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

[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!

[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)