What A Dog Really Needs... Don't Let Your Veterinarian Over Charge You?

In these times it is most important that we do not put our animals in danger by neglecting to give them basic necessary care. If you cannot afford to take your animal to a professional for basic immunizations and preventatives, this will save your animal from the dangers of not being vaccinated at all. Some money saving knowledge even if you can afford to take your animal to the Vet. Every one likes to save money.

*If your dog or puppy has health issues it is important for your pet to receive health care from your Veterinarian. These tips are for healthy dogs and puppies.

Did you know that we have been over vaccinating our animals? Yes, for years our Veterinarians have been telling us that our dogs need yearly boosters through out their lifetime. In the past few years Veterinarians have discovered that this is actually not good for adult dogs immune system and over all health.

Healthy Puppies need Boosters because their immune system is not strong enough yet to protect them from many viruses. It is important that you do not take your puppy to dog parks or any other place other dogs or puppies go until they have had at least three boosters. I would wait three weeks after the third booster to take my puppy anywhere! Do not take your puppy to a groomer or a dog park until after its had it's vaccinations!

Record all of your dogs vaccines PDF Printable Health Record must keep accurate records, you may need them.

Starting at 9 weeks: Your puppy is going to need booster shot #1 and a DE-worm every 2-3 weeks until your puppy has had at least three boosters. The de-wormer is usually by mouth and is somewhat tasty. A booster shot is one shot that combines a few vaccines 3 or More. Most important is Parvo and Distemper.

Saving Money: You can save money buying these boosters online or at your local feed store and giving them to your puppy yourself. The vaccines (Must be refrigerated so bring a small sandwich cooler), cost around 4-7 dollars each and they give you syringes to use. Call around. You can find de-wormers online or Feed stores also carry liquid de-wormers (instructions on the bottle). Look for one that works on round, hook and whip worms, they cost around 12.00. If you buy all three boosters equaling about 15.00 and the de-wormer liquid for 12.00, your total wil be around 30.00 to have your puppy vaccinated with all it's booster shots and de-wormed.

Then at 12 weeks: Booster shot #2 and de-worm

Again at 15 weeks: Booster shot #3 and de-worm

Administration of booster shot: This is were a lot of people get nervous. Really very simple. Have someone scratch your puppy vigorously on the top of the head (as to distract the pup) while you pinch up the skin on the back of your puppies neck and give the injection under the skin, Not into the muscle.

If you can do this you will have saved 30.00-50.00 the vet will charge you just to walk in the door, plus the cost of vaccinations times three, for the booster shot and de-wormer. Veterinarians mark up the price of the vaccinations they give. That adds up after three three trips to the veterinarian. You will have saved 150-200 dollars already.

Three weeks after your puppy has had at least three boosters: You can safely take him places with less chance of your puppy getting the Parvo virus. Parvo is a canine virus that kills! Usually this virus does not affect adult dogs unless they have a lowered immune system. Adult dogs can be carriers of this virus without it affecting them.

How does a dog get Parvo?: Parvo is transmitted through fecal matter. Dogs that carry this virus can go to the bathroom in your yard or where you may walk your puppy, it will stay in the ground for up to nine months. Even you can walk through Parvo and bring it home to your puppy. It is very important that puppies who have not had all of their boosters be walked outside in a place other dogs have not, a place of their own.

At 4 months: Your puppy is old enough for a rabies shot. You can get a rabies shot at your local Animal Control for 15.00. and buy a rabies tag. This is also a great time to ask your local Animal Control about Spay or Neuter. Usually they will include as a package a rabies shot and a micro-chip into the already low cost Spay or Neuter, so ask about it before just getting the rabies vaccine. The Smaller the dog the less it will cost for the package. Just call about it.

So far you will have spent 50.00 on the basics, all three boosters, de-worming and a rabies shot.

4-5 Months Start on Heartworm Preventative: Heartworm preventative is a monthly pill or chewable, containing (Ivermectin) that is given to prevent your puppy from getting infected. Puppies 8 weeks old up to 5 1/2 months can be started on Heartworm preventative without getting tested. Heartworms are caused by mosquito's, when a mosquito bites your dog it leaves the Heartworm behind in the bloodstream, and eventually infests the heart, slowly killing your dog. Even if your dog is an indoor dog it can be infected with Heartworm. You live in the house and even you get bitten by mosquito's when you go outside for a walk!

You can buy Ivermectin or chewable Heartworm preventatives online and at some feed stores also, but you have to know exactly how much to give a dog by size.

*If you wait until your puppy is 6 months old to start your puppy on Heartworm preventative, your puppy will need to be tested first. If he is negative for Heartworm you may start him on monthly preventative. Adult dogs will need to be tested once a year. The reason for this is to make sure the dog is negative. It can kill your dog if given the preventative and it's Heartworm positive! You can buy Heartworm preventative online without a perscription, they just ship it from Canada.

Bordatella does your dog need it?: If you take your dog to the groomer or plan on boarding, your dog will need a Bordatella vaccine, buy online. This vaccine is given intranasal, which means in the nose without a needle. Put the syringe of Bordatella into a nostral and squirt it in, your dog will probably sneeze some out but that is usual. Not all Bordatella vaccines are intranasal. A puppy needs two of these about 3 weeks apart and can be done the same time as other boosters.

*Your canine does not need the Bordatella unless he is going to be in a confined area were other animals have been, or are still kept. Your vet will tell you your dog needs every vaccine ever made. It does not.

Adult Dogs

Your puppy is now over a year old and due for it's yearly vaccines.

One Rabies vaccine: 15.00 At your local Animal Control Office. If your dog had a rabies vaccine one year ago when it was a puppy, you will be able to vaccinate your dog with a 3 year rabies vaccine. So your dog will not need a rabies vaccine for 3 more years after recieving this one. (Must of had the initial shot 1 year ago). You will only need to update your dogs rabies tag for the next three years.

One Booster shot: 7.00 or less If you do it yourself.

Heartworm Test: Not many people know this, but you can buy Heartworm tests online at PetCo. for 29.99. Instead of drawing blood intravenously with a syringe. You can kill two birds with one stone and clip your dogs nails. Use the blood that you accidentally on purpose collect by cliping the dogs nail a little to short. I do this without trying, and I am sure I am not alone. Test come with directions and pretty simple.

Heartworm Preventative Purchase without prescription online, (Canada). 6 months supply one given every month. I give it on the 1st of every month so there is no mistaking when it's due, makes things easier. I also buy the larger size and cut it in half according to weight to make it last one full year. Another money saving tip, only works when your dog has stopped growing. Don't suggest this while a puppy, they may need different dose as they grow.

Bordatella: Only if your dogs is taken to the groomer or you board your dog. Otherwise not needed.

These are the basics and will work for a healthy dog. Use the money you have saved to take your dog to the vet when it is ill.

Your dog is now 2 Years of age. At this point you have kept up well on what has been needed. Your dog will not need the rabies shot this year for he had a 3 year rabies shot just last year, so renew his rabies tag at your local Animal Control Office. He Will need one booster, a heartworm test and preventative. Bordatella only if you groom or board you dog. That's it!

Your Dog is now 3 Years of age. Veterinarians are just now realizing in recent years that we have been over immunizing our animals. After the age of 2 your dog doesn't really does not need a booster. It used to be that they would require that your dog needed one every year of its life. Not anymore! We have been over vaccinating our animals! It's like you and I getting our Polio vaccine every year of our life! NO, we do not do that! You can give your dog a booster if you would like but it has by this point built up immunities.

You are still good on your rabies shot, so you will not need that either, just get a tag. You will need the rabies shot next year.

Heartworm test and preventatives!

Bordatella only if you groom or board your dog!

That's it! From now on your dog really only needs rabies (every 3 years). Once a year Heartworm test and monthly preventatives, Bordatella only if you groom or board your dog.