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I'm afraid we're in a situation I never dared to imagine. My husband and I are both partially employed (he has sub contract work for now, I am unemployed) and we are having difficulty with the cost of our beloved dog's preventitive care. I used a walk -in clinic instead of our regular vet for his annual Lyme,distemper vaccine. Now I am informed by my vet that they cannot O.K. his prescription for Heartgard from the online pet meds co.
Does anyone have any suggestions such as nonprofit agencies that can supplement or grant preventative care. My dog is 10 years old and in very good health and I would like to keep it that way for as long as I can.
In regards to vaccines distemper is now recommended by AAHA every three years or more and studies show efficacy to 7. When I could not afford to go to a vet except for dire emergencies, I bought the shots at the farm store and gave them myself. We have vets here though that give them REAL cheap at roadside stands.
I know you are in a lyme area. You may want to look at AAHA guidelines for that too - as it is one of those vaccines voted most likely to cause problems. [just google them-it is a veterinary peer group organization]
Sent you a pm on the heartworm medicine.
I can't help you with nonprofits for preventive care but people can hardly get help with that for themselves and their kids unless they are in abject poverty [and even then it is usually NOT preventive care that is covered] and with the economy tight i doubt that would be high on the list of things people would donate money for.
Weo nly give Frontline Apr thru Sept and I have one dose set aside for the spring. I just got Buggah's needed vaccinations this spring so he is good for those for at least another year.
My main concern is for the ivermectin, Heartgard or he equivalent because we are in the field every day; exposure to wildlife scat is inevitable so he usually gets a dose of preventative every month but I recently ran out.
He has tested positive and treated once before for Babiosis, another deer tick disease, so that needs monitoring too.
I know you are in a lyme area. You may want to look at AAHA guidelines for that too - as it is one of those vaccines voted most likely to cause problems. [just google them-it is a veterinary peer group organization]
Yeah, I debate the real usefulness of the Lyme vaccine so I have him get it every two or three years. I figure it is the limited exposure that is supposed to peak the immune system response so that should be enough. I have constant conversations with the vets about my concerns for TOO MANY vaccines. They sorta listen.
My main concern is for the ivermectin, Heartgard or he equivalent because we are in the field every day; exposure to wildlife scat is inevitable so he usually gets a dose of preventative every month but I recently ran out.
A lot of us put our working dogs [who are in the woods a lot] on interceptor because it does a good job with intestinal worms too.
Animal Refuge League of Greater Portland (http://www.arlgp.org/financial_help/index.htm - broken link)
Financial Help During Tough Economic Times (http://www.arlgp.org/financial_help/financial%20assistance.pdf - broken link)
Rescue/welfare leagues in each area operate a little differently. Some are vaccines and spay/neuter only. Others are full service clinics and surgeries for low-income clients only. I'm very fortunate in that my local rescue league operates a full-service clinic/surgery regardless of income (with reduced fares offered for low-income clients only). You'll have to find out what services are available in your area. I took my cat to the rescue league clinic in my area and the total cost was only $30 for his checkup, tests, and vaccines. It was such a low-pressure pleasant experience for both me and my cat, that I will definitely be using the rescue league clinic from now on, even if/when my income level rises.
If he/she is in the same weight bracket as my dog, I'll gladly mail you a couple of months of Heartgard.
Dawn, that's truly very nice of you. Remember that what goes around, comes around.
OP... for what it's worth, I learned a lesson the other day. It had to do with taking a gift that was offered. As one of the people involved said to me at the time, "You've been given a blessing. As embarrassed as you are (I was a lovely shade of maroon by that point), you simply cannot refuse a blessing that is being offered to you." I shut up and thanked the person for her graciousness.
I have an idea OP... how bout you post your dogs weight?
Location: Montreal -> CT -> MA -> Montreal -> Ottawa
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Quote:
Originally Posted by FiveHorses
Dawn, that's truly very nice of you. Remember that what goes around, comes around.
OP... for what it's worth, I learned a lesson the other day. It had to do with taking a gift that was offered. As one of the people involved said to me at the time, "You've been given a blessing. As embarrassed as you are (I was a lovely shade of maroon by that point), you simply cannot refuse a blessing that is being offered to you." I shut up and thanked the person for her graciousness.
I have an idea OP... how bout you post your dogs weight?
It's truly my pleasure to help out.
So, OP, listen to the wise FiveHorses and tell me how much your dog weighs. I wouldn't have offered if I didn't want to help. Really.
Last edited by DawnMTL; 12-04-2009 at 12:30 PM..
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