What vaccines?

[Kaytlin and Cooper]

Cooper needs to go to the vet and have a heartworm test and get preventatives (we didnt used to live in an area with heartworm problems, or at least I dont think so, no vet ever mentioned it). This is likely to cost a bit, especially as theres a $58 plus tax vet visit charge  ontop of everything else) and I was wondering if we could get her titers checked at the same time (though its a few months early). This is where it gets confusing (for me at least)

Going through Coopers vet records, here is a list of what she has had and when

Sept 2010 - wellness exam, distemper booster 1 yr, bordatella-influenza adenovirus mod. rabies 3 yr

Sept 2011 - wellness exam, distemper 3 yrs, parvo 3 yrs, bordatella 1 yr, parainfluenza, hepititis/adenovirus (on receipt it says DA2PP 32, Bordatella 18)

Feb 2012 - lepto and DA2PP (1 yr) (I was mad they gave the DA2pp again but thats a whole other story)

March 2012 lepto booster

So, my question is... what vaccines/titers is she due?

Does she need bordatella if she doesnt go to day care, kennels, dog parks etc? Will my insurance still be valid if she doesnt have this vaccine/titer? (Im going to email them and ask)

edit the DA2PP apparently is parvovirus, parainfluenza, adenovisus 2, distemper and coronavirus

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

After some of the posts recently in other discussions, I'm not so sure that everyone would treat their dog, lol. I just want to make sure that everyone understands that a case of bordetella does need to be treated, it's not like a cold or something that will run its course and leave the dog unharmed.

[Kaytlin and Cooper]

I got quotes for titers from my vet...

titer for distemper,Hep,Parvo=$290.00

influenza titer =$91.90

heart worm test =15.90

courier fee=15.00

blood collection=20.00

 revolution teal = flea,tick,heart worm  protection =$19.97 each or $119.82 for a box of 6

 as for  paying for an office call when coming in for the blood collection you will not be charged but you need to be aware that your pet needs to be seen atleast once every 2 years to be a client of the clinic and rabies vac are due annually by law.

 

However, A quote I got from a vet in the States (just over the river from us)

 Lepto titer check is aporx $66.00 and the Distemper/Parvo is aprox $72.00.

 

I cant believe the difference for the distemper/parvo titers!!!!! I may be switching vets!

[Sue, Murphy and Bella ()*o*()]

I got most of my information earlier about kennel cough from the ASPCA, stating it was viral and /or bacterial. Unless the info has changed in the past few years. Don't have time to find it and cut and paste like most of you wonderful ladies are so good at.
And yes it is good to note that if dog is infected with kennel cough, that they Might need to be treated. I have not read anywhere where it states that every case and every dog HAS to be treated, but im sure if we dig around some we could find some research that states that. However, In either case we should all consider the sources.
And I agree with F that I feel most people asking would treat, if needed. I have more the" wait and see approach" with my two and wouldn't go running to the vet after a few sneezes or coughs and would certainly not want a >$100 vet bill and unnecessary antibiotics with the first sign of a cold either because I was scared into going as it might turn into pneumonia. Lol . Ofcourse if you take them that is what will happen unless you have a vet who might say " oh watch him and see how it goes for a few days and if worse come back sooner."
It's a case of common sense just like with a human cold or flu, the very young, old and immunosuppressed need vaccinations and closer attention when ill. I'm not saying it shouldn't be treated, just that some mild cases may not need to be and just use common sense.

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

I feel differently about this, with humans as well as dogs. Maybe it comes from being a doctor's daughter and always being treated for everything and getting every vaccine the minute it came out. To me, decisions about seeing a doctor or a vet shouldn't be made on the basis of cost. I have never regretted one penny I ever spent making sure that a child or dog's illness wasn't serious, and I feel better knowing that they haven't spent a minute feeling more miserable or uncomfortable than necessary if there's something that might help. I know several people whose parents were from the "wait and see" school who ended up with serious illnesses like Rheumatic fever. One girl almost died giving birth to her first child, had to be rushed directly from the delivery room into heart surgery, and couldn't have any more children, which broke her heart because both she and her husband came from huge families and wanted one themselves. All because when she had a sore throat as a child, her parents didn't want to pay for a strep test that might be unnecessary. That doesn't sound like common sense to me.

[F, Calla & Luca]

There may be different kinds of kennel cough but Bordetella is a bacteria. It is quite contagious so that might be a reason to treat. I just spoke with a pediatric nurse practitioner today who told me many parents aren't vaccinating their kids as we know. Consequently the ERs are seeing many really sick kids with whooping cough, which is caused by another Bordetalla.

[Sue, Murphy and Bella ()*o*()]

Seems there are different types of kennel cough, and yes, bordetella is the bacterial type. Pertussis (whooping cough) is one of those vaccines that I do agree children should get as it is very contagious and can make them very sick. I just am not In favor of over vaccinating dogs or humans, so no bordetella here.

[Sue, Murphy and Bella ()*o*()]

A lot of our comfort level with seeking medical attention or not does come from what we are familiar with. In your case, yes, I can see where you would rely more on seeking medical advise quickly, having a dad as a physician. You were raised with a medical professional who had probably seen some very sick people and it could put the fear of God into anyone.
I come from a very holistic, home-remedy, " give the body time to heal itself " mentality and after 20+ years of working with doctors, I have learned how the medical "practice" can be very much a "cover your a-s" profession and how so many minor minor complaints are over tested and over treated to the point of ad nauseam, and sometimes even harm. But hey, it'll stand up in court, so you best do it!
And the cost is a factor in everything most people do, especially when it's a choice between feeding a family or going to check to see why my dog is sneezing! Not everyone has that luxury and many live paycheck to paycheck, are good loving parents and dog owners, but just have to make hard choices. I have regretted spending money on medical advise that really was just plain common sense, but I was made to feel the all mighty doctor would make it all go away with a magic pill . So sometimes its common sense, sometimes it's about choices, sometimes it's innocent ignorance and sometimes its financial, it all plays into a persons comfort level and reasons for seeking medical attention. Sorry if I am coming off abrasive tonight, I've had a rough week at work at the hospital and I think I'm on my last nerve with any medical profession.

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

Not abrasive, just expressing your feelings, as I did mine.

I guess it's just that I haven't had the same experiences with overtesting or unnecessary tests or medications. For me, my kids, and my dogs, I've actually had the opposite. The vet or the doctor has said it's nothing and you know that something is wrong. Two days or two weeks later, you're in the emergency room and it's become a life or death situation.  It happened with my DD, it happened with my GS, and it happened with Jackdoodle.

And things like strep, where 24 hours after you start the antibiotics, the fever is gone, the rash is gone, you're no longer contagious, to me that is a miracle pill, especially compared to lying there in bed for days missing work or school and feeling miserable, and you're going to have to go to the doctor anyway, because strep isn't going to go away on it's own. So I guess I just don't understand feeling bad longer and taking the chance of whatever it is getting worse when you could fix it right away.

[Shannon and Finn]

My vet didn't recommend vaccinating for bordetella unless Finn needed it for kennel, day care etc. she didn't advise against it either just said to come in later if need be. Our previous dog had kennel cough once but never needed to be treated, maybe we were just lucky or I was naive in the pre massive Internet days. I used an at home natural cough remedy safe for dogs ( can't remember what was in it since it has been over 10 yrs ago). He was fine after a week or two, just a terrible cough and runny nose. I am a wait and see person but never when the person/animal is acting sick or in pain. FYI, my kids have a whooping cough vaccines but a lot of kids have had it at school.

[F, Calla & Luca]

I am a wait and see person myself within reason. But in general for most things I am a vaccinate and prevent person.

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

Okay, but see, If I had a choice between having a terrible cough and a runny nose for a week or two, or taking some antibiotics and feeling much better much sooner, I would choose the medicine. Dogs and kids can't choose, so we have to choose for them.