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

**Freedom** · 05-22-2008, 09:17 AM

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** · 05-22-2008, 11:40 AM

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

**Sevaede** · 05-22-2008, 05:43 PM

Why not purchase vaccs from a feed store, etc., and give them yourself?

(Excluding the obvious bits)

**Scooter's Mom** · 05-22-2008, 08:33 PM

Originally Posted by Wenisrubber

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

Charlie.

**GILL** · 05-23-2008, 01:00 PM

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** · 05-23-2008, 01:08 PM

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** · 05-31-2008, 02:09 PM

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** · 05-31-2008, 02:15 PM

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?