Am I being fleeced?

[jazzcat]

I do take mine in for yearly check ups and vaccinations but there was about 3 years where I did not take Ripley because I felt the stress of going was too hard on him and he never goes outside. But then I started thinking about what if he did accidently get out. We have all kinds of wild animals in our back yard so I decided to keep his shots currents, especially since rabies is required in our county.

My dog is a different story, I would never be lax on her vaccinations. Even though she is a 10 pound house dog she thinks she's a huge guard dog and she attacks all the wild animals in our backyard. She actually bit a fox once.

[leslie flenner]

Don't know if this is useful as you are a first time mom but:
a couple years ago, my vet told me that it's believed that the 1st distemper vaccine and the booster last a life time. I had already heard that about rabies vaccine and asked about that and was told, yes, it's good for a life time but there are these state laws...(so if one of my cats were to show up at the vets with a major wound, they would have to go through 6 month quarenteen..) Well, none of my cats go out, I can't offord the office visit for all my cats (and QueenScoopalot can't do my distemper vaccines because they hide from everyone..) and so I only go to the vet when someone isn't feeling well, etc. NOT for vaccines and certainly not for fecals! If i were still an active foster home, of course things would be different, but I haven't fostered in nearly a year. I'm not going to traumatize my semi-ferals unnecessarily! And whoever heard of giving a stool sample directly from the cat's body? What's in the litter box is good enough!

[carole]

Does seem a tad over the top to me as well, I only take Ash and Lexie for a yearly check-up unless something is wrong in between, they get checked over and their yearly vaccinations, however I do de-worm them both every 3 mths, as advised by the vet and on the worm packet, now I am wondering is this totally necessary, keep in mind mine are indoor/outdoor kitty's?

[leslie flenner]

If they catch birds and mice- it is necessary. That's primarily where they get worms. and I've heard over and over that ALL kittens are born with worms- all kittens are automatically given Strongid. I had 3 kittens that I trapped behind a Caldor's that had great stools (albeit hard and black from eating bugs and sticks, etc) but had dry coughs. Turned out they had lung worm- very rare and the vet told me they don't really know much about lung worm re: how they get it but is likely from eating raw meat (birds from mom cat). They were treated successfully.
Eye worm intrigues me- it's apperently on the west coast and I haven't seen it or heard about it here on the east coast, thank goodness! Once, a friend of mine's rescued foster cat who she treated for tape worm, threw up the tape worm and she discovered it while we were on the phone chatting. She started yelling, "Oh Yuck! Gross! Ick! Gross!"etc. She said the tape worm was so large that the mouth was clearly visible- they hang on to the intestines with their mouths, so once dead, up they come!

[carole]

Thanks for the info Leslie, I was under that impression too, unfortunately my two do catch some birds and fortunately mice, so I think the advice is warranted to de-worm them both every 3 mths.

[tomkatzid]

Kelcee's vet wants to see her every 6 months too, but Kelcee is old. And she is in the first stages of kidney failure, so they want to do blood tests every 6 months too. She only gets shots that she would need if I had to board her in an emergency. Which would have to be the emergency of all emercencies to do that.
But its a small price to pay for her health. Not that they can do too much if she is getting worse. She is already on prescription food. I guess meds' might help. But for young healthy animals I would tell them of my concerns and mention that you spoke with other vets that did not advise this 6 mth treatment. Also ask if this is to be ongoing or just this time for the shot.
Katz

[Twink]

Thanks for your input and advice, everyone!! I really do appreciate it. The consensus seems to be about what I suspected, and now I can go into the vet's today with the confidence of knowing that I have consulted a group of true cat lovers, whose felines are happy and healthy.

I'm taking him in for the checkup today, and will bring a stool sample so that I can refuse the de-worming with a clear conscience. I'm also going to discontinue the one vaccine they were going to give him today. It's for kennel cough or some such thing, and it seems wholly unneccessary to me. The reason they gave it to him in the first place was that it was a preventive measure in case he should ever need to be around a lot of other cats...kenneled or an extended stay at the vet's or something. Well, we're not going to kennel him ever (lots of friends and relatives in town), and I'll take my chances with the other. He's healthy.

Deb, I would find all of this VERY irritating, too, except that I know this area of town too well. It's all middle class, with about 3/4 of the people trying HARD to convince the world that they're upper-class by spending, spending, spending!!! These are the sort of people who WANT to give their animals every vaccine in the book, b/c isn't the most expensive care the best? The way I see it, this vet's office is just giving the people what they want. Other than being somewhat bossy and treatment-happy, I really do like them. They're VERY good with Rizzo, and when he was fixed they were very good with me. They called several times during the day to let me know how he was doing, they explained his recovery thoroughly, etc. That said, if they continue to try to guilt me once I make my wishes known, I *will* be looking for another cat doctor.

Thanks again everyone! I'll let you know how the visit goes.

[sirrahbed]

Oh Twink - I ranted far too much I know! I just hate the guilt thing and pushing unneeded procedures that cause stress to the animals. I am GLAD that excellent care is there when needed. I hope my ranting did not make anything harder for you. I am sure they are good vets and just giving people what they want. You are right that many people think more is better. Take care!!! Hope the vet visit goes well today!!

[Twink]

Originally posted by sirrahbed
Oh Twink - I ranted far too much I know! I just hate the guilt thing and pushing unneeded procedures that cause stress to the animals. I am GLAD that excellent care is there when needed. I hope my ranting did not make anything harder for you. I am sure they are good vets and just giving people what they want. You are right that many people think more is better. Take care!!! Hope the vet visit goes well today!!

You can never rant too much! Actually, it helped me a lot to know that there are other people who A) hate the guilt thing and B) share my gut instincts about a GALLON of prevention being a bit too much! I just wanted to make sure I wasn't slandering my vet. Thanks for the help and good wishes.

You know what? If I worry this much when Rizzo's healthy, if he ever gets sick I'm afraid I'm going to be a raving lunatic!

[Twink]

Originally posted by jazzcat

My dog is a different story, I would never be lax on her vaccinations. Even though she is a 10 pound house dog she thinks she's a huge guard dog and she attacks all the wild animals in our backyard. She actually bit a fox once.

Disney bit a fox?

*looks at pic of Disney*

A *fox?*

I think I'm impressed! Or amused. Or, possibly, both! Did the fox bite back, or did it run?

[Barbara]

Amber, my parents dachshund, once bit a deer. A standard size dachshund.

The deer ran.

[Twink]

Originally posted by Barbara
Amber, my parents dachshund, once bit a deer. A standard size dachshund.

The deer ran.

Heh heh heh heh heh...*ahem* Poor deer.

What's funny is that most large dogs I've known, in the same situation, would run up and bark at the deer/fox/cow/whatever like crazy, but if the other animal made any move toward them, they'd run off whimpering!

[catnapper]

Originally posted by Twink
Heh heh heh heh heh...*ahem* Poor deer.

What's funny is that most large dogs I've known, in the same situation, would run up and bark at the deer/fox/cow/whatever like crazy, but if the other animal made any move toward them, they'd run off whimpering!

LOL! You've got that right! Nicki's 100 pounds of pure wimp.

Poor deer... giggle. giggle

[sirrahbed]

Originally posted by Twink
Heh heh heh heh heh...*ahem* Poor deer.

What's funny is that most large dogs I've known, in the same situation, would run up and bark at the deer/fox/cow/whatever like crazy, but if the other animal made any move toward them, they'd run off whimpering!

On the other hand - like the doxie - these little dogs seem to know no fear. My parents had toy poodles and chihauhaus who had no idea how tiny they were! They showed no fear whatsoever! Those little runts would take on anyone or anything! Ebony, the huge black lab we used to have was afraid of his tail.

[Felicia's Mom]

My cats go to the vet once a year for a check up. Shots are all 3 year ones.