuff.

[billbrasky]

depends on your threshold and interest level, cheapness etc.

Those prices are quite fair. Vets arent charities, they have to make money also. Lots of folks might be shocked what their own boss marks up their own labor to. I get the feeling most people have no idea what the labor cost for unskilled labor is much less for a doctor ... which is what a vet is He is a doctor.

Little stuff like shots and what not sure do that yourself. Its not rocket science if it maintainece. Farmers do it them selves mostly. (there isnt money in treating big live stock for the most part ... that what i hear)

I would still go in once a year for a check up, if he has a rash, a lump, limp etc. I mean i like to save a buck when all things are equal, i can administer a shot no problem. I dont want to try to diagnose a tumor being malignant or benign though.

You didnt get ripped off, and if you want a vet to call you to tell you everything is fine prepare to pay extra for that. I bet its standard. Heck i have heard in many situtations its standard with people, i know i have had planters warts removed and sent in a pathology testing/report .... which is required and they dont call you back to say its fine.

[dasanii19]

Originally Posted by robinsre

I doubt you could purchase the vaccinations yourself even if you did have the skill, and the desire to administer them. Either way I'm of the opinion anything done subcutaneously should probably be administered by a trained professional.

Beyond that, if there's nothing wrong with our pets we don't take them to the vet.

Then again, we adopted ours from the Animal Shelter. Spaying, vaccinations, and the initial examination were all included in the adoption price.

- Ryan

See I would have agreed with that 15 years ago but things have changed. I think anyone with internet access and the interest to do something can actually do it now a days. I mean you can look up anything you want, anything... There are pages after pages upone videos after videos showing exactly step by step on how to do thing all over the net, I mean anything you want. To me, people could get away with robbery back in the day because none had a clue about what it took to get it done. Now a days we have the access and ability to "DIY". I understand there is a certain degree with this, for example performing "brain surgery". But seriously, with interest and research you can do alot. And with the prices raising on everything now a days this really strikes my interest.

[Tard]

I stopped taking my dog in for routine exams for 4 years.
Finally took her in, she had a tooth abscess that had caused infection to spread to her heart valve and now she has a heart murmur.

Treated with strong antibiotics, the infection has stopped but the heart damage is permanent and will reduce her life.

So, take your dog to the vet and pay the money and don't lose your doggie early like I'm gonna.

[dasanii19]

Originally Posted by Tard

I stopped taking my dog in for routine exams for 4 years.
Finally took her in, she had a tooth abscess that had caused infection to spread to her heart valve and now she has a heart murmur.

Treated with strong antibiotics, the infection has stopped but the heart damage is permanent and will reduce her life.

So, take your dog to the vet and pay the money and don't lose your doggie early like I'm gonna.

Alllllllrrrright fiiiinnee.... lol

Sorry to hear about your dog man.

[akhimark]

Get the deworm stuff from the pet store and follow the directions. Go to the vet for other stuff.

As far as cost goes, remember, when a vet puts a pin in a dogs leg its the same procedure for putting a pin in a human leg. If the doggie surgeon is lucky he may get $600 to $800 for a procedure a people surgeon get thousands for. I am not poor mouthing for vets, but they are generally better docs than people docs.

The best doctor in the world is the veterinarian. He can't ask his
patients what is the matter-he's got to just know.
Will Rogers

[cjive134]

Originally Posted by dasanii19

Im curious if any of you give your dogs shots/examinations ect. ect. yourself instead of paying the vet to do it?

Im asking because I just took my new puppy to the pet vet and it seems it cost a bit much for what they actually did.

Routine examination- $36.50

Deworming (2 pills by mouth)- $12.80

Fecal O&P- $19.65

+ tax= 69.89

I think I could do the routine exam and deworming pills myself and save $50..

It pisses me off because I pay this guy $70 and they tell me they would get back to me within 24 hours with the out come of my puppys fecal sample, after waiting 9 days I finally call them, only be put on hold for 5 minutes and told "oh the doctor doesnt call people back if there isnt anything wrong" Im like, "well he better for the prices im paying him"

So what do you guys think? Am I being a complainer or do I have a point with this?

Shots are pretty easy once you've done it one time. Another thing that might save you some money is going to CVS or Walgreens's for the drugs. Get a script from a vet and they will fill it at a drug store for much less than your vet will charge you for the same medication. Now CVS doesn't carry all the dog related meds, but they carry many of them, and they might even be willing to order some in if they are available through distribution.

[LKB3rd]

Giving shots is easy. I give myself a 1 1/2 inch intra muscular injection once a month (no it's not steroids lol, it's treatment for "acromegaly")

[Tard]

Originally Posted by dasanii19

Alllllllrrrright fiiiinnee.... lol

Sorry to hear about your dog man.

Which part of that was funny to you, a-hole?

[ichy_trigger]

I had Rotty before they were extremely popular and bred her a couple of times. I lived in the country so i went to my local feed store and bought all the vacinations myself. Back then (mid 90's) it was like $5.00 per dose. Just read the directions, you inject it just under the skin on the back of their necks and you have to mix them as well which is very easy. To crop their tails and remove dew claws, I utilized a vet.