All my kitties need to see the vet... We're back! Update # 16

[Scooter's Mom]

I called the vet today and got the status on all of the babies shots, knowing they were all due ('cept Jadie, and she goes in January) for something! I'm trying to go from memory, the kitties shots for feline leukemia may be called something, but I can't remember.

Charlie needs -> FVRCP & Feline Leukemia shots
Jingle needs -> FVRCP shot
Scooter needs -> FVRCP & Feline Leukemia shots

Doggie:
Oreo needs -> 3 yr Rabies, 5-in-1 & Heartworm test


The approximate cost is:
Each shot/vaccine is $15, so 7 x 15 = 105
The HW test is $25 so 1 x 25 = 25
Each office visit is $25 so 4 x 25 = 100


The APPROXIMATE total is $230.00. Oreo's HW preventative is about $20 for a 6 month supply.

Do those seem like reasonable prices to ya'll?

[Catlady711]

Those are very reasonable rates for services for my area. Your vet has good rates.

[Emeraldgreen]

Wow! Those are really good rates. Last time I checked, vaccines here were 28.00 a piece and office visits are 52.00 per animal. There might be a break on multi pet visits but depends on the clinic. Your clinic is offering great rates in my opinion. :)

[Cinder & Smoke]

Doggie:
Oreo needs -> 3 yr Rabies, 5-in-1 & Heartworm test

Oreo's HW preventative is about $20 for a 6 month supply.

Hmmmm ...
The cost of the Heartworm TEST (not factoring in the basic Office Visit charge),
is MORE than the cost of 6 months of preventative.
My math tells me you ought to have the Test done one time, and then just
keep Oreo *ON* the preventative year round (all 12 months).
If you never miss a dose of preventative, you don't need to re-test.

Even in 'chilly' Ohio, I've seen too many hungry Mosquitos *sputtering* around in
the garage and basement in mid-Janyary to risk not giving Cinder & SmokeMutt their
Heartworm preventative for all 12 months of the year.

;)

[Scooter's Mom]

Hmmmm ...
The cost of the Heartworm TEST (not factoring in the basic Office Visit charge),
is MORE than the cost of 6 months of preventative.
My math tells me you ought to have the Test done one time, and then just
keep Oreo *ON* the preventative year round (all 12 months).
If you never miss a dose of preventative, you don't need to re-test.

Even in 'chilly' Ohio, I've seen too many hungry Mosquitos *sputtering* around in
the garage and basement in mid-Janyary to risk not giving Cinder & SmokeMutt their
Heartworm preventative for all 12 months of the year.

;)

The dogs get the test one time a year; I buy the preventative either 6 months or 1 year at a time. Usually 6 months at a time.

[catfamily]

I just spent almost 2,000 bucks on all my cats shots for 3year shots for distemper and rabies.noone due til feb 2011.
rediculous!!!
I will never do it again!
I just found out i didn't need office visits for them to get shots...just go to petco or pet quarters.
they do it once a month...first come first serve!
you pay for the shots only.
the humane society told me about it.
to bad i found out AFTER!:rolleyes:

[Cinder & Smoke]

The dogs get the test one time a year;

I buy the preventative either 6 months or 1 year at a time.
Usually 6 months at a time.

I think you missed my point ...

You should ask your Vet, but most Vets don't feel there is a need for the
yearly Heartworm TEST --- IF the dog is kept on preventative for the entire 12 month year.

Test once, the give the preventative every month, and avoid the re-testing.

But - ask YOUR Vet.

[krazyaboutkatz]

I agree that your vet has great prices.:) Is there a reason why your cats Charlie and Scooter need Feline Leukemia shots? Are they indoor only or do they also go outside? Most vets don't recommend these shots unless cats go outside or unless they'll be exposed to a lot of other cats.

A lot of vets are also recommending that the FVRCP shot only needs to be given every 3 years especially if your cats are indoor only. Like catfamily said, you can also just go to petstores like Petco, Petsmart, and some of the independent pet stores and they have vets there either weekly or once a month that will give shots so you don't have to pay for an exam fee. You can also buy flea and heartworm medicine from them and they'll also do some of the basic tests too.

[Scooter's Mom]

We do the heartworm tests once a year as a precaution. We used to do them every other year, but with the mosquito population so bad out here the veterinarians in the area have all changed to a yearly test, even for dogs on the preventative.

As far as the kitties shots go - I will ask them about the FVRCP being every 3 years when I go in. The kitties are indoor only so if we can do them every 3 years I will definately opt for that choice.

For the feline leukemia shots - even though our kitties are indoors, two of them have lived outdoors at points in their lives. Charlie still wants to go outside and we have to keep him from escaping. Jingle could care less about going outside and Scooter, well - he is scared of the doors. It is a preventive measure because in my part of the county the rate of kitties with feline leukemia is pretty high; and the vet recommended we not take the chance of them escaping for a day or two and returning with feline leukemia as a gift.

There is a new vet working at my clinic (i say new, she's been there over a year) and I will also ask her if the feline leukemia shots are needed. Scooter is 12 1/2 (13 in September) so maybe they won't need those.

Thanks for the advice!

[Freedom]

Crystal, those prices are quite a bit lower than here.

Example: An office visit is $40 per pet. I take in at least 3 at a time to get the multi pet discount, so that drops to $36.50 PER PET. Take it from there.

Vets around here won't sell you the heart worm preventative UNLESS you get the heartworm test, at least every other year. They try to get you to do it every year. Dogs and cats alike. Heartworm is prevalent here, and is a year round issue, in spite of our winters.

I was told that if you use the prevention year round, and can prove it, and the pet then develops heartworm in an annual / bi annual test, the prevention company will pay for the treatment. This was earlier this week, I had to take in 3 for their annuals: Sugar, Sparkle and Ebony.

My cats are indoor only, and I've stopped doing TNR, so I don't have any cats coming through here, so we (the vet and I) decided they don't need the Feline Leukemia shot anymore. That saved me a bit of money.

And yes, you can take your pets to PetCo, or PetsMart for the weekly clinics. I don't think I'd take a cat, too likely to get away from me and dash through the store! As for the dogs, myf riend took hers last month; and they all caught kennel cough. Since her dogs don't go anywhere (mine go to doggie playgroups etc) she and her vet decided that had to be the place they caught it. So all the moeny she saved going to the clinic, got spent on treating the kennel cough; PLUS a bit MORE money. Sigh.

[catnapper]

You're getting out CHEAP. My vet is much more than that, but I don't have exact numbers.

[Sevaede]

Why not purchase vaccs from a feed store, etc., and give them yourself? :) (Excluding the obvious bits)

[Scooter's Mom]

Why not purchase vaccs from a feed store, etc., and give them yourself? :) (Excluding the obvious bits)

Because I haven't got the stomach for it... and Charlie gets the little cysts/knots sometimes where he gets his shots and I'd feel terrible if I was the one who did that to him.

I :love: Charlie.

[GILL]

Those rates are very cheap. The week before last I took Lucky (kitten) and Little Bear. Lucky just had an exam and Little Bear, exam and enima. No shots, two prescriptions. $ 342.00

[Catlady711]

Usually getting vaccinations done at the vets office is more money than say a vaccination clinic, or doing them yourselves.

However keep in mind, part of what you are paying extra for is:

1) An examination of your pet by an experienced pet health professional to ensure that your pet is healthy and stays that way. Sometimes during a routine exam problems can be caught early that could cause your pet to be unwell or even die if not treated soon.

2) Vaccines from the vet are guaranteed (sp?) to be bought from authentic sources and are stored properly. Most manufacturers are more likely to back up their product or pay for treatments if vaccines are given by a licensed vet.

3) If by some chance your pet has a severe reaction to the vaccine they are already in a place that treatment can take place. Reactions like this are very rare fortunately but time does matter with them.

4) In many states Rabies vaccination can only be given by a licensed vet to be considered valid.

Those are just a few reasons why it costs more for the same vaccination from the vet as a vaccination clinic.

[Scooter's Mom]

They're all home!

Scooter Bug was super calm. I am so proud of my oldest boy.
He weighed 7.3 lbs, down from 7.8 lbs a year ago. The vet wants me to bring him in 6 months from now and have him weighed so we can start to monitor him much more closely for any signs of kidney problems. Hubby told the vet his theory on Scooter's hearing loss and the vet agreed that it is probable that my sweet boy is in the beginning stages of hearing loss. :( Otherwise he is great!

Also, he did get the FVRCP but not the Feline Leukemia Booster. My vet said that at his age, he does not require it (as an indoor only kitty) and also we will start spacing out his vaccines so that they aren't annually now. The vet said she really thinks he is a perfect kitty example! Has a tiny bit of tartar on his teeth, but she said for nearly 13, he is in beautiful shape.


Jingle Belle is up from 7.0 lbs on December 22 to 9.0 lbs! The vet thinks it is a psychological issue, as Jingle was a stray that we found. She is healthy and loving and sweet. The vet couldn't get her to stop purring so she could listen to her - had to take her and run water near her to make her stop purring. Jingle is doing well!

Charlie - the one who is such a terror at the vet that they normally have to use full arm leather gloves... was an angel! I held him and talked to him and he did amazingly well. He is holding steady at 7.4 lbs. I keep thinking he is losing weight, he looks anorexicly thin. I was so afraid he'd be under 7 lbs, but he suprised me! She said his kidneys feel great, his heart sounds good, he looks good. He has some gingivitis on the roof of his mouth, not on any of his teeth though. She says to keep doing what I am, and don't rock the boat.

I'm updating on Oreo too, even though he's a pupper... he is 15.6 lbs (.6 more than Jadie! even though he looks so much thinner!) and he is still a problematic little boy. He got a steroid injection for his allergies today. His lymph nodes are swollen, his ears are infected again, and we have to start him on another medication for the allergies on Monday. Plus we have to do the ear wash twice a week again. This poor little one can't catch a break. His heartworm test was negative - so that was one piece of good news!

I am so sad that Scooter Bug may be losing his hearing. I know we aren't supposed to "play favorites" but he is my heart kitty, my baby boy... and I love him so much. I started crying over his hearing, and hubby thinks I'm over-reacting. He doesn't understand the bond I have with Scooter Bug.

$239.00 later, we're home and got an overall great review.

[Medusa]

All things considered, it's a pretty good report! Try not to be too sad about Scooter Bug and his hearing loss. My Creamsicle is totally deaf and it hasn't hindered her at all. And his being your "heart kitty" isn't playing favorites; you just connect w/him on a different level. I think we probably all have our "heart kitties". Puddy is mine. We're lucky to have such a loving bunch of fuzz nuggets, aren't we? :p

[Freedom]

Sounds like a positive report all in all!

Jingle, aw, she is such a sweet girl! I am so glad she has a loving PT home. Yes, she will likely need to have food monitored. Each time I've taken in a stray, the weight has been an issue. They are always worried that the food supply won't last, poor dear ones.

First I'd read about Scooter and a hearing loss. Start now training him to feeling, when you stamp on the floor once he comes to you, twice for food. I think those are the basics? Anyway, on the weight issue, as cats age they often develop an overactive thyroid. That can be found with a blood test. So in 6 months if he has lost weight again, blood work may be in order to check kidney and thyroid functioning. The thyroid issues can be easily controlled with a pill per day; assuming he will take a pill. That is always the tricky part!

Poor Oreo with the allergies, Bobby (my cat with allergies) sends his best.

[Scooter's Mom]

Thanks for the replies.

Scooter seems to hear okay, for now. Just not as "loudly" as he used to.

Oreo hasn't scratched all day... that steroid shot has really helped!

[Catty1]

Scooter seems to hear okay, for now. Just not as "loudly" as he used to.

Does a working can opener still get his attention from any room in the house? :D

The ultimate cat hearing test, I think!

I hope perhaps there is something that can be done for his hearing...even just a good cleaning might help what can be helped. :)

hugs!

[Medusa]

I'm so glad that they're doing better. My Creamsicle was getting a monthly steroid shot because her allergies were so bad that she was losing too much hair. Now she's on Prednisolone, which has its risks, of course, but she had such a difficult time and was itching so badly that it was the only course of action to take. I do hope that things clear up for Oreo soon so that no shots or meds are needed.