First year check up...what will they do to my dog? (clean, vet)
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Tomorrow we are taking her to the vet for her one year check up. What will they (probably) do to her? (Shots?). She's a little over a year. I am assuming rabies and probably some other stuff.
I really don't want them doing too much extra (I am not able to pay a huge vet bill right now). What things can be avoided and what are necessities? I really don't trust them (it's a business after all).
We took her in November or so to a different vet for her ears and didn't like them so we are going back to her original vet.
Any advice? I am afraid vets charge a lot in this area...it so sucks not having a job.
If you don't have the money, why are you taking your dog to the vet? They won't do anything to her. I think annual shots are a waste of time and damage the dog's immune system. You don't need them. Your dog has enough immunity to protect it for a lifetime. And she's only a year old. Dog's generally don't have too many problems at that age.
I'd cancel the appointment, unless you've got some type of high-maintenance show dog.
Our vet of over 4 decades, he did what was necesary and our dogs lived well into their upper teens and really only had to see him for injuries after their mandatory shots. (They were all strays/adopted.)
When we moved, we discovered a new breed of vets and they over-did it big time ... corporate pressure to up-sell every dang thing and our over-drugged dogs suffered chronic for it and did die too young. Always nagging us about this or that when the dogs never really needed it. There is a line to be drawn if your vets act more like salespeople than taking time for thorough physical examinations (like ours used to.)
It does happen. It depends on the vet. In our experience anyway, our small one-doctor veterinarian over-flowing with clients didn't have to worry about getting the volume so much, so he never had to push anything our dogs didn't really need. They lived long and our kitchen was never a pharmacy in those days (pre 1994), either.
(He'd also only recomend teeth cleaning after he had thoroughly examined during a visit and there was something wrong -- never pushed them, he didn't deem necessary. Our dogs did eat only wet food back then, so that was a factor.)
???? Yeah, that sounds really responsible. People should have the same attitude with their kids, right?
Let the vet know you're looking for the minimum to be done. Check your state laws about vaccines, as well.
If parents had the same attitude with kids, we wouldn't have these overdrugged, over vaccinated defects walking around. Look at the kids these days. They get like 40!! vaccines before entering kindergarten, are on numerous medications before the age of 10, and have diseases that have never been seen in children before!! So whatever the parents and doctors are doing is clearly not working. Overmedicating and overvaccinating is bad for pets and children. There are many ways to get around vaccine laws if you educate yourself. Toxins in the blood stream will only lead to problems later on, in both humans and pets.
She has to have the rabies shot by law, I believe.
I also feel not bringing her would be negligent. My vet sent us a card and I want her checked out.
I will try to mention doing the bare minimum but I know it will be embarrassing to my husband.
Make sure she gets the 3-year rabies shot. I would definitely not recommend any of the other 5-1 or 7-1 shots. Vets like to push these, so you may want to do the research in advance. Many professional breeders are staying away from these annual vaccines.
As far as the "check-up" part -- the vet with look at your dogs gum's, feel her abdomen, look at her ears and eyes, and listen to her heart. You may want to ask them to express the anal glands, too.
I used to get my dogs all their yearly shots. Now I only do the rabies shots. In my area we have a Val-u-Vet. Boy are they affordable. The place is packed all the time. The vets are good also. An office visit used to be free. Now it is 20.00 and there are 10 and 5 dollar coupons available for this. They also do 40.00 spay and neuter and do a nice job. Very caring. I had to take my dog to emergency last week and the emergency places estimate was 1261.75 I just had them wrap my dog up for overnight and took her home. I went to my Val-u-Vet the next day and their total bill for the exact same thing was 475.00! They should have these all over...people would be able to afford vet care for there pet/pets. I have 6 so this really makes it afforable for me.
???? Yeah, that sounds really responsible. People should have the same attitude with their kids, right?
Well, heck, that's how I handle my OWN healthcare.
If it ain't broke...
I agree, though, if you feel the need to bring her in, just ask for a physical exam. Don't feel bad about not wanting to spend the money...you could just tell them you don't want to overmedicate, etc. Or that she's very sensitive/has allergies. Just blame it on something not budget-related.
If you're rural, maybe try to find a "country vet." My mom takes her cats to a rural vet and they are much more down-to-earth about that stuff, and don't try to sell her on all the blood tests, meds, etc. for healthy animals. They treat dogs, cats, horses...If you know any horse owners, they would probably know someone to refer you to.
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